Giveaway/Book Review: Nurture Shock

Nurture Shock is an amazing book about the science behind a lot of myths of parenthood and it is my first book giveaway. The book is an extension of an article called “The Inverse Power of Praise” that Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman wrote for New York Magazine. The article is included in the book as the first chapter. The synopsis of the chapter says: “Sure, he’s special. But new research suggests if you tell him that, you’ll ruin him. It’s a neurobiological fact.” The synopsis of the introduction: “Why our instincts about children can be so off the mark.”

I want to give this book to everyone and I am not the only one. Hugh Howey has a great review of this book and also mentions wanting to tell non readers “they must read this book. “It’s important.” Another great chapter “Why Hannah Talks and Alyssa Doesn’t” is about the science behind language acquisition. Research has discovered a fourteen month old can only learn words spoken by several people. Hearing one person speak the child doesn’t learn the word even if it is repeated many times. If the child hears it from several people the child learns it easily. How fascinating is that???

There is also a chapter about how early gifted and talented tests do not predict who is actually gifted and talented. Basically, the brain is not finished developing so it is impossible to accurately pinpoint the smartest kids so early.

A more food related chapter is how lack of sleep (not TV watching) leads to obesity and ADHD. I have simplified these ideas too much but it really is not to be missed book. And on that note, I am going to make this post short in the interest of getting more sleep. Goodnight.

Because I can’t give this book to everyone I am doing a giveaway to give it to one lucky winner!

1) To enter, please make a comment- any comment- on THIS post (click on “comments” below).
3) Post your comment by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, April 4, 2010. One entry per person, please. US addresses only.
4) One winner will be chosen at random and announced here on Monday, April 5, 2010.
5) NOTE: You must check back on Monday, April 5 to see if you won if you don’t include your email address in your post or email me your address. Unclaimed prizes not claimed in 48 hours will be forfeited to next winner.