Customer Reviews

No Greater Joy, Volume Two

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(37)

 

 

Hopefully, in the near future, we will be seeing proposed archaic treatments of children such as those promoted in this book, being legally defined as Child Abuse.

James C. Talbot

Dear Michael and Debi Pearl,
Whipping infants is abuse. Your simple-minded approach to child-adult
conflicts denies the reality that babies and children are people, and
that effective communication is achieved by respect, listening and
patience, not by whippings. It is easy to beat a tiny child into
submission, but it destroys the child's sense of self, angers the child,
and encourages worse behavior such as lying, bullying others, and other
aggressive and self destructive behaviors even into adulthood.

By pushing your twisted, abusive techniques on unsuspecting parents you
are creating a more violent, less empathic world. Your methods have
resulted in gross child abuse and even death. Your techniques are
un-Christian and have scarred countless children and destroyed families.
If there ever was a website that should be shut down for the good of
society, it is yours.

The Pearls have
1. No formal religious training whatsoever
2. No formal training in child development whatsoever

Also, keep in mind that Barnes and Noble and Borders refuse to carry their books anymore because of the promotion of child abuse

And that's exactly what the Pearls do. These books are dangerous and do nothing more than advocate child abuse by taking bible verses out of context to fit their own agenda.
There's nothing "biblical" about child abuse.
Didn't Jesus teach us to love, forgive, and be kind to one another? Or does that somehow exclude children?
The methods the Pearls advocate are not only physically and mentally damaging to children, but spiritually damaging as well.
A much better alternative from a Christian POV is The Complete Book of Christian Parenting & Child Care: A Medical & Moral Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Children by Dr. William Sears and Martha Sears.
Children are for loving. nurturing, and teaching, but never for hurting.
What kind of world do we live in that it's still even up for discussion whether or not it's ok to hit BABIES? Babies are innocent amd helpless, and depend on their parents to protect them, nurture them and love them.
Contrary to what these people say, your baby is not "manipulating" you by crying. They are simply communitcating in the only way they know how. They express "love me", "feed me", "hold me", "I'm scared", "I'm cold", "I'm wet" etc. by crying. If the Pearls had any background in child development they would kno this. If one does not wish to attend to their child when their child needs them, then that individual probably should have thought twice before becoming a parent. Corporal punishmentis the easy way out, it may stop an unwanted behavior in the short term, but in the long term the effects have been shown to be negative. The message it gives is that violence is an acceptable way to get someone to do what you want.
I relaize that some people believe in spanking, and even though I do not, I would not call someone a bad parent for spanking their kids, but what the pearls advocate is not an open hand on a clothed bottom for running into traffic, it's pre-meditated abuse wrapped up in the guise of religion.
The spirit of the child is for nurturing not for breaking. Children are Gods precious creations, not monsters out to get you. They need to be treated with care, love, and kindness. No one is perfect, not parents, not kids, but if we want to be truly pleasing to God, love, forgiveness, and gentlenes is the way to go. Violence is never the answer.
I would urge anyone who loves their children to stear clear of these people and their books. I'm ashamed of Amazon for even carrying their products, and I will honestly think twice before ordering from Amazon again.

Looking for parenting help & guidance? Don't be taken in; this book has many destructive ideas masquerading as God's love. Children don't need to be hit or spanked (or entrapped with situations that tempt disobedience just so you can give them a smack and teach them otherwise). Honestly, this is not even common sense. I know so many people--including colleagues, friends, and my own children--who were never spanked in any way and are loving, generous, enthusiastic, hard-working, and disciplined. They bring joy and make good contributions to the world. Many are people of deep faith. Of course you can have loving, consistent discipline without hitting in any way! Rearing children is not a choice between spanking and no limits. Don't be tempted into this damaging approach.

The Pearls, sick bullies, pretend to be loving, Christian parents. How's this for "context"?
p.30-31 Michael Pearl describes sitting on a little 7 year old boy while tying him up: "I couldn't allow this boy to grow up without respect for 'the powers that be.' So I obtained a fifteen-foot length of cord and chased him down. I weigh 230 pounds, and I am six feet, four inches tall. He is about four feet tall and weighs about fifty pounds. I had to sit on his head and shoulders to work the cord through the loops of his pants. To be true to my threat, after securing his pants, I ran the cord up over his shoulders, like suspenders, and down around his legs, drawn up like a calf, and finally tying one hand to his waist where his foot was tied."

I order many books from amazon for my school counseling job but am rethinking contributing to an organization that supports child abuse in the form of the Pearl's books. This book has detailed descriptions of hurting children in the name of teaching them "obedience". Parenting is not a military endeavor and to imagine a creator who would ever, ever, ever direct adults to hurt the most innocent among us is misguided and twisted thinking. The woundedness of these authors is evident in every chapter of this book. Do not buy it or any of their books. Amazon should not promote hurting children. Constance D'Ambrosio, MFT

Pearl hasn't done his homework. Children who are "disciplined" using physical force (a.k.a. violence) are taught that when you don't get what you want, use force. He is clueless to the scientific research in brain neurobiology that when you use violence on children, it alters their brain structure toward violence, and actually turns on the DNA for violent behaviors. 90% of all incarcerated males were beaten as children - doesn't that tell you something? Statistically, the beaters were usually beaten themselves. "The sins of the parents shall be visited upon the children".

This book is by and for "Christian" psychos who love to beat their kids.

The same bunch of Religious Right whackos who support torture.

Anybody who agrees with this book is NOT a real Christian.

Shame on you!!

This book will turn your kids into bullies! It all begins with the parents using the WRONG forms of discipline! This book tells you to spank your kids! And being hit (and I can tell you from experience) that the bullies that hit me in school were spanked by their parents and one got the belt! And guess what! These bullies hit me and other's because these bullies were being hit themselves and they think they're supposed to hit other kids! These books that say parents must spank their kids, well there are other kids suffering because of this and I am living proof!!!!

The "reviewers" giving this book 5 stars obviously haven't read the book! I read it, and it's a child abuse manual encouraging whipping infants for crying, and setting up entrapment "sessions" during which the parent encourages the baby to "disobey" and be whipped! There are other sickening scenarios (which the 5-star enthusiasts don't mention):

1) Michael Pearl sits on a tiny 7 year old's *head and shoulders* and ties the child up "like a calf" (p.30-31). Michael Pearl weighs 230 lbs!
2) A 2 year old boy is repeatedly whipped in the car for crying, for "twenty miles down a lonesome highway at 11:00 on a winter night" (p.49).
3) "Hot-saucing" (which is illegal in Canada and some US states and can cause severe burning and choking) is recommended (p.53).
4) An 18 month old is whipped for crying after she fell (p.63).

If gullible parents actually take this advice seriously then it's no wonder they sometimes end up in jail and have their abused children taken away! Amazon shouldn't sell books like this that lead to blatant child abuse. It's unChristian, immoral, and bordering on illegal to peddle such books. For a refreshing alternative that will never lead to child abuse, read Rue Kream's great book "Parenting a Free Child".