Great book, really helps you get perspective on what kind of people you want your kids to be. I liked it because it reinforced my own beliefs and helped articulate some thoughts I had about parenting. 10 Conversations You Need to Have with Your Children

This is such an important topic to address in our busy 24/7 world. Raising healthy and happy children requires that we have that special relationship with them where the communication gates are open wide. A must conversation that every parent must have should address the issue of bullying...which is so prevalent. Bully-Proofing Children: A Practical, Hands-On Guide to Stop Bullying is a fabulous must-read book for every parent on raising empowered children who will never become bullies or victims.

This is a great book! I read it all and now I want to go back and read each individual chapter. This is more than a parenting book--it will really help you reflect our your own life. The writing is non-judgemental and easy to read. The author comes off as very friendly. I don't agree with the reviewer that says the religious chapter at the end ruins the book. It has a base in Judiasm but comes across as more spirtually based that can be applied to any religion you are. I am a psych nurse and have used these techniques in dealing with my adult inpatients so the information is very transferable to all aspects of your own life, not just your life as a parent.
This is a great book!

I must admit that I am a bit biased towards Rabbi Shmuley - I am a huge fan of his TV and XM radio show. I found this book to be yet another example of Shmuley giving practical pointers that truly help parents navigate in this crazy world where many people seem to be traveling w/out rudders or sails! The book is not going to tell you something you don't know....but it is written in a way that helps you articulate important, sound, common sense advice to your kids. I am already incorporating several of his suggestions into our home, and it is definitely reaching my children. These are important conversations that all parents should be having with their families!!

I've seen Shmuley on TLC's "Shalom in the Home" and I really like the advice and counsel he gives on the show. When I saw that he also wrote books, I decided to check this one out. I ended up reading this book in one day. I could not put it down.

Shmuley uses situations from his own life raising eight children as well as stories from the people he meets to illustrate the importance of a parent's role in their child's life. He has inspired me to be a better role model for my children, and also inspired me not to be afraid to discuss some of these critical topics with my children. This book has had a HUGE impact on how I look at my role as a parent: not simply as making my kids do what I want, but inspiring them to be the best individuals they can be. To discuss these deeply important topics, like what kind of person they want to be, the importance of dignity and forgiveness, being happy, how to ignite their passion for knowledge... these are critical things we simply are NOT teaching our children, which I believe is the reason why so many children have such a hard time dealing with the challenges of life today.

This book has also helped me see that I can integrate these concepts into my own life to be an inspiration for my children. Many people tend to focus on Shmuley's Jewish beliefs, which he clearly articulates in this book. Come on! He's a Rabbi! Would you expect him NOT to write about them?? I am not Jewish nor Christian. I choose not to label or identify myself with any organized religion. Shmuley writes in the last chapter about the importance of teaching children about God. He gives very compelling reasons why this is important. He also gives examples of how America was founded "Under God," which is true. Shmuley simply states why he believes children need the concept of God, and of course he's going to talk about it from a Jewish perspective. Like I said, he's a Rabbi!! If people take his discussion on God as a condemnation of their own beliefs or some kind of Jewish recruiting ploy, I think they missed the point completely.

This is a wonderful book that will inspire you to be a better person and parent.

Boteach's advices are often presented in pretentious manner, but many of them are quite reasonable (not to say too obvious). No-one would argue that parents should avoid fostering their children's intellectual curiosity, or discussing with them such topics as dignity of every human being.
In the last chapter (about God), Boteach disregards other religions and world-views in favour of Judaism. To make things worse, he includes lenghty political tirade praising America for being "quick to take its vision of faith, democracy, and government to all corners of the globe, by force, if necessary". I cannot understand why the author's political statement found its place in a book about parent-children relationship.

I found this book both inspiring, & easy to follow. This book granted me the opportunity to realign my perspective as parent.. the read offers an array of suggestions on how to bring more fun, values and inspiration into one's home.. A must have for any parent who wishes to grow and grow his or her family in an authentic funfilled way.
Namaste!

I absolutely love rabbi Shmuley's passion for the family, and I have certainly found inspiration from him to be a better parent. This book will give you some power tools in creating what I believe will be a lasting and influential relationship with your children while also instilling strong moral values. I have several good books of Shmuley's, but unlike the others, I have totally marked this one up with notes and highlights. I'll be keeping this book for years to come and I'm certain I will be refering to it often.

This synthesizes the message that Rabbi Boteach tries to teach his children: "Wherever I go, wherever you go, I'm always with you because my children are always the number one thing in my heart and mind." If you can communicate this to your kids in any of the 10 conversations, then I feel that Rabbi Shmuley would be happy.

This book is filled with commonsense ideas about parenting and living. It advocates respect, dignity and the importance of becoming a good person. Rabbi Shmuley Boteach gives many great examples of those conversations with his own children (he has A LOT of them) and also writes about the times when he did not follow the advice he is giving. This is an important book to read and reread as the children grow and the application of these conversations change to fit the new stage of the child's life.

I found this author's Christianity-bashing offensive and his smugness off-putting. I read just the chapters on fear and God and needed to read no farther. His is not a worldview that produces meditations of much value for me. He does not hold even his own views with conviction, emphatically stating that God demands righteousness, but then coaching agnostics and atheists on how they can measure up anyway. Apparently only Christians (and Muslims) are beyond hope. Thankfully, in this country, an author can say whatever she/he wants, but I am sorry our little cash-strapped library spent its precious resources on this book and glad that I did not.

the tenth conversation. You do not need to talk to your children about god, however, he is right in saying you need children and everyone to have self-worth, to let them know that they can do almost anything they put to it, but god has absolutely nothing to do with it. He mentions that this country is so godly that it put "His" name on their money, "His" name was put on our money because some stupid powerful people got a unjust communism scare.

Religion promotes division, teach your kids cooperation instead!!

the tenth conversation. You do not need to talk to your children about god, however, he is right in saying you need children and everyone to have self-worth, to let them know that they can do almost anything they put to it, but god has absolutely nothing to do with it. He mentions that this country is so godly that it put "His" name on their money, "His" name was put on our money because some stupid powerful people got a unjust communism scare.

Religion promotes division, teach your kids cooperation instead!!

This is one of the first parenting books I have read that actually came through for me. I have had more conversations with my 5 and 7-year-old children in the past 6 months than ever because I truly know what to say. And I have to say, they are conversing back. If you are looking for a book to teach you how to be a better person-parent, friend, co-worker, etc., this is the book. I think the author sold himself short by including children in the title because I think anyone could gain from reading it.

This has been the only book I have ever read that hit a huge cord within me and stayed. The messages and insights will stay with you long after you've put the book down. We have stopped watching TV with our kids during the week and instead talk, play games, go on walks and enjoy each other's company. We have learned to destress our house and focus on happiness. My husband and I have reconnected and our family is happier as a whole. This book, if you allow it to, can teach you miraculous things. Shmuley Boteach is an incredible rabbi, teacher, husband and above all, father. This book is worth 10 times it's price. Thank you Shmuley Boteach!!

I was so struck by this book I could not put it down. I talked to everyone I know about the concepts in the book and have already passed it along to my son who has two children. I need to purchase 2 more now, one for my nail technician and one for me to keep until the next time I give it away.
I would have given it 5 stars if there had been nothing religious contained in it. Every person interested in raising confident well adjusted children, grandchildren should enjoy this book. Its an easy read and a subject close to everyones heart.

It does not matter what faith you prescribe to - this book defines what we as parents should be focusing on in raising our children - "who" are children are not "what" they are!

This is the perfect book to refer to often as it offers examples that really work. Whether you have one child or four, the carefully written text has something for everyone raising kids. If you are sometimes lost or left wondering if what you just said to your children really sunk in - as we all do - then this book will set your mind in a peaceful mode where you can know that things will work out. It's really tough in today's world to know exactly what to say and when to say it when holding conversations with our kids. 10 Conversations You Need to Have with Your Children is the key in helping parents break through the many talks that kids need to hear in every day situations. Wow! It really helps. This is the perfect book to have handy and combine with any of your other mainstay parenting books. Another new one that it goes very well with, one I also just finished, is Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) - Having, Doing and Surviving It All! This one you can read by the pool for specific family challanges and with Shmuley's book, you might need a more peaceful setting. However, they are both extremly interesting, you never want to put them down, and for sure, never loan them out -- even to your best friends. Have them buy their own copies. These are the kind of books parents need to read over and over -- I do and I pick up something new each time. I say WHOOHOO (mom code for YIPPEE) to both authors and you will too!

I believe we are starting to see more common sense type writtings come about nowadyas because morals, values and wisdom rule over 8 years of psyhcology in grad school. Real life experience is what should be heard instead of someone trying to always conquer their own problems and answer their own questions about life. This book is safe to read and is recommended to help our children to become GOOD people rather than bad.

Another great book of wisdom, truth and experience that will help our children become good people is "Why Singles are not Married & the Married are Single." I am so happy that people are starting to speak up, but many now are not the big hollywood names that have multimillion dollar overheads to support. You can't get the whole truth with that type of person. Many times they have to say what you want to hear so they can afford their lifestyle.

There are few books that you read that have a lasting impact on your life, thoughts, outlook and can actually change your day to day behaviors.....this is one of those books.

This book is about the conversations you need to have with your children, but parents should heed the wisdom from these pages. For parents to be role models for the younger generation, they can only influence their children's behavior through their own actions. This book outlines the steps to take, using real life examples. Although at first glance it seems easy, it may take 2-3 reads to fully digest the entire book.

I praise Shmuley for another great book. Thank you.