How to Hug a Hedgehog

12 Keys for Connecting with Teens

By: Brad Wilcox, Jerrick Robbins

Narrated by: Timothy McKean

Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

A teen's job is to be difficult and most do it really, really well. But what about you? You want to hug that hedgehog, right? But you don't want to get hurt. No problem. With entertaining stories and 12 principles that open the cages, unlock the doors, gently tear down those walls, and get you talking, How to Hug a Hedgehog explores everything from communication to what you might have missed on the teen "warning label".

Wilcox and Robbins help you face your worst fears, effectively handle pressure and stress, and answer the question, "What happens if I fail?"

©2014 Brad Wilcox and Jerrick Robbins (P)2015 Brad Wilcox and Jerrick Robbins

Dale Carnegie for Parents of Teens

Nothing revolutionary presented here, but there are plenty of good tips. It's kind of like a How to Win Friends and Influence People for parents of teens.

I wish there had been an included PDF with links to the reference material and recommended books. A sample workbook would have also been beneficial.

The narrator was pleasant. Just OK.

*** Disclaimer: I received a copy of this audiobook free of charge in exchange for my honest feedback.

Humor and Some Helpful Advice

I received this book free in return for an honest review.

I have discovered that listening to Self-Help/Instructional type Nonfiction books doesn’t really work for me. I want to hold the book, flip back and forth through it, and easily take down notes (without having to pause, rewind, play, pause…). I can just barely read such things as eBooks, but prefer print. Note also: It is difficult to get URLs from an Audiobook. However, I committed to reviewing this book, so I want to fulfill that commitment.

I don’t have any children of my own, but I work with the teenagers at church. An interesting thing I have discovered is that, even though we were all teenagers at one point, that doesn’t necessarily help when interacting with them as adults. And this isn’t just because the times have changed. The fact is that, even if you remember your own youth perfectly, you are now looking at it from the other side. You may remember how to do the “youth to adult” thing, but you don’t automatically know how to do the “adult to youth” thing.

My response in the past has been to simply interact with them in the same way I do with the adults in my life. I am sure every teenager wants to be treated as an adult. The problem is that they aren’t. They have different issues they are dealing with and need different things from me. That’s why I requested this book.

The premise of this books is that teenagers are like hedgehogs (nocturnal, unbalanced diet, etc). It was a nice way to present the information and not too overdone. Two points that stood out to me were: I you want love & respect, you have to give it AND a discussion of Love without Discipline & Discipline without Love.

One point I would have like to have seen made was that you shouldn’t fake “the brick.” (It is recommended that you work on dismantling the wall many teenagers build around themselves by find the loose brick - something that is important to them that you can relate to and discuss. “Oh you like… me too, let’s talk about it.)

The narrator did a good job, giving the reading some personality without trying to “oversell” the funny bits.

The 12 Keys are:
--Hear Them Cry
--Dismantle the Wall
--Enjoy Dinner Conversations
--Set Limits
--Talk about Growing Up and Sex
--Face Your Worst Fear
--Remember What’s Not on the Warning Labels
--Learn from Failure
--Recognize Self-Worth
--Help Teens Develop a Positive Self-Image
--Act! Don’t React
--T-H-I-N-K Friendship

Terrific Teen Insight

Every parent should receive this when they are still in the Labor & Delivery Room!! It’s packed with amazing insights and tips on how teens really think, and how we can embrace and truly love them!!

good advise boring narration.

I enjoyed the message but it was difficult to listen to as the narrator was lacking in so many way.

I wish Brad Wilcox would have narrated it.

I wish Brad Wilcox would have narrated it. His speaking style is great and more animated.