Customer Reviews

Compassionate Souls : Raising the Next Generation to Change the World

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

On the outside it looks like this book is an introduction to what I consider the right things to do: homebirth, breastfeeding, selectively vaccinating (if at all), vegan diet, homeschooling. I found her personal methods of discipline pretty disturbing, though she does admit that perhaps they aren't for everyone. Physically restraining a child so that they will cry and eventually give up and submit to the adult restraining them is a technique used with children with severe behavioral problems. Children who have gone through this report that this "horse-breaking" style of discipline is pretty undermining to their confidence. I think a better book is "The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart" by Jan Hunt or Joseph Chilton Pearce's "Magical Child." Other great introductions to "alternative" parenting: Mothering magazine and their "Natural Family Living" book.
I felt Farb mentions some great parenting/lifestyle choices that are available (the vegan section is very helpful) but there is a core element of HEART missing somehow.

I bought this book because I agreed with most of its principles-- natural birth, breastfeeding, conscious decision-making. But I expected to find research in it to help me discuss some decisions with my husband. I was very disappointed to learn that, although Farb seems to be capable of scientific research, she doesn't present any *objective* research in the book. She only presents one side of MANY issues, often beating ideas into the ground instead of providing solid facts to back them.

I get it, breastfeeding is good, mainstream media is bad, some doctors are bad. But I found myself defending the other sides of these issues while reading just to give them a fair shake. For example, I'm vegetarian and plan to raise my baby the same. Farb writes as if vegetarians and meat-eaters are entirely irresponsible or unaware, and that veganism is the only way. Though I believe in veganism and its benefits, the chapter on veganism didn't help me at all to see its merits, nor did it provide a healthy plan for vegan pregnancy and babies. I only saw Farb's broad opinions (many of which are shared by vegetarians and some meat-eaters alike). The vaccination chapter is full of errors and leaps of logic as well.

The result is that this reads more like a journal of Farb's personal pregnancy and child-rearing than a tool to help others make decisions. I'm glad these ideas are out there in book form, but I wish Farb provided more than her opinions and experience. As it is, she's told me nothing I don't already know more about from my own research, and her one-sided presentation has given my husband the impression that some of these issues *have* no good objective reasoning behind them.

Look elsewhere for defendable "how to be hippie parents" material. I am thrilled by Barbara Kingsolver's "Small Wonder," personal essays that present conscious earth-friendly issues factually without being preachy.

I just finished this book and was so happy I picked it up! Far from finding the author "preachy" or "judgmental," I found her simply informative and genuine. I enjoyed the segments about a Vegan pregnancy and how to handle misinformed doctors (of which I've seen my share). I was enlightened by the author's experience with midwives, her views on hospitals and being treated as a body part by doctors and nurses. I was pleased she shared the struggles she endured trying to do the best things possible for her family, despite opposition from outside influences. I appreciated the advice on how to handle relatives and other outsiders disrespectful of her parenting choices. It was encouraging to know there are others who view the world as I do, and I don't have to forge my way in the dark. This book was edifying, affirming and inspirational for me.

This book should be considered required reading for all high school students!! There is so much useful information packed into it -- much of which could be best acted upon by those who have not yet started families.

As the author suggests, everything about how we live and raise our children we do mostly because that is what we see being reflected back at us by our friends, family, and the media....but are we really making CONSCIOUS chioices? Are our choices about what we eat, whether or not to vaccinate, how to educate our children, where to give birth, what toys to give them etc really giving our children the best chances at a health and good quality of life?

I had already been moving towards many of the views expressed by Compassionate Souls, but this book gave me so much more to think about, as well as gave me words to express much of what I was feeling in my heart.

Everyone should read this book!

A friend of mine, who is a little into things on the fringe, suggested that I read this book. I must admit, that prior to reading Compassionate Souls I was very critical of the choices that my friend was making. It seemed that everything that she was doing with her children, flew in the face of what everyone else I knew was doing, and what every magazine article or book on parenting or health I had ever read advised.

Yet this book has definately changed my thinking. I no longer think that sleeping with one's baby will make them overly dependent. I am no longer fearful about my friend's decision to not vaccinate her children (nor do I veiw her choice to not vaccinate as a threat to me) in fact I am regretting that I did not look into this issue more fully when my own children were younger and I was being sold on shot after shot. I find myself wondering too, if some of the horrible illnesses my children had shortly after getting shots were caused by the shots (something I never even considered related before) I have began to make some small changes in what I am feeding my family (and found the recipes in the back of the book --especially the vegan caesar salad dressing, the Green Rice, and Jojo's baked potatoes absolutely incredible!!

Although I could never see myself homeschooling, I now realize that there many more benefits to it for children and families then I ever realized, and was amazed to learn that some people do it for reasons other then religious convictions and that they really made a lot of sense to me.

The first chapter, On Becoming a Parent, really drew me in. In light of all that has been happening, politically, socially, educationally in our country lately, I am finding myself questioning why, with so many conveniences, and benefits to our culture, families and children seem to be struggling with life more then ever?

Compassionate Souls has really been an eye opener for me. Thank you Ms Farb for writing this and sharing so much about your life and your extensive research with me. My only regret is that I didn't get a hold of your book earlier -- when I would have had more chances to act on your compelling information.

Mrs. Farb's book is one that all parents should read. She includes many thought provoking chapters on all subjects involving parenting. I especially appreciated the information on Breastfeeding and Vaccinations. This would make a great gift for the parent to be!

Compassionate Souls addresses virtually all the issues faced by vegan parents today. From pregnancy to homeschooling to the vaccine issue, JoAnn will take you through her own experiences and considerable research and present you with invaluable information to help you become a conscious parent. This book really makes you think. It also gives you a great basis for debating issues with your family and friends. I consider this book a must read. It's also a great gift for family and friends who may not fully understand how vegans tend to raise their kids.

I had the unfortunate opportunity to meet this author and was shocked to find that she abused her own animals! She had an Iguana that she carelessly neglected to the point it starved to death. Then there was her dog who lived with her in Kansas; the dog was forced to always stay outside on their aprox. 3 acres of land that was covered in ticks and who wimpered day and night from the pain of the insects biting into its flesh. I even witnessed her sending her husband to murder a rattlesnake that was sunbathing in the children's sandbox (the kids were inside, the snake was not coiled up and nobody else was around) and she refused to heed my uggestions to call animal control to come and retrieve the animal and relocate it! She claims to be compassionate but the truth is she is cold as ice. DONT READ THIS BOOK!

The nadir of western civilization encapsulated in 192 pages. I could not figure out how to give this book a zero star rating, so I had to give it a one. This book is easier to appreciate on a humorous level, a satirical look at the eccentricities and gullibility of a woman who tries to raise a family so against the grain that the wood appears to splinter, break into a million pieces and fly into the eyes of everyone looking in.
Joann backs up her information with so little academic research that a fourth grade one page paper on the industrial revolution could easily contain more facts and educational worth. Farb backs up all her painfully one sided evidence from one sided research. As you read your mind will spiral out of control as it tries to grasp onto to the pathetic logic of this poor, misinformed woman.
Mrs. Farb's child rearing techniques are frightening. Not only has she forced her children to be vegan since birth (an important decision I would hope such a liberal minded woman would understand is the choice of the child once they become old enough to understand) but her disciplinary advice is terrifying. By not physically disciplining her children and letting them cry until they are no longer capable of crying, she is setting her children up for numerous psychological issues.
This book is a look into the mind of woman who has become so warped with alternative lifestyle ideas, she has lost all grip on reality and what it means to be human. One chapter, entitled "Conscious Birth" details her descent into madness quite vividly. Joann spends part of the chapter arguing with doctors about healthy eating practices for a pregnant mother (Joann, I remind you, is not a licensed medical professional). She then writes at length about the dangers of various drug assisted births only to go into labor for 3 days and have an epidural at the hospital anyways. Joann is the epitome of hypocrisy. (Near the end of this chapter Joann mentions how the midwife showed her the placenta that carried one of her newborns. I found this beyond disgusting and closer to the realm of earth shatteringly disturbing.)
Joann writes at length in following chapters about the dangers of toys not made of wood, television, internet, and basically anything that can be plugged in. I imagine Joann drives a Flinstones-like steamroller car to work so as to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. Joann has left a note on her personal website [...] stating that she no longer uses the internet at all. (And no, that website was not created in 1999, it was made in 2007. Any professional author who thinks Comic Sans is an appropriate font for anything should sit down and really consider the career decisions they have made.)
It did not surprise me that Joann named one of her children a name I had never heard of before, Sarina. Joann probably did this in an attempt to allow her daughter a chance to stand out in the world, but Mrs. Farb is most likely unaware of the repercussions unfamiliar names can have on an individual. Here is a link to one such study Mrs. Farb clearly never considered. [...]
In closing, this book makes me weep for the future of humanity. Mrs. Farb clearly does not understand what it means to be human, nor what it takes to function as a contributing member of the human race. I pity her children. I pity anyone who reads this book for anything more than a good laugh.

Ok, so I'm a new mother. EVERYONE is giving me unsolicited advice. But some of what I'm hearing just doesn't jive with my gut. But hey what do I know? I'm twenty something, not an expert on anything. The doctors are trying to scare the (...) out of me if I don't bow down to their fancy degrees....So I didn't go through med school....but still I'm not stupid!!

Then I find this book. A great read! An easy read! Farb did what I wish I had done BEFORE I even got pregnant. Man oh man oh man....after reading Compassionate Souls an awful lot is starting to make sense. It's a whole other way of looking at life, parenting, doctors, food, baby shots, birth...yada yada yada.

I AM NOT ALONE!

There is a better way, a smart way, to raise children, to keep them from having allergies, ear infections, diabetes, asthma (I happen to know several families whose kids have these!!)

But what is really cool...my man and I we read a chapter each night out loud and then discussed it. It's really been a great forum to grow as a couple.