A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

Michelle Duggar (Author), Jim Bob Duggar (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 7, 2011

In this second book from the Duggars, they focus on the principles that equip them to face life's challenges—drawing from their most recent challenge with the 3-month premature birth of their newest child, Josie. They also share the new challenges their older children are facing as they prepare for adult life. Central to the book is a section on the principles that the Duggars have consistently taught their children. These simply worded principles are basic to the Duggar family and are shared in a way that other parents can incorporate in their own homes. A special chapter on homeschooling gives valuable information to parents who are considering this route or are already invested in it.

The world continues to be amazed by their nineteen well-groomed, well-behaved, well-schooled children and their home life, which focuses on family, financial responsibility, fun—and must importantly, faith. The Duggars show how parents can succeed whether they’re rearing a single child or several.

Table of Contents:

Preface: Our Biggest Test Begins

Part 1: Little Baby, Big Challenges  
1. Little Eyes Watching  
2. More Babies on the Way!  
3. A Surprising Test Begins  
4. Praying without Ceasing 
5. Miracles and Milestones 
6. Difficult Priorities

Part 2: Shaping Hearts and Minds 
7. Living under the Microscope  
8. Opportunities to Reach Out to Others 
9. Developing a Servant Heart
10. Making Faith Fun

Part 3: Big Hope for Our Children’s Future 
11. Homeschool, Duggar Style 
12. Vocations, Goals, and Roles  
13. Daily Training, Tips, and Practicalities 
14. Life Is a Classroom 

Part 4: Big Hearts, Full of Love 
15. Protecting and Cherishing Our Relationships 
16. Michelle’s Heart for Children and Moms 
17. Jim Bob’s Lifelong Hobby 
18. Do the Duggars Date?
P.S. Answering the Big Question

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar married in 1984. Some time after the birth of their first child, they prayed that God would give them a love for children like his love for children and that he would bless them with as many children as he saw fit in his timing. Soon after, Michelle became pregnant with twins! The Duggars currently have ten boys and nine girls, and all their names begin with “J”—Joshua, Jana and John-David (twins), Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah and Jeremiah (twins), Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie.

The Duggars are the #1 program on TLC/ Discovery Health / TLC documentaries and have appeared multiple times on national TV shows, such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, Inside Edition, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fox News Network, CNN, MSNBC, and others. Foreign television appearances include Italian Public Television, KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), and Discovery Home & Health (UK & Australia). They have been featured in magazine and newspaper articles in China, India, New Zealand, Australia, France, and Germany. As a family project, the Duggars built a seven-thousand-square-foot home. Both Jim Bob and Michelle are licensed real estate agents and conduct the Jim Sammon’s Financial Freedom Seminar in their community. They purpose to live completely debt-free—postponing  purchases until they have the cash. Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (June 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439183813
• ASIN: B005M47S5E
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (132 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author Michelle Duggar is married to Jim Bob Duggar. The couple married in 1984. Some time after the birth of their first child, they prayed that God would give them a love for children like his love for children and that he would bless them with as many children as he saw fit in his timing. Soon after, Michelle became pregnant with twins! With child number eighteen due January 1, 2009, the Duggars currently have ten boys and seven girls, and all their names begin with J: Joshua, Jana and John-David (twins), Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah and Jeremiah (twins), Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, and Jennifer. The Duggars have been featured on six Discovery Health / TLC documentaries and are contracted to film several more. They have appeared multiple times on national TV shows, such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, The View, Inside Edition, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fox News Network, CNN, MSNBC, and others. Foreign television appearances include Italian Public Television, KBS (Korean Broadcasting System), and Discovery Home & Health (UK & Australia). They have been featured in magazine and newspaper articles in China, India, New Zealand, Australia, France, and Germany. As a family project, the Duggars built a seven-thousand-square-foot home. Both Jim Bob and Michelle are licensed real estate agents and conduct the Jim Sammon's Financial Freedom Seminar in their community. They purpose to live completely debt-free: postponing purchases until they have the cash. Jim Bob served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 and was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2002.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book! June 6, 2011

By Rose

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thought this was a great book. I have been watching the Duggars on TV since their first show, and have always been impressed and encouraged by this family. This book explains a lot of how and why they do the things they do. Thank you, Jim Bob & Michelle for taking the time to write this book.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend You Read This Book! August 9, 2011

By Just Me

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I know there are strong opinions about the Duggar family on both sides of the aisle. I happen to be pro-Duggar (you are shocked right now aren't you). I like lots of things about them. I may not agree with them 100% on everything, but what I do know is that they are invested in their family. I think that is refreshing in today's world. The first half of the book is a lot about the trials they have had with their youngest daughter Josie and it was good, but if you have seen the show then you would know about it already although they do shed some light on things that happened behind the scenes which was interesting.

The second half of the book is what I loved. It is an amazing parenting manual mostly because it is derived straight from the Bible. It is just so good I took so many pages of notes and I wanted to share a few of the highlights with you.

On Overcoming Shyness

There is a chapter that contains the reasons to help your child overcome shyness. The big point of it is to be able to open doors to share your faith (pg. 98 of the book) also taken from Acts 20:35. They highlight Matthew 7:12 - treating others as you would want to be treated as a reason for overcoming shyness as well. They encourage you to teach your child to make eye contact and to practice introductions with your child - roll play. I personally think this is a good idea as I have shy children who sometimes refuse to speak to adults and I feel like it is very disrespectful especially if it is my pastor or his wife who are talking to them. This is something I need to work on with my kids. Also, with this they stress safety and never to go anywhere alone and never to talk to strangers without mom or dad present....

Developing a Servant's Heart (chapter 9)

They gave practical suggestions of what you can do to serve others even if you are young or if you are a mom with young kids. There were so many good ideas and ways to do this such as baking something and taking it to someone in need or to someone who needs encouragement. Writing notes or kids drawing pictures and mailing them. Visiting nursing homes or even going on a short term missions trip with your whole family. They also give ways to deal with criticism in a Godly manner (Matt. 5:11,44). A great quote from page 114:

"We can learn from critics, either because what they're saying is true - or because of the way we respond when it isn't."

Making Faith Fun (chapter 10)

Again, I found so much from this chapter and we have now been memorizing verses "Duggar-style". I will explain more about that in another post. They have so many helpful suggestions. I will have to refer you to the book on this one because there is too much to say on the subject.

The chapter on Homeschooling was good even if you don't homeschool it helps you to put your child's education into perspective.

One of my favorite chapters was on Vocations, Goals and Roles (chapter 12). They tell how Josh (their oldest son) got started doing what he does when he was young. This chapter will make you think outside the box for sure! I would recommend reading Young Bucks after you read this chapter. It will make your head spin in a good way! This chapter really helps you rethink how you are teaching your children to think about work and money. It is a great read!

I think I gleaned the most from chapter 13 - daily training and other things. The Duggar's explain how everything from potty training to helping in the kitchen can build a child's character. They also explain how they handle conflict resolution using Matthew 18. We have been trying this at home. We tell the child to go to their brother (or sister) first and then come to us if they will not respond. Usually when they come back to us and say their sibling won't listen we ask "how" they asked them and what their tone was. This is a great way to teach siblings conflict resolution. I cannot believe I hadn't thought of it before - it is in the Bible!

15 "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that `every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. Matthew 18:15-16

They talk about working together until something is done. They also talk a lot about encouragement and praise!

One thing I always marveled at was how Michelle could talk so softly when she had all those kids - and this book answers that for you. Well, the Bible answers it for you really. She had 10 kids under 10 and read Proverbs 15:1 - a verse that I and my children memorized but apparently I was NOT putting it into practice. So, Michelle decided to actually use a soft voice (because it turns away wrath) when speaking to her children. I will tell you I am daily trying this. Instead of yelling at the children, for the second time, to put away their dirty clothes, I am taking a deep breath and calmly looking at them in their eyes and saying, "Mommy, told you to put this away. Now, how are we to obey?" And their response should be, "All the way, right away, with a happy heart" (from Don't Make Me Count To Three - another great read!).

Instead of getting angry, I find speaking softly calms me down even when they don't obey the first time or don't answer correctly. It is definitely changing my heart.

Some parting words for you, because I could write pages and pages about this book, Michelle encourages moms to "choose joy over exhaustion and weariness" because as moms we know it is too easy to give into exhaustion. Another great point, "consistency is key!". Immediately attend to an incident and be consistent. Communicate openly with your children with love. Make sure they know their heart is safe with you.

I think you get the idea that I would encourage every single person out there to read this book. I highly recommend it. Read more ›

30 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love the Duggars, you'll love this book! June 14, 2011

By Allison Wonderland

Format:Hardcover

This book provides deeper, more emotional insight into the Duggar family than their first book, which provided more information about their daily lives. What I liked best about this book was that Michelle and Jim Bob let their opinions be known a little more openly; there was less sugarcoating when it came to religiously significant topics. For example, they gave a name of a website and said its contents prove why "evolution is impossible." While I disagree with the statement, I applaud Michelle and Jim Bob for their brevity and sincerity. There were other instances of that throughout the book and it made for an interesting read. I love the Duggars and their books because it is a breath of fresh air to learn about a family focused on simply being nice to each other. An enjoyable and uplifting read!

54 of 69 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Much New Information June 7, 2011

By Lisa

Format:Hardcover

I have to admit, I watch the Duggars' TV show. So I was pretty interested to read this book. I tend to find the Duggars' religious beliefs a bit extreme, and there is certainly a lot of preaching in this book. It does make sense though, as their religion is their whole life. The first section of this book covers Michelle's pre-eclampsia and Josie's emergency delivery. There's not really anything new there if you have seen their TV show.

The rest of the book covers their philosophies for parenting and life in general. These are heavily influenced by Bill Gothard and his IBLP. Their beliefs fall under what I would label as (in the words of my nephew) "super mega extreme" conservatism. Once again, there is very little in here that you don't already know if you watch their TV show. A few interesting notes for me was that Michelle and Jim Bob both readily admit that they do get upset and have (in the past anyway) even raised their voices. Shocking, I know. However, it does make them seem a little more human. Perhaps the most compelling thing in the book is Michelle describing what it was like to learn her father was dying while Josie was also fighting for her life. This part was actually a very beautiful example of how her life and beliefs helped to bolster her in a very low point of her life.

There is some useful advice. For example, Michelle discusses taking care of needs and/or bad behavior when it first appears instead of letting it go and potentially become a bigger problem. However, for every useful idea, there are several things that appear not as good to me. Blanket training was a concept I took issue with. I have a 17 month old, and I find it vastly unrealistic to think that he should be able to sit on a blanket and not move for an hour or so.... No way am I going to torture both of us by trying this. There's also a strange bit where they talk about training their children (even very small ones) that they have to look everyone directly in the eye, lest they come across as disrespectful. What if the child is naturally shy? Or going through a clingy stage? It seems odd to me.

The writing was just OK. It's written in the first person, but the narrator switches between Michelle and Jim Bob a lot. It got kind of annoying to find out who was talking half-way through the section. I wish that had flowed a bit better. There were also some things that seemed thrown in to quiet critics. For example, there were several recipes in the book, and almost all of them included lots of fresh veggies and fruits. Maybe that is how they really do eat, but I know they have gotten some criticism for how their diet appears on the show. They also have a section about how their daughters would be allowed to live out there dreams and even go to college (even though Bill Gothard seems anti anything that takes women out of the house and authority of a male). Whether this is true or not remains to be seen.

Overall, this book is pretty good. If you watch their show, there is not much new to be gleaned from this book (unless you want to memorize Duggar approved Bible verses). It is a fairly quick read. Be prepared to get products (especially those from places like IBLP and Vision Forum) heavily endorsed. There is quite a bit of that in the book. If you really love the Duggars, then you will probably enjoy this book. Otherwise, most the book will probably leave you shaking your head.

Galley provided by publisher for review. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful advice for parents March 8, 2012

By Knowlton Nest

Format:Hardcover

A Love That Multiplies: An Up-Close View of How They Make it Work by Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar is a unique look into the life of family with 19 children and how they make it work. Just because the Duggars have a successful TV show doesn't mean they haven't had their share of ups and downs. In fact, their last child, Josie, was a preemie and Michelle was away from home for 7 months. How did the Duggars handle this huge change amidst mission trips to El Salvador, chicken pox and a slow recovery of Michelle as she also had to learn to care for Josie in a whole new way? Faith in God is what sustains them and their rock solid beliefs. They share many principles that guide them in parenting as well as schedules, ministry ideas and marriage advice. They are not numb to problems, but approach each situation as learning opportunities. There are many resources cited and plenty of yummy recipes they share.

I had only heard of the Duggars, but have never actually watched their show (I don't have the channel.). From this book I can tell they are very humble and only want to further the Kingdom of God with their lives. I really appreciated and was amazed at all the things they strive to teach their children. Throughout the book they used phrases like "We teach our children ________ because ________." I want to go back through and write all of these down! As I read this book I realized that no matter how big or small your family is, make them your priority. The Duggars are raising a wonderful generation of godly young men and women. We should all strive to be families that honor God this way.