The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read Audiobook By Philippa Perry cover art

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

(And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)

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The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

By: Philippa Perry
Narrated by: Philippa Perry
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About this listen

More than 1.3 million copies sold worldwide!

“A wonderful book”―Richard Osman

“If you're determinedly not a self-help kind of reader (like me), make an exception for [this book]. And if you're not a parent, don't dismiss it. The message is one of non-judgmental kindness.”―Vogue (London)

How can we have better relationships?

In this instant Sunday Times bestseller, leading psychotherapist Philippa Perry reveals the vital do's and don'ts of relationships. This is a book for us all. Whether you are interested in understanding how your upbringing has shaped you, looking to handle your child's feelings or wishing to support your partner, you will find indispensable information and realistic tips here. Philippa Perry's sane, sage and judgement-free advice is an essential resource on how to have the best possible relationships with the people who matter to you most.

©2020 Philippa Perry (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Child Psychology Parenting & Families Personal Success Relationships Inspiring Child Development Emotional Intelligence For Kids
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Critic reviews

“[H]onest, warm, and judgment-free. . . this is essential for all parents, from those first expecting to empty nesters. It's never too early or too late to improve the relationship with your children, and, as the title suggests, they'll be glad you did.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Healing from, and learning not to perpetuate, difficult upbringings is the linchpin of this practical, self-care-centered parenting guide . . . Perry’s kind but professional tone results in a helpful manual that will appeal to new parents who want an expert on board as they take the time to be reflective in their parenting.”—Publishers Weekly

"It is hard to read fast, not just because Perry’s text is punctuated by exercises...but because it prompts so many realisations, or insights, or clearly names things that have until now existed just beyond one’s awareness. And it provides tools, straightforward and manageable if not always easy, that can be implemented at once. I am grateful for it."—The Guardian (UK)

What listeners say about The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

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A gem

I have read (and studied in college) many books on parenting and child development - and this is an invaluable addition to the great works in these domains.
The author does a great job taking by the hand “old” parents and adult children of parents, and new/future parents alike and holding up a compassionate mirror as if to say: “here - this is a place where some inner work needs to be done in order to achieve greater intimacy and harmony within your child-parent or parent-child relationship”.
It’s not easy work, but the insights are priceless and the benefits from doing it - immeasurable for generations to come. Inter-generational trauma is no easy task and definitely no joke.
Not sure what the person who mentioned that this is a judgmental book on parents was talking about. Clearly a chip on (*ahem*) his shoulder. Not once in the book did I hear her start a sentence with “not to be judgmental (…)”.
To the contrary, I found it very soothing and reassuring throughout, that it is “not about the mistake, but the attempts at amends”.
The only place I found it detracting was the child voices she does throughout the narration, which at times are a bit over the top.
But not too off-putting to make me stop listening. The information is a lot more valuable than my personal preference in that area.

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Superb - especially if listened to with an open mind!

This book is great. It uses an open tone and is not in the slightest bit condescending. My wife and I listened to parts together and it was a wonderful conversation starter as we reflected on our own childhoods, and now how we are as parents.

At times throughout the book, the author sets out a variety of relatable scenarios, and then explains how they would/could be resolved. However, it is also often acknowledged that these resolutions are not the only way to resolve the scenarios - because everyone’s circumstances are different.

All in all, it comes down to communication and empathy. This means understanding how you’re communicating with others, as well as understanding that when someone responds to you in a less-than-ideal way, it’s almost definitely not about you. And it’s almost definitely better to respond in a measured way as to not stoke the fire.

There are a lot of lessons in this book and it would be impossible to take in them all in one run-through. Suspect I’ll listen to this book most years to top up the parenting cup!


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It will get into your head

Almost immediately I found myself listening to a book as an f she was an old fiend telling stories of happy and sad events and giving solid pointers along the way.

It was like she could see my expression after being told of the potential side effect of sleep training by providing reasonable observations which you can quickly raise your own conclusions.

Loved it!

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Wow.

I will recommend this book to every single parent I meet in the future. If I could go on tour and talk about how amazing this book is, I would. Please read!!!

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One of the best books I’ve ever read

I am a therapist and I will be recommending this book. Anyone who is struggling with their children it is a must read.

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Finally something practical

Great Book. Love the chapters on boundaries, adult children, and frustration. Will recommend to
My teachers and parents in my nursery school.

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Very insightful

I enjoyed the viewpoint and it was easy to listen the narrative. Raising good humans means making changes in your own life. This book was helpful with understanding some of my own thoughts and feelings about how my parents struggled with raising their children.

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Real world advice and examples

Excellent parenting advice, bolstered by plenty of relatable examples and nonjudgmental tone. I now want to buy a hard reference copy to mark up. The chapter formatting makes it easy to jump back to individual topics easily. Really glad I read this.

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A must read for parents.

Very informative and eye opening for me. I really wish I had read this 27 years ago. Thank you for sharing.

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Wish I had read this earlier

As a parent of young adult children, I wish this was required reading years ago. However, it is still useful, and was recommended to me for some of my own reparenting and childhood healing. The examples are helpful for finding the voice I realize I didn’t have from my own parents, who were loving, but never developed their own sense of emotional awareness either.

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10 people found this helpful