The Romance Of Risk: Why Teenagers Do The Things They Do (Paperback)

by Lynn Ponton (Author) "Jill's parents, Celeste and Dan, were confused and frightened when they decided to seek help for their family..." (more)
Key Phrases: unhealthy risks, adolescent medicine clinic, other risk behaviors, San Francisco, Rainbow Family, Geary Street (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
YA?An important book for teens, their parents, educators, and anyone else associated with the sometimes unfathomable adolescent years. Beginning with an explanation of healthy versus destructive behavior, Ponton makes it clear that taking risks is an important part of the developmental process. However, unhealthy or self-destructive risk taking is another matter, and teens must understand the causes of these behaviors in order to change them. In a series of case studies, the author/psychiatrist introduces teens she has counseled who exhibit a variety of dangerous behaviors, including running away, unprotected sex, self-mutilation, eating disorders, pregnancy, and bullying. Issues involved in the mother-son and father-daughter relationships are clearly explored. Divorce war dilemmas and their possible effects on a teen's actions are explained. The importance of familial influence, of the provision of healthy role models and open communication lines is ably demonstrated. Although adults will find this an illuminating book, it will appeal to YAs as well. It is readable, the case studies use teens that come from various backgrounds and have different abilities, and the behaviors are clearly explained. Many adolescents are likely to find a deeper understanding of their own actions or those of their friends. Notes for each chapter provides access to additional reading on the subjects covered and the complete index makes research on a particular issue easy.?Carol DeAngelo, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Ponton, a San Francisco psychiatrist who specializes in treating adolescents, asserts that risk taking is a normal and even essential part of the teenage years. Unfortunately, when positive risks aren't modeled by a teen's family or peer group, negative and dangerous risk taking is often the result. Ponton describes several case studies of adolescents who have opted for dangerous risks such as running away, taking drugs, having unprotected intercourse, getting involved in gang activity, and even raping and terrorizing other teens. All the case studies presented go into detail about the family or social dynamics that have contributed to the teen's negative risk taking. Despite a de facto fictionalization?Ponton has changed all identifying characteristics, added made-up dialog, and sometimes morphed two or more people's stories together?the author has put together a work that delves deeply into why teens take dangerous risks. Not really a parenting book so much as a work of analysis, this is suitable for medium and larger public libraries.?Pamela A. Matthews, Univ. of Maryland Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1 edition (September 10, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465070760
• ISBN-13: 978-0465070763
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #238,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding perspective on needs and motives of adolescents, November 10, 1998

By A Customer

Dr. Ponton writes an unusual book that gives voice to troubled teens and their families, using their engaging stories to teach about contemporary adolescence. As the reader eavesdrops on these lives through absorbing narrative, accounts of therapy, thoughtful reflection and application to relevant issues, and analyses of family interactions, important facts and facets of adolescent development and devlopmental issues are learned almost effortlessly. The book is engaging and at times exciting, as we come to know these teens and their struggles. The variety of teens and adolescent problems profiled is impressive--from the general need to explore and define the self (Jill) to gang involvement and aggression (Evan and Cecilia), from drugs and sexual activity to self-mutilation, depression and anorexia nervosa. Readers also learn about mental health services, and how therapy helps adolescents and families grow and change. This is a terrific book for parents, educators, any mental health field worker, or teens themselves! I used this book as a supplemental reader to a course I taught in adolescent development at a major university where I am a doctoral student in clinical psychology. Students loved it, and several bought copies as gifts for their parents or other family members. I will be using it again for a section of Adolescent Development I will be teaching in spring semester, 1999.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Resource - Rather Technical, February 7, 2001

By	Courtney L. Lewis "Sassy Librarian" (Kingston, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Lynn Ponton has been treating adolescents for many years and through this book has attempted to chronicle the key lives and issues that have influenced her views of teenager psychology. Presenting a range of often likeable characters, Dr. Ponton does an excellent job of showing the intelligence and resilience of her patients while at the same time demonstrating how parents can feel angry and confused about how to parent their teen. The book illustrates all the main issues surrounding adolescents, eating disorders, drugs/alcohol, sex, and abuse, as well as analyzing the complexity of mother/son, mother/daughter, father/son, and father/daughter relationships.

If I had to offer one criticism of this book, it would be that Dr. Ponton's language (particularly at the beginning of the book) tends to be extremely clinical and often presents a layer to wade through to find her point. Although we live in the era of the pseudo-psychological talk show, and some of the language will be familiar, parents and teens seeking answers to a problem may find this quality of the book off-putting. Conversely, I think this book would be of intense interest for other therapists who are interested in seeing various past and current adolescent theory put into practice by a skilled practioner. The stories of the teens and their families are compelling to all audiences, however, and I cautiously recommend this book to a large audience.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most provacative,well written book I have read in years., November 22, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Romance of Risk: Why Teenagers Do the Things They Do (Hardcover)

The content of this book was so thought-provoking and informative about adolescence that I wanted to give it to my teenage daughter to read. The stories aout the teens are exciting, helping me understand my teenage years and my daughters'. This book should be read by every parent and teenager!