Grow the Tree You Got: & 99 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Adolescents and Teenagers [Paperback]

Tom Sturges (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 5, 2011

A wise and inspiring guide to parenting through the extraordinary- and at times tumultuous-journey that is the adolescent and teenage years.

When Tom Sturges became a father, he decided that he wanted to be one of the greatest father that ever walked the earth. But things became a bit more complicated when his older son turned ten, and the chatty kid he'd known suddenly started locking his bedroom door. Tom realized he needed to find a way to stay on track-he needed crib notes. So, if a parenting idea of technique worked well, he wrote it down. And if he stumbled across something another parent did that was particularly ingenious or exemplary, he wrote that down, too. In Grow the Tree You Got, Tom presents "golden rules" for raising happy, healthy, and compassionate adults. His mantra? It's impossible to show our children too much respect, but it's worth the effort to try.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Sturges is the father of three sons, nineteen, thirteen and two. He is Executive Vice President and Head of Creative for Universal Music Publishing Group. A coach, mentor, teacher, and volunteer, his efforts with at-risk children at an inner-city Los Angeles public school have impacted the lives of hundreds of students there. He has received many commendations and citations from civic and national leaders for his volunteerism, which is also the topic of the award- winning documentary Witness to a Dream. The author of Parking Lot Rules & 75 Other Ideas for Raising Amazing Children, Sturges' father was the legendary filmmaker Preston Sturges. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tarcher (May 5, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585428604
• ISBN-13: 978-1585428601
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Reminders of What a Parent Should Know May 15, 2011

By Book Sake VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Having a teenage son was what prompted me to want to read this book. Many of the stories were relatable but most of the ideas and tips were nothing new to me. They say that most self-help books aren't helpful because either you don't apply the information or because it is common knowledge...this falls under the common knowledge for me. I know there are many parents that don't apply this information and it could prove to be a big change for their family if they did.

The book is simply a reminder for me to let my son grow however he is going to grow. It tells us that we are there to help them along, but essentially each child is different and is going to need to grow in their own time and direction. Sturges reminds us that while our children may not do what we think they should do, or what we want them to do, they are their own person and have the ability to choose what and how they want to do things.

The chapters don't touch on what to do when your child is really out of line, when things are really bad, but I don't think any book could cover that area with the type of expertise that would be needed. It does get us to look at situations differently and with a calmer tone to our voices. It's a pretty simple formula - speak to them as you would want to be spoken to and give them the freedom to make their own choices.

Book Rating: 3/5
Book Received From: Tarcher/Penguin for Review
Reviewer: Jessica for Book Sake

5.0 out of 5 stars A must with teens and pre-teens October 18, 2011

By sdanberry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My 10 yr old's teacher recommended this book and her father and I got 2 copies to each read. It teaches the parent to accept the gifts your child has and how to let go when they're ready to enter the "My parents aren't cool anymore" days and also how to curb disrespectful behavior that also comes with being a teenager. It teaches you how to talk to them and understand what they are going through with dealing with their emotions and changing hormones.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! August 29, 2011

By Stephanie N. Smith

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Great book, great insight. You will need a highlighter because there are many good things you will want to refer back too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Reflections on a Teenage Crisis May 30, 2011

By Golden Kirin

Format:Paperback

It was such a fortuitous incident to have met Tom Sturges in person. Despite being an esteemed music executive, a few minutes into a conversation and you'll realize how much wisdom lies in his words and life experiences. To me, even though it is a few conversations throughout a span of a few months, I realize how much he meant to me as a mentor, so I decided to flip a page with his new book.

Honestly, I have no intentions of fathering a child anytime soon :P but reading the book made me realize how conversations between my parents and I played out a few years back (in my teenage years). Memories of all the fighting and misunderstandings were rewound and labelled with the correct subtitles by the book. So for me, the book presents a nice picture of a teenager's natural progression of language- and how to counter it with the right methods.

Of course like any other book, a few rules stick and others slip- and for the most part it's about what works for the family.

Overall it was quite an enjoyable read. Looking forward to his next book!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Common Sense Advice August 24, 2011

By Emily Reynolds

Format:Paperback

I bought this book while on vacation from my job in juvenile probation thinking that it would inspire me to go back to work full of ideas and motivation of ways to help my kids and their families. What greeted me was a book of things and ideas I was already aware of. Common sense ideas like giving teens respect, speaking calmly, and pushing them to pursue their dreams. While I'm sure there are parents out there who don't do these things, they are also the parents who are not going to seek out and purchase this book. I stopped reading this book half way through and plan on donating it to the local goodwill.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Overclass Bleatings To the Underlings August 29, 2011

By Elizabeth S. Case

Format:Paperback

Happily, I did not spend a dime on this tripe. It was a gift from my FIL who thought the husband would get something out of it.

It's very difficult to read a book by somebody in the OverClass preaching about parenting, stuffed with ancedotes about his OverClass peers and their parenting situations (The Paul McCartney & Shaquille O'Neal drops - how is the average proletarian to relate to THEM?). I mean, COME ON, whose father can actually INTRODUCE THEM to Fifty Cent?

The "positive thinking" hooey which permeated the book was enough to put my eyes in permanent eyeroll mode. The Fantasy Show he envisions, with Tom Brokaw and Maria Shriver was LOL at its utmost. After what happened with Maria Shriver's personal life after the book was published was the icing on the cake.

The weirdest chapter in this book by far was "Let Them Be Beautiful". He sure seemed focused on blonde girls with long hair getting their hair chopped off. Sheryl, the woman who, as a child, was held down by her moms and granny and got her lucious blonde locks chopped, was a real hard luck case. I read that entire chapter thinking "This dude sure loves his ladies blonde - long haired blonde." Just - weird.

If you're looking for honest parenting advice, this book isn't it. Donate, toss, and/or delete. Or keep around for easy laughs when you remember YOUR dad wasn't high up in the music biz and didn't introduce you to YOUR favorite singer/band.