Customer Reviews

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families--How they Do It

5 star:		(144)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had my library order this book for me for their collection, and it arrived early (hence the review before publication date). I read the book in a few hours today. It is quite an interesting read with lots of information that has never been included in their television specials. The Duggars write about their political run, child rearing philosphies, daily schedule, organizing and chore methods, their businesses (past and present), and many more topics.

There are many recipes and pictures with captions (some from before they had any kids) scattered throughout the book. Most of the recipes are available on their family website, though. The Duggars even included a floor plan of their home which cleared up some confusion for me as to where things were located after watching their tv shows.

I was surprised to read that even though their home was professionally decorated by Discovery Health/TLC, there were a couple of things not included/completed in their home their first year that many of us would not want to live without in our own homes. They had to save up to afford them. I think some of us probably get the wrong impression from their shows that they have a lot of money in the bank. After reading the book I believe that they really are frugal and need to be to provide for their family.

I wish the book had included more information on how they really live frugally today. Possibly some information on the menus they follow to budget food expenses or more overall budget/expense information on how they truly afford 17+ kids, would have made an interesting addition. Also, there is only a little tidbit about the girls' "dress code". I wish they had included more information about how they came to decide on it and when they started the modest dress code.

It was overall an interesting read and gave me a more complete understanding of this large God fearing family.

I'm only half way through and I do love the Duggar's - but I have to say I cannot believe how frank and honest they are in this book - all the critiscims people have made of their family like "why doesn't Michelle breastfeed for birthcontrol?" - these are all addressed in the book. Also I'm ashamed to admit I assumed they had inherited money and that they got health insurance from Jim Bob's brief stint in the house of Reps - wrong wrong wrong - they are incredibly frugal and always have been - they started out with nothing married as teenagers and have saved and scrimped until they came to the relative financial security they have today (not wealth, security) - also they have a health insurance plan with high deductibles to make it more affordable - once again - I'm astounded they shared all these very personal details. I am absolutely loving this book and can't wait to finish.

I've really enjoyed reading this book. I love watching the Duggar family on television and am now happy to know a little more about them. They explain many of their past and present business ventures that have helped them to keep up with the expenses of their growing family. The best aspect of their family is showing the secular world that people can be completely happy and content living life putting God first. I think their family is truly a blessing to TV viewers and this book helps solidfy everything that is shown on their TV series and specials. Recipes and many helpful tips are included as well as resources for books that they've used to help them organize and structure their lives while still being flexible enough for unexpected events.

I recommend this book for everyone and hope that it helps many families live better lives!!

I didn't check reviews before I bought this book because a friend read it and had nothing but praise for it. I must admit that I am humbled by the system the Duggar parents have in place for their family, and realize that the Duggars are some of the most loved kids in print, if not the country.

What bothers me, only came about after I read the book and skimmed through some of the reviews here. Some are ugly, while the rest are downright untrue (which a person would know if they actually read/or paid attention to the book).

First, the Duggars are not fanatics. There is obviously a regular mention of the faith that guides their lives and their children's lives in the book, but if you want a Bible study, you'll need to buy another book too. The kids are reared with a ton of attention, love, and time with their parents and their siblings. In a country where teen pregnancy, drug use, and Brittney Spears wanna-be's run rampant, then this family may seem bizarre to some; but to those of us who look for an alternative to the current state of affairs for children in this country, then the Duggars are a fresh breath of air.

Two, there is absolutely no mention of "corporal punishment" in this book, as one review mentions. Whether or not you feel spankings are appropriate for your children, this book is neutral on the subject. It is not even mentioned. As for the "blanket time" escape consequences, as one reviewer assumes includes spanking, there's a step-by-step process which Michelle clearly outlines which NEVER calls for spankings! It was a reward system, mostly with lots of praise and excitement, and perhaps an edible treat. I'm still shaking my head wondering how someone else missed this...

Another reviewer condems the family's choice to bear their own children instead of adopting. Wouldn't it make more sense to go hound the folks who are unable to conceive and are "eliminating" their children during IVF? I bet all the kids in the country would have a loving home if parents who insisted on forcing conception chose instead to adopt.

As for the claim that the Duggars are creating a global problem by creating too many lives...I can only call to attention the fact that Americans are under-populating our country. We are in a negative state of population growth, only kept steady by immigration at this point. And truly, with the hearts these children have, hearts to serve their neighbors, aren't these the exact kind of people we WANT filling our country/world?

To continue...there's a remark about Jim Bob's business practice, where he buys low, and sells high. This IS SIMPLE business. It's how business is done. If businesses didn't do it, there would be no more businesses. How does this person expect Jim Bob to feed his children? If he didn't buy items (like the land he mentions in the book, or construction equipment) the people who were trying to sell at the time might starve. If he weren't offering said land or equipment for sale later, someone else would have to hunt elsewhere, or go without! He, as a business person, has an excellent eye for a deal, and for that reason, his family lives FREE of debt. How many of us can say the same?

Now for the lovely people who have donated time, advice, items, or skilled labor; who could judge them for helping? The family friend who is a widow and teaches piano comes to mind. I believe she teaches half-price to ALL of the members of her church. The Duggars didn't twist her arm, and bargain an elderly lady out of her food money. This woman has obviously picked something valuable up at church: it is better to give, than to receive. It is wonderful to serve others, esp. fellow-believers. It is admirable to serve those in need. I can't speak for the woman, but I would teach the Duggar children as she has done if I lived nearby and had the time. Why? Certainly not because I pity them. They don't need pity. Rather I would want to foster the growth of children who are great sources of light in a very dim world. Because they'll pass their talent along to another person who might not be able to afford it. Or, if I were a widow with no family at home, because those children are probably a lot of fun to be around.

To respond to the remarks about the recipes: they are fairly standard-American-diet, from what I could tell. One recipe calls for "parrafin" which is used for chocolate coatings for the sheen, and to avoid tempering. It is commonly used for chocolate coated nuts(among other things), and while I choose not to use it, I would point critical readers to the menu of any public school lunch, and tell me that those children eat any more healthfully...Are they getting any physical activity sitting at their desks all day long, while the Duggar children run around and play after they've had their lessons? I have yet to see an overweight Duggar, while about half of all other Americans are high on food, and low on exercise. Recipes were provided in the book; not meal plans. None of us know what rounded out a given meal, or how many salads were offered.

I am certain the Duggars have and will make mistakes as parents. They actually point to some in their book. They don't hide, or pretend to be perfect. There couldn't be two more humble people in the world. Which is precisely the reason I've written far more in a review that I intended to be short, sweet, and positive: Who, in their right mind would ridicule this pair, when they've shared their lives on t.v. and through this book, for the benefit of others? Who would go further, and spread inacurate information?

This family is an answer to prayer for us. Our children can watch other children on t.v. who respect their parents, dress and speak appropriately, and who share their faith. Many times while I was reading the book, my girls walked by and asked me to read out loud so they could hear too. The book is one I'll keep for the resources in the back, and pass along to friends who are interested.

I bought this book recently, and it is just wonderful.
Anyone who thought that they are weird, closeted religious fanatics will change their minds if they read this. Michelle and JimBob *are* strong Christians, with a conviction to allow God to control their family size. This does not mean that they breed like animals or take fertility drugs to have as many children as they can. Instead, they enjoy each other, and enjoy their life together. What this means is that if God has chosen for this one to be the last, they will accept it, and not go to extraordinary lengths to achieve a pregnancy. They will also welcome with open arms any children God blesses them with. This is really not an unusual viewpoint to have today, believe it or not. It IS hard to do. I know, because I and many of my friends follow a life that does not include artificial birth control. Michelle is one of the lucky ones. Out of 19 pregnancies, she has 18 children. Most of us have much smaller families. I have four, and I know several with less than five. The average seems to be 6 or 7. Please don't assume that those of us with many less children don't believe in the same thing! We just weren't blessed with that number of full-term births.
Reading this book, I am struck by the real-life education that these children are receiving. The children have been involved in their family businesses since birth! They have real skills, including building a house (!), that most video-playing, couch potato children of today are lacking. They will be ready for their adult lives when the time comes. I am sure that employers will line up to hire these honest, hard-working young men and women. They can only be a benefit to society.
I am a fan, obviously, but even I was amazed at how much more *normal* they seem compared to the tv show. I didn't know that the reason they are debt-free was simple hard work and planning. I didn't know that the tv show did NOT finish their house completely. That they went a whole year after moving in without air conditioning, until they saved up for it!!! Ditto for a yard. The show is NOT how they paid for their house, or why they can afford their children. Remember, the show was 15 and pregnant again. They had 15 children when they first had a show! They were supporting them themselves.
Instead of criticizing these people, read the book and find out the truth. They are a hard-working, good-natured couple who have been blessed abundantly, and are generous enough to share it with others. I recommend this book for everyone. It will open your eyes to a lifestyle that is a true blessing to everyone.

Although the narrative of this book is awkward as "Jim Bob" and "Michelle" both use the pronoun I, it was an interesting peek into their life for someone that has never seen the show. There were some good tidbits, but most was surface level and I would have enjoyed a bit more to their story. Nevertheless, it was a fun, easy read of a God-loving family. I actually thought they were "less-crazy" after reading their book.

I ordered this book, and in two days I had read the entire thing. It is an easy, quick read, and reveals a ton of information that is not discussed or shown in their documentaries on Discovery and TLC. I appreciated their openness in discussing their personal pasts as children, how they started from nothing to owning various businesses (convenience store, used-car lots), to getting to where they are now as owners of larger commercial rental properties. They truly are a frugal family, especially when I read about Jim Bob building one working 21-passenger bus from two other buses. It's truly extraordinary how they make things work with their finances, children, and marriage.

They do speak candidly about their faith, but it doesn't feel preachy. Although it's easy to see that they are big believers in the teachings of Bill Gothard, I did not believe they pushed it onto the reader. As another reviewer mentioned, it was more of sharing how their family does things in their home.

I'd recommend this book as an inspirational, quick read that even smaller families (which is almost all of us!) can benefit from. Her section on organization (as their family was moving from their first home to their second), I found to be incredibly helpful - worth the price of the book alone. Great book!

You would think that as a liberal lapsed Catholic with "only" three children, I would not care for the Duggar family. On the contrary, I found this book to be fascinating, honest, and helpful (especially the organizational tips; I wish they designed houses!)--and not preachy in the least.

In reading it, I realized that despite how different our families seem to be on paper, there is a lot of common ground, too, especially in the area of childrearing. Jim Bob and Michelle seem like nice people with a happy family--good for them.

Indeed, it bothers me when they are the target of criticism for "walking the walk" with their chosen lifestyle, particularly when people think they are somehow wrongly indoctrinating their children and keeping them insulated from the outside world. Well, guess what--we ALL indoctrinate our children in the ways of our chosen lifestyle, and we ALL insulate our kids from outside influences to varying degrees....we just think our own way is the "right" way.

I have a fascination with the Duggar family. Not in a creepy way, but more in the way that people find the Amish interesting. A "how do they possibly manage?" kind of way. Well, this book answered many of the questions I have had and was very candid and straightforward. Whether or not I agree with their beliefs, I respect the fact that they are strong in them. They seem to do a great job with child rearing, financial management and more. I also never get the greed feeling off of them that I do the Gosselins.

I would recommend this book but it is a pretty quick read, so you might just want to have your library order it for you.

I debated pre-ordering this book or just waiting for it at the library. In the end, I did pre-order and received it today. I've really been pleasantly surprised by it so far!

It's really well organized and is easy to browse through... stopping on areas you're interested in.

It is in no-way preachy.. but is more of a "this is what works for our family" type approach.

Michelle seems to be a very gentle Mom with a lot of good info. I was surprised to read about her positive home birth experience. I also was impressed with her determination to breastfeed even though she faced problems.

All in all, I left with many good ideas on how to help raise my kids with some good old fashioned values and morals, while not feeling that this book was not for me because I'm not a Christian.