Kids Who Think Outside the Box: Helping Your Unique Child Thrive in a Cookie-Cutter World [Paperback]

Stephanie Lerner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2005

"Look at today's superachievers in business, technology, the arts, sports, and politics. What were they like as children and teens, and what brought out their incredible talents? In this extraordinary book, 22 unparalleled achievers from diverse professions talk about their own experiences, offering candid insights on mentoring and empowering children with high potential. Kids Who Think Outside the Box presents strategies for parents, teachers, and others to use to harness a child's natural inclinations and gifts, whatever they may be. First-person narratives include: Legendary musician and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney; Academy Award(r)-nominated director, producer, and actor Spike Lee; New York City Mayor and former Bloomberg LLP Chief Executive Michael R. Bloomberg; Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman Robert D. Hormats; artist Chuck Close; hockey legend Rod Gilbert; presidential advisor Michael Gerson; world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz; naturalist and South Pole explorer Tori Murden McClure; and others The book also includes an extensive directory of programs and resources, from science camps to performing arts academies, leadership institutes, elite sports training programs, and more. Far from fanciful theory, this book is designed to be used in the development of our future "living legends." Featuring an unprecedented confluence of first-hand accounts, careful research, and practical tools and resources, Kids Who Think Outside the Box will help readers tap the vast potential in every child."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Here are 22 achievers from diverse professions who reveal their influences&ideas,teaching parents how to mentor kids and encourage natural gifts. -- Midwest Book Review

Review

"""Kids Who Think Outside the Box tells the stories of kids school counselors see every day. We work with students to address their concerns in the personal/social, academic, and career realms. Professional school counselors encourage all students to think outside the box to ensure their success in school and beyond.""

-- Douglas Morrissey, President, New York State School Counselor Association; School Counselor, Canajoharie High School, Canajoharie, New York"

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 17 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM; 1 edition (April 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814472753
• ISBN-13: 978-0814472750
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Encouraging Kids To Think Different & Innovatively!, March 21, 2005

By 

Roy Chan (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kids Who Think Outside the Box: Helping Your Unique Child Thrive in a Cookie-Cutter World (Paperback)

After receiving a limited release of her book, this book describes how a mother works really hard to find the best journey for her child. This book happens to be a genuinely encouraging book. As a mother and a grandmother, I can tell you from experience that the 'kid who thinks outside the box' ends up with the ultimate success. Take it from me, I had my hands full with a wonderful child who was not easy, but as with the living legends in the book...my kid went on to become an exceptional success story. It's an easy read, and one that is meaningful to parents, teachers and kids. It's a basic book written by a mother who actually focusses on her child. If you want to have well-adjusted successful children that grow into well-adjusted successful adults, then you have to get this book, read it, highlight it, read it to your children when they feel down or when the going gets tough. This is an inspirational book for parents, moms and dad, and grandparents. A bible for the 21st century.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not The Usual "Bringing Up Kids" Book --- Much Better, March 24, 2005

By 

Mom with 3 kids (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kids Who Think Outside the Box: Helping Your Unique Child Thrive in a Cookie-Cutter World (Paperback)

After waiting for this book for more than a week, I found it to be somewhat different and better than I expected. First - a point about the book edition itself:

This book is NOT a hardcover book and is mislabeled in the Amazon description. My copy arrived as a soft cover, which is the only edition published. It is to be expected I suppose for a $10 book.

This book is not the usual "self-help" or "guidebook" for raising children. In many ways, this is a departure from the tried and true formats - and in my opinion is much better. The book has an original approach, and makes for engaging reading.

The book does not preach - or tell you what is right, what is better, how do do things. Instead, the book gets its points across through the narrative stories of the "living legends", who were not typical children - but rather, kids who would be labeled today as being different, nerdy, shy, "out of the box" children. The stories are inspiring, each is different, and each is a quick read... anywhere from 3-12 pages each. Some of the individuals included are not household names (although many are), but have made extraordinary achievements. The way the book is organized - achievers in science, sports, arts, politics/economics, etc. - also makes for a good differentiation among the contributions, and matches nicely the resource guide in the second half of the book.

The kids programs and materials described in the second half of the book have informative descriptions, and are a wealth of information. There is something there for any kid, with any "outside the box" interest. Just browsing through this section will encourage any parent to look for programs that go well beyond anything that they may see at their local school or community program.

The book is a wonderful, inspiring book. The kind of material that can be read more than once, and the kind of stories that can be shared with your children. This book is a keeper, and a bargain for $10 !

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 22 achievers from diverse professions who reveal their influences and ideas, September 4, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kids Who Think Outside the Box: Helping Your Unique Child Thrive in a Cookie-Cutter World (Paperback)

First-person narratives from musicians, executives, and many more extraordinary individuals from science and the arts focus on their childhoods and teens in an effort to recall how and why they thought outside the box, thus becoming famous and successful. Here are 22 achievers from diverse professions who reveal their influences and ideas, teaching parents how to mentor kids and encourage natural gifts. Kids Who Think Outside The Box: Helping Your Unique Child Thrive In A Cookie-cutter World is inspirational.