Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children [Hardcover]

Matthew Kelly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 26, 2008

For more than a decade, Matthew Kelly has been traveling the world inspiring people to become the-best-version-of-themselves. During this time he has been amazed at how regularly he is asked: How do I encourage my children to embrace this message? How does your message apply to a family? Now, for the first time, Kelly shares with us remarkable insights and sensible everyday strategies for transforming the family into what it should be: a place where each of us can become the-best-version-of-ourselves.

Beginning with an exploration of the changing face of the family in our culture, Kelly sets every reader at ease by explaining: “A family is not what we think a family should be, or what we hope to have, or should have, or what would be ideal–a family is what we actually have. A family is the one we’ve got.” Nor can a family ever be perfect, he goes on to explain. “Perfect families exist only in our minds, and it is these imaginings that are very often the enemy of our ability to enjoy the wonderful family we already have, or might have if we made it just that little bit more of a priority.”

In Building Better Families, Kelly explores important issues by raising evocative questions: What makes a successful parent? Do you realize that your children are in the middle of a cultural war? What are the five things children really need? Are you asking your children the right questions? What are you teaching your children about work, money, food, exercise, body image, and sex? What are the priorities of your family culture?

Every page of this book is filled with examples that can be applied to your daily experience of parenting and family, while at the same time illuminating the broader and deeper significance of family for society and the future of humanity. “The family is at once a deeply personal experience and the cornerstone of all great societies,” Matthew Kelly tells us. Allow this book of classic wisdom and practical insight to help you build a better family.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Building Better Families

“All parents share the same awesome responsibility–to bring out the best in their children. This wonderful book will help you do just that. Matthew Kelly shares his experiences from growing up in a loving family of eight children, and the insight and wisdom that resulted. He’s given us an easy-to-read, heartwarming, and practical guide to raising great kids.”
–Hal Urban, author of Life’s Greatest Lessons

Perfectly Yourself

“Compelling . . . pragmatic . . . transcendental . . . You don’t have to leave your own backyard to find enduring happiness. . . . [Perfectly Yourself] is accessible to any belief system.”
–Wichita Falls Times Record News

The Rhythm of Life

“I loved this book! It provides significant insights into living a happier, healthier, more rewarding life.”
–Dr. Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

The Seven Levels of Intimacy

“A highly readable, well-written book that contains deep wisdom and practical guidance about relationships that will be useful to everyone seeking genuine and durable intimacy, especially couples. I highly recommend it.”
–Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., author of Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples

About the Author

Matthew Kelly is the author of several books, including Perfectly Yourself, The Rhythm of Life, The Seven Levels of Intimacy and The Dream Manager. His books have appeared on multiple bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. For more than a decade Kelly has been traveling the globe, and more than three million people in fifty countries have attended his seminars. Kelly is the founder of The Matthew Kelly Foundation, whose major charitable work is to help young people discover their mission in life. Kelly is also the president of Floyd Consulting, a Chicago-based consulting company that helps corporations become the-best-version-of-themselves.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (February 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345494539
• ISBN-13: 978-0345494535
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #124,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Matthew Kelly, the New York Times bestselling author of The Rhythm of Life and The Dream Manager has been captivating audiences around the world since his late teens. Over the past decade, more than four million people have attended his seminars in over fifty countries. Kelly is the president of Floyd Consulting.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Version of Myself, March 7, 2008

By 

catholic carrie (San Diego CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children (Hardcover)

Matthew Kelly is a motivating, dynamic and incredible messenger of truth for all. I would recommend Building Better Families to all members of the human family not just to the people who are raising children at the moment. He emphasizes filtering all your choices for yourself (or for those you are entrusted with caring for) through the question of "Will this help me to become the best version of myself?" That question brings clarity and reason back to the big decisions and the smaller choices in life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have kids? You NEED this book!, June 17, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children (Hardcover)

Matthew Kelly has taken a complex, difficult subject and made it simple. Not easy, but simple. He engages the reader in a series of conversations that run parallel to developing as an adult-and what we want for our children (or grandchildren).

Oftentimes his advice is a blinding flash of the obvious-but more often than not is something we know at some level-but are not acting on. For example he explores the four needs that every child has-and clearly differentiates between what we all can clearly recognize as a need-and something that is simply a want. I'd be more specific, but frankly, I want you to be curious and buy this book-it's that good.

He also clearly spells out the four things a child really needs from a parent, and then peppers the chapter with specific how-to's. One of the most poignant stories in the book is that of a five-year-old child asking his father how much he earned. The father got upset with this line of questioning, but eventually told his son "twenty dollars." Armed with that information his son asked if he could have ten dollars. This infuriated the father who proceeded to educate (or rather berate) his son in a very loud voice. He then sent him to bed. After a bit the father realized how harsh he had been and went to the son's room, apologized and asked forgiveness. He then gave his son the ten dollars that he had requested. With that the small boy pulled some crumpled bills out from under his pillow. This immediately caused the father to be upset again-until the boy said, "I was ten dollars short, but now I have enough. Can I buy an hour of your time?"

What a humbling experience. And this is the type of compelling story Kelly tells over and over again to make his key points come to life. This book is for anyone who truly wants to be a better parent or grandparent, and who is looking for answers to questions like:

* When should a child really have a cell phone?
* What types of video games are appropriate?
* How can I help my child deal with peer pressure?
* How can I have conversations that will help my child develop the values that will help them truly be their highest and best selves?
* How can I become the role model that I want to be as a parent (or a grandparent)?

Not only will the answers make sense. You will find practical strategies that can be readily implemented.

Armchair Interviews says: Run, don't walk to your bookstore and get this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for anyone who wish to build a wonderful family, May 23, 2009

By 

L. Shunxing "Felix" (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children (Audio CD)

After reading it, I started to practise & I can see positive result within my family and most important is within myself. A must read for all who wish to have a wonderful relationship & family.