![Abigail Shrier Collection 2 Books Set (Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up [Hardcover] & Irreversible Damage: Teenage](https://cdn.statically.io/img/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/618eZT6fJ+L._AC_SS57_.jpg)
Background to help you evaluate my review: I had a panic attack at age 26, began counseling and still participate. I am age 69 and fortunately have had 4 excellent counselors across the decades help me. The result: my quality of life has improved significantly due to their skilled, ethical, dedicated care.
For years I have responsibly used psychotropic medication experiencing its benefits, limitations, and negative side effects. Current thinking is talk therapy used with meds, when indicated, can produce the most favorable patient outcomes. I concur. In fact, from 2010-13, at night I earned a MS in mental health counseling even though I am a financial advisor. With that thumbnail sketch, below is brief independent feedback I have received on two of the author’s topics. But first, my overall appraisal:
I find Abigail’s book to be vital in highlighting issues that need to be considered and not merely assumed to be true/wise: therapy, medication, schooling, and parenting - and how they are intertwined. I am delighted that she is so well-known and talented as a journalist to focus attention on the most fundamental question: whether what we are doing is working or failing. It can benefit our nation if we have a discussion and accurate appraisal of where we are to fix what doesn’t work. Abigail bravely has gotten this debate started though I would be unsurprised if vested interests attack her, and continue sos. Unlike the false claims of her critics, she understands that there are circumstances when therapy and meds are appropriate.
My view is that though well-intended, we have lost our way as a society in the areas she has underscored. I give our culture A++++ for our good intentions; however, outcomes must be evaluated candidly. Are we taking steps believing those actions are helpful when they are not? My view, we repeatedly utilize "Ready, fire, aim” to our detriment. Well-meaning adults have abdicated control thinking they are helping when they are harming. Here’s an example:
In my career I meet people from an array of occupations who share personal info. The uniformity of opinion I receive from educators about what is occurring from primary to the university levels is bleak. The educators feel miserable and can’t wait to flee. Why? The bottom line is there’s no discipline permitted. They feel defeated that they can’t teach and will receive zero institutional support because everyone is afraid for their jobs and public/internet ridicule. To paraphrase teachers, the system has collapsed but since there’s a sign on the door “school," learning is presumed to be occurring when it is not. Note how many teachers choose to send their children to private school as an alternative. Look too at the explosive growth of homeschooling as a measure of concern for physical safety and efficacy. One educator told me the kids know the teachers can’t do anything disciplinary to them and behave accordingly.
US academic performance has declined. US results versus nearly 30 other nations is appalling, though we spent so much more per child than competitor nations - and we are in competition whether we ignore that or not. The new bait and switch is to use SEL and pronounce schools as successful by downshifting academic measures replaced with SEL-focused yardsticks. The silver lining in the deadly COVID cloud is some parents got a glimpse of what their kids are being immersed in, were shocked and "voted with their feet" taking their children to be educated elsewhere.
Look at the nightmare on college campuses over the past decade: skyrocketing anxiety, depression and suicides. Those results reflect Abigail’s concerns. The Anxious Generation, by J. Haidt, which I have begun, buttresses Shrier’s thesis.
Overwhelmingly, employers tell me their younger workers behave completely differently, some don’t care about their performance, and except for excellent tech skills, they are surprisingly incapable, needy, demanding, and stunted. Please note: I am fortunate to know young people who do not fit the negative descriptions at school or work reported to me and are the polar opposite.
Our sacred oxen have strayed from path and are at risk - and so is our society.
At times I found her sarcasm humorous and at other times too snarky, but beyond that quibble, she has done a valuable service for our nation if we pause, consider, and act: what do we need to do differently to be more effective?
——————
April 29th Addendum
Finished reading Jonathan Haidt’s thoughtful, research-based, and prescriptive The Anxious Generation. It is excellent also. I rate it as Five Stars and have bought a second copy to gift. It serves as a helpful companion to Schrier’s work. I highly recommend it.
I read his outstanding work, co-authored with Greg Lukianoff, The Coddling of The American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation For Failure, which is also a straightforward, easy read.
Years ago I read, then reread his masterful and superb The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided By Politics And Religion. I found this work to be more challenging, and a fascinating hypothesis.
Lastly, some of the one and two star reviews of Abigail’s book contained insightful, valid criticisms for which I am grateful. Still, I see the value in her work, despite its weaknesses, as having galvanized a needed review of current assumption and practices. Michael
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Your Company Bookshelf
Save time and resources when buying books in bulk Learn more
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.
Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: 
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
Frequently bought together
This item: Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up
$18.49
Get it Aug 5 - 6
Only 17 left in stock - order soon.
+
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
$18.96
Get it as soon as Sunday, Aug 4
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
Adults should be telling kids how imperfect and unreliable their emotions can be, Chentsova Dutton says. Very often, kids should be skeptical that their feelings reflect an accurate picture of the world and even ignore their feelings entirely. (Gasp!) You read that right: a healthy emotional life involves a certain amount of daily repression.Highlighted by 936 Kindle readers- Therapy can hijack our normal processes of resilience, interrupting our psyche’s ability to heal itself, in its own way, at its own time.Highlighted by 919 Kindle readers
- Instead, with unprecedented help from mental health experts, we have raised the loneliest, most anxious, depressed, pessimistic, helpless, and fearful generation on record. Why?Highlighted by 723 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Very Informative Every Parent Should Read
So many examples of what she describes in her book I have recognized. It's a great read and super informative.
Top reviews from other countries
Mr David C Bell
A glimpse into the future of UK Schools
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2024
Damir
Fresh and status-quo challenging view that every parent need to read through and consider
Reviewed in Spain on March 10, 2024
Jackson Rostagno
Interesting, thought provoking, well written
Reviewed in Australia on April 21, 2024