How to Raise an Adult

Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success

By: Julie Lythcott-Haims

Narrated by: Julie Lythcott-Haims

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A provocative manifesto that exposes the harms of helicopter parenting and sets forth an alternate philosophy for raising preteens and teens to self-sufficient young adulthood.

In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research; on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers; and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.

Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of 20-somethings - and of special value to parents of teens - this audiobook is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2015 Julie Lythcott-Haims (P)2015 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Julie Lythcott-Haims is a national treasure.... A must-read for every parent who senses that there is a healthier and saner way to raise our children." (Madeline Levine, author of the New York Times best sellers The Price of Privilege and Teach Your Children Well)

"For parents who want to foster hearty self-reliance instead of hollow self-esteem, How to Raise an Adult is the right book at the right time." (Daniel H. Pink, author of the New York Times best sellers Drive and A Whole New Mind)

Essential Reading for all Parents

There are many parenting books on how to take care of children, but very few on how to raise them. This book covers the later diligently. And is a great reference. And I would go far as to say, this is one of the very few excellent books on parenting. Instead of focusing on raising a child, shift your focus on raising an adult.

Sound advice for a world full of noise

What made the experience of listening to How to Raise an Adult the most enjoyable?

My reflection on my two kids and what I felt I did right and wrong

What did you like best about this story?

The refreshing take on the reality of college admissions and the bright future we have in this country for change

What about Julie Lythcott-Haims’s performance did you like?

Her tone is firm and supportive

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

laughing about many of the absurd stories of people reporting parents for situations they knew nothing about

AmaIng book

I wish I had read this book 10 years ago! What a shift in my perspective. With two boys, a sophomore in college and a married young 22 year old I would have done things differently and I hypothesize more calmly had a read this sooner. I have since purchased 5 copies to share with friends and can’t stop preaching its attribute. Read this book!

This book is so important

Really enjoyed this book. It is full of some really insightful tips and concepts for raising functional children in a world of over-parenting and a college admission race that deprives kids of developing independence and discovering and pursuing their purpose. Highly recommend this book to anyone—child, parent, teacher, clergy, friend.

Great book. Definitely gave me some perspective

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I plan on finding a hard copy for myself in the near future as it contains several things that could be considered reference material. it was well read by the author easy to understand even when she was quoting statistics and other people's work. I really enjoyed the way she referred back to people should already mentioned previously and reminded you who they were. It gave context and made it easier to be engaged. my only negative if you can call it that is I felt the author spent a significant amount of time trying to prove an illustrated / point that over parenting is bad. I got that point relatively quickly. I also think I got that point before I picked out this book. so I found myself anxious for her to get on with the part that tell me how to stop and what to do instead and how to make a difference in the future. There was a fair amount of that don't get me wrong. I was just impatient for that part of the book to start.

must read for every parent

I immediately bought the hard cover of this book and gave it to my wife, as I'm convinced this will realign both us as a couple and in the way we bring up our kids. Even though this book is based on examples from the US, the core problem also is clearly visible here in Europe. A more general definition that applies the core same message in this book would be "never follow the herd"! It is often the least efficient way to get where you want to be (unless you don't know where you want to be)

Great book

I will definitely read this book several more times. This book will be passed on to my children as well.

My favorite parenting book

I am one of these parents, pushing their own kids, thinking I know better what is best for them. This book made me think about parenting in a different way - and for sure a better one. Of course there is always the fear, that is I let kids do what they want, the only thing they will do is stay on their tablets, but since I started applying what I just learned I see a big improvement in our family life - the kids became more responsible and I have more time. And I am getting proud of the people they are becoming. Thank you!

Great info!

So good, every parent in America should read/listen to this book. Bravo Mrs Lythcott-Haims

Parenting Gold

So much helpful insight and information into how to raise a healthy, balanced child, and provide a good home life as the family navigates the child(ren) growing into adulthood. With the increasing number of children suffering from anxiety these days, there’s every reason to pay attention to the information in this book.