"Could Do Better": Why Children Underachieve and What to Do About It (Paperback)

by Harvey P. Mandel (Author), Sander I. Marcus (Author)
Key Phrases: female underachievers, underachieving types, underachieving kids, Defiant Underachievers, Anxious Underachievers, Wheeler-Dealer Underachievers (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Put your child back on the path to success

Two leading psychologists give you individualized, practical solutions tailored for: COASTERS: the ultimate procrastinators, usually described as easy-going and unmotivated, the most common type of underachiever

ANXIOUS UNDERACHIEVERS: want to do better but are too tense and uptight to work effectively

IDENTITY-SEARCHERS: so wrapped up in figuring out who they are that they become distracted from schoolwork

WHEELER-DEALERS: impulsive and manipulative, so intent on instant gratification that they see no point in doing well in school

SAD UNDERACHIEVERS: their depressed mood and low self-esteem rob them of the energy they need for schoolwork

DEFIANT UNDERACHIEVERS: they underachieve as an act of rebellion "A groundbreaking new approach to helping children work up to their potential."— River North News

"An eminently valuable resource for anyone confronted with the challenge of getting the best out of children and adolescents. It will be the book for this problem for a long time." —Anthony Moriarty, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, Principal, Homewood Flossmoor Community High School, Illinois

From the Inside Flap
I know my son is bright.… why doesn’t he care about school? Why is he so lazy and unmotivated? My daughter is … so unmotivated. How can I make her want to do better? In this lifesaving, groundbreaking book, Drs. Mandel and Marcus, clinical psychologists with more than 25 years’ experience working with underachievers, show that these children are, in fact, highly motivated—in directions other than schoolwork. The key to helping underachievers reach their full potential lies in discovering their real motivation and redirecting it. But first, say the authors, you must abandon conventional wisdom; underachievers are not all alike. "Could Do Better" identifies six major underachieving personalities and includes step-by-step programs tailored to help each. Learn how to recognize which kind of underachiever your child is—the procrastinating Coaster, the distracted Identity-Searcher, the manipulative Wheeler-Dealer are just a few of the most recognizable personalities—and discover what’s really going on inside his or her mind. The information is revealing, the expectations realistic. Useful parent checklists are included in each section, along with practical guidelines for when you can hope to see change, and illuminating profiles of the six personalities as adults should the underachieving continue unchecked. "Could Do Better" also addresses the specific underachievement problems of gifted and learning disabled children. A breakthrough approach to helping children realize their full potential, "Could Do Better" speaks urgently to the millions of parents deeply concerned about how to prepare their child for a competitive, achievement-oriented world, as well as to everyone who works with underachievers. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (July 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047115847X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471158479
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #500,439 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend., February 23, 2005

By	2 stinky boys (AUSTIN, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This book literally changed our lives! It gave us an insight into our 13 year old son, which we would have never have been able to arrive at alone. I purchased 4 books on this subject and read them all. The other three were pretty much psycho babble....stating the obvious and not offering any real solutions. While this book doesn't promise any quick fixes, it does give you some tools, suggestions and, most of all, support. It feels so good to know that your kid isn't the only one. That they aren't underachieving because they are lazy or just don't care. Now, I see that it's just not that simple. It give you a different perspective, from which to see your child and changes your approach on how to deal with issues....especially when you are a Type A overachieving Mom. Parents, arm yourself with the insights that this book brings. You will be a better advocate for your child as you deal with teachers and administrators.