Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season (Paperback)

~ (Author), Jean C. Staeheli (Author) "This high-spirited celebration was still in evidence in this country at the turn century, but as time went on, there began to appear more and..." (more)
Key Phrases: holiday commercialism, holiday role, holiday chores, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Santa Claus (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Now in its 13th printing, Unplug the Christmas Machine remains one of the most comprehensive guides to managing Christmas stress and combating commercialism. Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli give readers solid advice on how to make their celebrations more spiritual and less materialistic. Practical discussions, such as shopping lists, holiday recipes, and family activities, meld with deeper issues, such as how to teach children that Christmas is more than a present or how to find meaning in the holiday when you're not especially religious. Robinson and Staeheli even delve into the mixed blessings of Christmas homecomings to help readers pass the true holiday stress test.

Product Description

Nine years and thirteen printings later, Unplug the Christmas Machine is still the undisputed guide to creating a joyful, stress-free holiday season. Revised and filled with new material, this book will enjoy even greater popularity in the years to come.

In the pages of Unplug the Christmas Machine, Jo Robinson and jean Coppock Staeheli answer the questions they have heard most often in their many years of talking with people about Christmas, such as: "How can I reduce the stress of preparing for Christmas?" "How can I make our celebration more spiritual and less materialistic?" "How can I get my husband to be more enthusiastic about Christmas?" "How can I get my wife to relax and enjoy the celebration?" and "How can I help my children see that Christmas is more than just presents?" Readers will turn to this book for inspiration and practical advice year after year.

Sixteen years after it first appeared, this perennial favorite is still the book that thousands turn to for sound, no-nonsense advice on how to combat Christmas commercialism and create a joyful, stress-free holiday season. The authors answer all the most commonly asked questions, from "How can I reduce the stress of preparing for Christmas?" to "How can I teach my children that Christmas means mote than just presents?" and many more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; Rev Sub edition (October 28, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688109616
• ISBN-13: 978-0688109615
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,079 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #50 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Holidays > Christmas
  #85 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Happiness

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do yourself a favor and read this book!, November 12, 1998

By A Customer

Since reading Unplug the Christmas Machine when it was first published several years ago, my family and I have scaled way back materially at Christmastime. As a result, we're less stressed and have more time to spend together doing the things we really enjoy, such as going to holiday concerts, singing carols, baking goodies, reading in front of the fire, writing letters, etc. This book will help your whole family "unplug" from the out-of-control juggernaut that is Christmas in the U.S. It also makes a great gift for friends and family who might need permission to simplify their lives during the holidays.

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, December 5, 1998

By A Customer

While I felt overwhelmed with the Christmas machine, I didn't want to give up everything. This book helped me identify what mattered to me and my family. I especially liked the ideas on how to pace the holiday. This suited me much better than the "Simplify Christmas" book which seemed to me to consist more of reasons not to have a tree, send cards etc. than identify what to keep and what to change.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be REQUIRED Christmas reading!, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

I first read this book 7 years ago, when I was just married and trying to keep everyone happy at Christmastime, spreading myself far too thin in the process - "Unplug The Christmas Machine" was a lifesaver!!! I learned how to NOT try to be all things to all people (one chapter is aptly titled, "Women: The Christmas Magicians"), how to handle "difficult" family members, how to relax and enjoy the season - a very important lesson. I have loaned or given this book to countless friends and family members - I cannot recommend it highly enough!