Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World (Paperback)

~ Jill Rigby (Author)
Key Phrases: parenting plan, unselfish children, model selflessness, Meet All Their Needs, God's Word, Start Where You Are (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I'm so tired of hearing parents on and off the air introducing their children by telling me, 'I have two "beautiful" children.' I always tell them that beautiful children don't change the world but 'good' children do. This book will teach parents how to nurture children into becoming decent, compassionate adults."Dr. Laura Schlessinger--international radio talk-show host; author of The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review

"Selfishness is a key to lifetime unhappiness. Jill has given us an important reminder to save our kids from its clutches. The message of this book can be remembered in this thought: think of the kind of adults you can't stand to be around and don't let your child become one of them!"Dr. Henry Cloud -- author of The Secret Things of God, 9 Things You Really Must Do, and coauthor of Boundaries

"Tired of the epidemic of selfishness in today's world? Jill Rigby will help you do your part with your kids to rid the world of selfishness. Parents beware--she places the responsibility squarely on your shoulders. Take her message to heart. Your kids will be glad you did."Dr. Kevin Leman, author of Making Children Mind without Losing Yours

"Jill Rigby gets to our heart's desire of parenting with this crucial message. She brings practical advice and hope in the midst of a very self-centered culture. This is a book I will recommend to everyone."Jim Burns, PhD--president, HomeWord; author of Confident Parenting and Creating an Intimate Marriage

"I'm so tired of hearing parents on and off the air introducing their children by telling me, 'I have two "beautiful" children.' I always tell them that beautiful children don't change the world but 'good' children do. This book will teach parents how to nurture children into becoming decent, compassionate adults."Dr. Laura Schlessinger--international radio talk-show host; author of The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 141655842X
• ISBN-13: 978-1416558422
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,656 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Book for Parents, April 8, 2008

By	BookBargainsandPreviews.com "www.bookbargains... (New York) - See all my reviews

I just love the books by author Jill Rigby. I heard her once at a Hearts at Home Conference and have been a fan ever since. Her books hit on relevant topics and this one is no different.

In this book, Rigby points out that we are raising a generation of self-focused children who aren't ready to meet real life challenges at adults. She's right! But instead of leaving it there, she gives hope - as well as advice - on how we can change our parenting to reshape our child to be "other-foused".

Easy to read, relevant, and hopeful, Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World will help you raise your child to become an adult that makes a difference in their world.

Kudos to the author!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parents looking to protect and guard their children from a culture of excess will applaud Rigby's efforts, July 14, 2008

By	FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

If only kids came with instruction manuals! That's the heart cry of many parents who are struggling to navigate the world of raising children. Living in our modern culture only compounds the complexities as parents are forced to make thousands of little decisions to determine "How much is enough?" versus "How much is too much?" while raising their kids.

Jill Rigby tries to assist parents in her new book, RAISING UNSELFISH CHILDREN IN A SELF-ABSORBED WORLD, which attempts to equip them with tactics to help deal with the narcissism and selfishness prevalent in our society. She begins by reassessing the goal of parenting and challenging moms and dads to think about how they're raising their kids and what they want them to become.

Drawing on timeless childhood stories like SNOW WHITE and THE SECRET GARDEN, she argues that parents have a choice to make. Will they raise their kids to become selfless grown-ups, or self-absorbed adults who can't function well because they feel entitled? In today's culture of excess, the change must begin at the heart level, with the parent. She invites readers to make an honest assessment of their own self-centeredness, offering a "Generosity Quotient Test" to help you determine your own level of generosity.

Then she challenges parents to devise a plan. Simple things like committing to God to raise your children to be other-centered rather than self-centered, committing to live with less to enjoy more, committing to tithe and committing to enjoy family togetherness are a few of the promises she encourages parents to make. To fulfill these commitments, Rigby advises them to get into God's world, live with integrity and walk out their faith every day.

Rigby distinguishes between needs and wants of children, highlighting the importance of not giving into a child's every whim. She says that it's important to maintain control of your child and not overwhelm him or her with options. While many psychologists emphasize the importance of self-esteem, Rigby argues that it's much more important to have God-confidence and walk in gratitude and humility. Throughout the book, Rigby highlights her teachings with statistics and anecdotes.

While many of the stories are compelling, far too few are drawn from her own experiences as a mother, leaving the reader to wonder how she handled this issue and what she learned from her mistakes. Despite this lack of personal touch and vulnerability, the book offers time-tested principles on how to raise children to be outwardly focused and confident in who they are as individuals.

While the first few chapters seem disjointed --- with scriptures thrown in without any directed analysis or tie-in --- the book gets better with each passing chapter. The appendix includes helpful resources, including a brief listing of movies great for family discussion as well as a list of state family policy councils to help you connect with government officials. For parents concerned with indecent storefront displays at their local malls, Rigby provides a list of mall management companies to call and complain to.

Parents looking to protect and guard their children from a culture of excess will applaud Rigby's efforts.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best parenting book ever!, June 2, 2008

By	M. Mako (So. Cal. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you have children or plan on having children in the future, you must read and re-read this book! It gives detailed priciples and how-tos to train you children from the beginning. One of the biggest principles is that it begins with you as the parent and Jill gives instructions for you. I love how she breaks down the duties/responsiblities for the kids by age. As long as you have children living in your home, this is a must! I just gave a copy at a baby shower this weekend! This is a great way for a couple to plan how they will raise their children before the issues come up and surprise you. I heard about this book from Dr. Laura, thank you Dr. Laura!