Customer Reviews

100 Simple Secrets of Happy Families: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It (100 Simple Secrets Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is a pleasant and inspirational read. It's a good book to pick up and put down, as each chapter is independent of one another and takes only a few minutes to read. I question its claim that it is based upon "the research of noted scientists," as a quick scan of its reference pages show that a high percentage of the studies cited come from doctoral dissertations. Hardly the stuff that "sociologists, therapists, and psychiatrists have spent entire careers investigating".

I questioned some of the more startling claims made by Dr. Niven based upon some of these dissertations, but even going to the universities' websites, I was unable to obtain copies of the original papers in order to determine the accuracy of his interpretation, and indeed of the studies themselves. A search of the authors of the dissertations did not indicate that they had gone on in any way to distinguish themselves in their field.

So, that being said, I have found it an enjoyable book to read, but one that I will not be relying upon for necessarily accurate information or statistics. I give it a 4 for enjoyment and a 2 for credible research.

Short chapters with nuggets of truth about family life. Not real profound stuff but the chapters end with a result from a research study. However, not real impressed with the correlations made because they do not indicate cause and effect. For example people who receive a large inheritance are less likely than others to be satified with life. This statistic alone can be misleading because it does not say that the reason for this dissatisfaction is due to getting the inheritance but that there is a correlation. It is an easy read but not real inspiring.

I have enjoyed every title by this author, and this one is no less. Buy a stack nad give them to your family! Start a reading / support group!

I am a sucker for research. I don't like to think about gurus sitting around in a cave somewhere dreaming things up. Niven's series of books offers substance to what he offers. Empirical studies aren't a sure thing, but they're a lot better than most of what's out there on the market. Families have never been an easy puzzle to figure out, but this book takes us up the mountain.

I'd recommend this to anyone who is in a family and is open to new ideas. Great read.