Uncommon Sense for Parents With Teenagers [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Michael Riera (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1998

Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers defines the turmoil of young adulthood with a grade-by-grade explanation of the changes and challenges teenagers face. As a consultant and lecturer to over a hundred high schools and with years of experience counseling teenagers and their parents, Dr. Michael Riera dispenses uncommon advice to break down the often-adversarial relationship between parents and teens. Because adolescents use their teenage years as active training for adulthood, parents need to take a demotion from manager of their child's life to consultant and "let their kid exercise their decision-making muscle." Dr. Riera's unconventional suggestions include:
-- Resist giving advice, even when your teenager asks for it.
-- Forget heart-to-heart talks -- communicate indirectly.
-- Give your kid a non-alcoholic "cocktail" hour to decompress after a long, hard day.
-- Embrace estrangement and expect inconsistency.
-- Let your teenager brood.
-- Let your kid do some of the worrying.

Personal stories from both parents and teenagers are featured throughout, offering insight and comfort to those dealing with similar problems.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Michael Riera is the high school counselor many of us wish we'd had: he's smart, non-judgmental, and respectful of kids. This excellent book is chock full o' advice for parents that sometimes goes against the established grain but makes utter sense. For example, don't give advice even when asked, embrace estrangement (it's part of your teenager's development), and take a demotion and move from "manager" to "consultant." Uncommon Sense is an excellent book for any parent of an older child or teenager. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Over 100,000 copies sold --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan; Abridged edition (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559275480
• ISBN-13: 978-1559275484
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,102,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Books on Cassette > Parenting & Families > General
  • #57 in Books > Books on Cassette > Parenting & Families > Parenting

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST book out there on communicating with teenagers., March 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers (Paperback)

I have purchased and read many of the books out there on raising teenagers. Many of them promise a lot, but deliver very little, so I buy another and another. This book covers it all. The author knows what parents want, but also gets inside the heads of our teenagers and explains what they want, and more importantly, how they perceive our rules, desires, and opinions of them. It took away some of the fear I had about going through this phase of life as a parent. It allowed me to more clearly understand exactly what my son was trying to say, even when he didn't use the exact words I would have expected. Consequently, our discussions have been much more fruitful. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Making sense of it all, June 16, 2000

By 

Charlie Ridlon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers (Paperback)

Most of us spend our entire adult life trying to figure out our own childhood, so it's no wonder that raising a child can seem confusing, challenging and at times scary. This book saved me. It taught me (or at least reminded me) that all teenagers go through enormous physical, psychological and social change in the high school years. While the specific behaviors will vary from child to child, there is a common thread running through it all -- and it makes sense. This book reassured me that my child wasn't abnormal, that I was right in being confused and sometimes appalled by their behavior. And it let me take a step back and not take it so personally. After reading this book, I bought a dozen copies to give to friends and business associates who were struggling with teenagers (or soon would be). Read this and both you and your child will benefit.

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommon Understanding!, November 20, 1999

By 

J. Archipley ([e-mail]) (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers (Paperback)

From a teenager who has read more than his fair share of parenting books, this one tops them off. On average, this book covers exactly what these types of books should. It doesn't just tell the parent to "talk more" with their teenager, it actually goes in depth about how the teenager thinks and feels. And, for the first time in my experience, it actually gets close! If you have teens, you should have this book.