Things I Want My Daughters To Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: buffer time, mad money, Alexandra Stoddard, New York, Want My Daughters (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wealth of advice. . .simple yet so poignant." -- Southern Women --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"A wealth of advice. . .simple yet so poignant." (Southern Women )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (April 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006128436X
• ISBN-13: 978-0061284366
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #507,941 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Reasonable, Mature Voice. Great Gift Book, December 18, 2006

By	Michele Cozzens "www.michelecozzens.com" (Cloud 8) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life (Hardcover)

I picked up this book because of the title. I have daughters. There are 'things' I want them to know. Upon reading the Foreword, I grew a little nervous. The tone seemed rather patronizing, and I felt like I was about to get a lesson in what a rotten mother I am. The author writes: "No mother can have a relationship with her children without some heartaches and significant differences of opinion. With my own daughters I embrace our differences as well as the things we share in common." Well, yes, that WOULD be the ideal.

What follows beyond the Forword, where the author more or less introduces her qualifications for writing a book filed with advice, is just that. Lots of useful advice for getting through life. The conversational and rational writing style immediately allowed me to GET OVER MYSELF, and just enjoy the various topics. I found it hard to disagree with anything she wrote. Everything is based on the author's experience, and much of it is universal. The suggestions, "It's Easier to Get into Things Than It Is to Get Out of Them," or "In Really Tough Times, Regularly Take Time Off," for example, are pearls of wisdom for mothers to not only pass onto their daughters, but also to remind themselves of every now and again.

This is a well written collection, with a mature and rational sensitivity. It's an excellent gift book--for our daughters, and our friends who have daughters, and, of course, for mothers too. I recommend it.

"When you've made your point, sit down," reads the last entry. So, I will.

From the author of "A Line Between Friends," McKenna Publishing Group.

29 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absolute Garbage, September 9, 2006

By	Jamie Flanagan (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life (Hardcover)

First of all, I am not the "Self-Help" type. Unfortunately, my mother is. What this means is that I can expect the next big "Self-Empowerment" or "Inward Reflections" shchlocky trash at my next birthday or Christmas. But never before have I recieved a book so laughably inane as to contain nothing but utter drivel. This over-wrought collection of 55 essays includes advice like "Travel Heavy" (great advice for a backpacker in Europe- bring along your favourite vase to arrange flowers in a pew at the Vatican!), and "The Five-Hour Rule" (basically, never EVER allow ANYONE, ESPECIALLY your in-laws to stay with you as houseguests, because their very presence will destroy your sense of inner peace...by the way, she relates the delightful tale of her and her first husband having to trash their only sofa so they could refuse anyone who wished to stay over- CRAZY!!).

Oh, she also recommends such gems as bathing immediately before the arrival of your guests when hosting a party- this prevents your "party clothes" from becoming soiled when over-exerting yourself last minute. Where the advice isn't downright preposterous and harebrained, it is so obvious as to be bordering on insane to regurigtate as original thought, or even learned advice. If by the age of 5 you aren't equipped with some of the skills she preaches, you should probably have been committed by now.

Many chapters contradict one another, such as violating her own five-hour rule when mentioning how much time she enjoys spending on a daily basis with her ubiquitous husband, Peter. I agree with reviewers of her other tomes who include criticisms of her seemingly lavish lifestyle, and her desire to fob this gluttonous existence off on us "Little People," when our time is precious and finances dismal. I would love to jaunt off on a weekend trip to Paris for breakfast with my daughter, but unfortunately most 9-5's don't pay the kind of salary this would require.

The virtues she extols are of a by-gone age when women were expected to spend their days doing menial housework and raising children; it is simply impossible to work the types of careers we must today to keep ourselves and our families afloat, and to hemorrhage the vast sums of money it would require to live her lifestyle.

In short, if your mother has insisted on purchasing this book for your graduation, or any other special occassion, take Alexandra's own advice, show her gratitude, but immediately return this crap for something that will truly inspire and engage you.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars common sense garnish for the clueless/developing soul?, September 11, 2006

By	mt "doc m" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Small Book About the Big Issues in Life (Hardcover)

I flipped through this book as my daughter was browsing a store: this was placed prominently on a small table with fragrant votive candles, beside a sofa with needlepoint cushions and a casual throw.It was, in other words, perfect product placement.
For all the fluff, however, I found the advice quite sane and commonsensical. If by reading this book a young person plans to "be early, never arrive late, blabbing about why you were held up" it would be a wonderful thing.Ditto collecting things you love, letting go of hurt feelings,etc.
Only, some of the filler which the author uses to explain the "WHY" of why common sense works has to be read tongue in cheek. If you know a sheltered young lady of, oh, about 16, this would be a good gift.