Customer Reviews

Understanding the Human Volcano: What Teens Can Do About Violence

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Mr. Hipps book, "Understanding the Human Volcano", is not just another one of the self help books written by a self-rightous adult about their view of teens.

Mr. Hipp actually went out and gathered information about teens, from teens; like myself. This book deals with what seems to be the recent dramatic increase in teen violence such as witnessed at Colulmbine. Volcano is not a book just for kids on the edge, but for kids who are around them and who know what those kids are thinking. With ideas from this book it might be possible to help troubled kids through their problems, or at least know where to go to get help.

This book can also help adults understand what kind of stress we kids are dealing with these days, and not be so hard on us. Many times adults have a hard time understanding what is going on inside a kids head, this book will help adults to realize that the stress that we deal with is very real, as is their own. It is possible, through reading this book, that an adult can be better able to advise us (kids) as to; how to get help, where to get help and when to get help, in a day and age that is very different from when they were kids.

In "Understanding the Human Volcano" Earl Hipp writes clearly and simply on the complex issue of violence in today's world. In describing the many faces of violence he includes memorable images and a basic vocabulary of psychological terms that will serve a young reader for life.

Hipp speaks directly to the reader as he outlines what teens and adults can do to understand, and prevent violence in their own lives and in their community. I felt his caring on every page. He never talks down to kids.

The dynamic cover and many illustrations by L. K. Hanson visually underscore the points made in Hipp's organization of topics, open questions, and answers from teen correspondents. A school or church group discussion leader will find this book a vital, workable resource that keeps the reader riveted, the discussions flowing.

We will never know the number of lives this book on this topic will change, but I am sure life changes will come about. I'm going to read it again! I'm accepting Hipp's challenge to keep the faith, to work with others and to take practical steps to reduce the violence in our world.

Understanding The Human Volcano: What Teens Can Do About Violence is a valued and important contribution to understanding the issues involved with adolescent violence -- its causes, containment, and amelioration. Psychotherapist Earl Hipp enhances his "reader friendly" and informative text with cogent quotes, poignant stories, and line-drawn illustrations throughout in order to help teens understand the changes that threaten their safety and the practical steps necessary to reduce the violence in their world. The message of Understanding The Human Volcano is a hopeful one of encouragement, that when teens and those that love them can, in fact, make their community a safer place in which to learn, grow, live, and thrive. Understanding The Human Volcano is a highly recommended addition to every high-school, community center, family counseling resource, and community library adolescent behavior reference collection.

While this book has some pluses, such as the quotes from real teens, the author overwhelmingly considers teens to be perpetrators of violence, not victims. This viewpoint stunningly ignores the power imbalances that are present in much of the violence kids experience. Gender-based violence is not even addressed in the book (go ahead, try to find a mention of sexual harrassment, dating violence or rape). For a teen girl whose boyfriend is abusive the advice she would get from the chapter on relationships is "develop anger-management skills". She would probably miss the vague advice to "develop assertiveness skills". I would not recommend this book for teen girls or for adults who work with teen girls, especially girls who have been victims of violence.