Customer Reviews

Claim Your Inner Grown-Up: 4 Essential Steps to Authentic Adulthood

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

 

 

I was expecting a dry, medicine read when my well-meaning grandmother gave this to me. I thanked her instead. It took Ashley David Prend, A.C.S.W., to remind us that being a grown-up isn't unfun, uninspired and joyless, aka One Big Yawn. Quite the opposite! The inner grown-up is our link to liberating our spirituality, our ability to love more, and be more proudly productive (and playful). The most surprising part is that Prend doesn't decry the inner child as Evil or Bad - which is smart, since the inner child was the Muhammad Ali of self-help for quite some time and is a powerful reference point for most... Rather, she explains its importance, but its limits as well, and how it works in conjunction with the inner grown-up. This book was definitely informative, interesting, and original. It would inspire at least a few revelations in those who choose to pick it up, whether they like self-help books or not.

Overall, her ideas and the book itself are a good read. I can't say I agree with everything in the book, but it is a refreshing, and at times, a new look at psychobabble relating to the human condition as we go through tough times and not so tough times in life.

...In plain terms, Ms. Prend helped me to see what I've been doing wrong -- it's time to stop whining! My inner child needed a spanking. I'm putting her ideas to work in my life, and am really glad I found her book. I highly recommend this book for anyone who feels ready to accept the challenge of being an adult.

I am not finished with the whole book, but then again it will be a work in progress to recognize the childhood and finally grow up. Excellent points were made and my thinking was ignited into a positive realization it can all be worked out.

Ashley David Prend was an unknown author to me before I read this book. Like many other self-help books, this one is also aimed at discovering one's own true self and becoming the most responsible, productive, spiritual and happy person you can be. Prend takes a slightly different approach to self-discovery. While the goal is the same, she also bases her philosophy around maintaining the postiive childlike qualities within us. However, while that can be good, it can also be dangerous. Take trust for example. If we maintain TOO MUCH of our childlike trust, there is the risk of becoming too trusting, an easy prey for those wanting to take advantage of our that same trusting nature.

Prend bases her presentation style on four basic areas: Detach, Alert, Reorient and Enact. From a psychological point of view, I, personally, found her concepts rather elementary, as would others who have studied psychology. For those who have not studied this field, you will likely find this handbook a quick, informative, easy and inspiring read. This book truly is "handbook" and definitely not an in-depth journey into enlightenment. While it may be inspiring for some, it does not leave the reader with a lot of food for thought or soul searching after the final page has been read....

Another self help formula book attempting to offer a catchy step by step (DARE) program to well being. It attempts to depart from the now defunct inner child movement of the past and replace it with an updated version. Pass.

I picked this book up because I was intrigued by the title. Unfortunately, it only took me seconds to see that the author had a very specific ideology that was ignoring other psychological and historical viewpoints. For example, the author points out that "adults are on time" and that being late is an "act of passive aggressiveness." While this can be true many times, it is certainly not true all the time. Anyone who knows the Jungian based Myers-Briggs personality test will know that "perceivers" are notoriously late because they get easily distracted while "judgers" are frequently early for every appointment. But in the author's world, only the "J" personality type is "mature." Another statement the author makes, on the very same page, is that being adult means "raising your own children." Sounds fair on its face. However, it ignores historical and economic facts. The nuclear family of two parents and children is a 20th century creation. In the past, societies had extended families that were heavily involved in the rearing of the children while parents worked. This is still true in many societies even today. So how does this become a definition of maturity across the board? I don't get it. Obviously, people shouldn't just have children willy-nilly and ignore their needs. But the author's perspective is pretty much B&W. Their is no gray. (IMO, this is in itself a statement of immaturity.) The whole thing just smacks of a certain political mindset. My advice: Take the Myers-Briggs test, find out what you are, figure out what parts of your personality need some work. This is a far better solution than having this author spoon feed you her personal views.