Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Familes [Hardcover]

Lee Hausner (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A psychologist from the Beverly Hills, Calif., school system addresses a unique constituency in this parenting guide, offering advice for "avoiding the pitfalls and challenges frequently encountered in affluent families." Drawing on her experience with wealthy parents and their children, Hausner isolates fundamental causes of problems, such as unrealistic expectations, lack of communication and misuse or lack of discipline, that apply especially to the nurturance and development of privileged children. Writing of the two-career family, often characterized by high parental achievement, the author proposes nine steps to effective parenting of this new "at risk" group of children. For busy, well-off parents who may need assistance putting their priorities in order, this is a helpful, practical if unsurprising and somewhat pedantic resource.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 279 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher; 1st edition (September 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874775914
• ISBN-13: 978-0874775914
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Lee Hausner is a senior managing director of First Foundation Advisors. An internationally recognized clinical psychologist and business consultant, she served as the senior psychologist for the Beverly Hills Unified School District for 17 years in addition to establishing a reputation as a highly regarded keynote speaker and seminar leader. She has been a top rated resource for Young Presidents' Organization for the past 17 years.
A frequent guest on national radio and television, quoted expert in national publication such as the Wall Street Journal, Time, Forbes, Fortune, Town and Country and a contributing writer for Worth magazine, she is the author of the seminal work regarding wealth and the family, "Children of Paradise...Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families", published by Plaza Press (2nd Ed. 2005).

An acknowledged expert on psychological issues involving wealth and wealth transfer, she was a presenter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and is a frequent participant at the high wealth/private client conferences for major financial institutions as well as national wealth management conferences. Dr. Hausner contributed two chapters ("The Psychology of Wealth" and "Wealth and Children") to the financial resource book, "The Stewardship of Private Wealth" and co-authored with her current partner, Douglas Freeman, "The Founders Guide to the Family Foundation", published by the Council on Foundations.

She was one of the founders, members of the Board of Directors and senior deans of the Learning Center Foundation, a national organization established for the development of multi- generational programs dealing with the successful transfer of the four components of family wealth.... intellectual capital, human capital, financial capital and social capital.

Recognizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the complex issues involving in operating any type of family business, Dr. Hausner incorporated a unique six step transition model for succession in family business in the critically acclaimed family business resource book, "Hats Off To You....Finding Success in Family Business Succession". Most recently she is the co-author of the book "The Legacy Family...The Definitive Guide To Creating A Successful Multigenerational Family", published by Palgrave Macmillan (2009).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for parents at any income level!, February 19, 2005

By 

T. Brown (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Familes (Hardcover)

IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILD'S MOTIVATION AND SELF-ESTEEM, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

My husband and I, parents of three children (ages 7, 6, and 2) attended one of Dr. Hausner's speaking engagements in Coral Gables, Florida, and we were impressed by both her relaxed yet captivating speaking style as well as the content of what she had to say (definately (...) material). We were each given a copy of Children of Paradise, and I set to reading it right away. I am now on amazon to order 5 copies to pass along to my close parenting friends regardless of their income level. I plan to keep my highlighted, marked-up copy by my nightstand for easy reference for a long time. While the book contains some insightful strategies for wealthy families in handling inheritance and trusts - issues that are not present in most families in America - this book also provides some of the best parenting advice I have read regarding effective communication with your children, consistent discipline, and issues of control. In Children of Paradise, Dr. Hausner - without blame - discusses character traits of successful, "type A" personality parents and how these traits which have made them successful in their careers do not translate into successful parenting, but rather, can result in lowering a child's self esteem and motivation. I would argue that the same qualities can be found in parents of any income level coping with the competition and stress of daily life with children and careers during a time when we tend to demand perfection of ourselves and others. Dr. Hausner offers specific examples and techniques to improve how parents speak with and listen to their children - at any age - including teenagers. I have started to change the way I communicate with my children and I see results. In appropriate situations, I have stopped imposing strict punishments to control their behavior in favor of allowing my children to experience the natural consequences of their own failure to do what they need to do. (Not when it involves personal safety - obviously.) I am trying to stop telling them what to do most of the time (or just doing it for them) in the interest of expediency. I already see how my children are becoming more responsible with these changes and more confident. In short, this is a terrific book for any educated parent - career or stay at home, middle or upper class. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children of Paradise, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Familes (Hardcover)

In recent history with so much instant wealth created from techno-stocks, it gives great insights on how to handle wealth in your family. Wealth may solve some problems, but creates others for families and this book gives solutions to avoid the pitfalls. It is helpful in keeping children of wealth grounded. Lee Hausner has worked with many wealthy families in the Beverly Hills School District and has first-hand knowledge in dealing with the issues surrounding children and wealth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The go-to treatise for raising children, August 3, 2007

By 

C. Huntley "plaza press" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Children of Paradise: Successful Parenting for Prosperous Families (Hardcover)

This book has been the go-to treatise for raising children since 1990. Dr. Hausner's contemporary message applies to all families seeking assistance with the issues related to childrearing. A great read and very insightful.