The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans

By: Josh Shipp

Narrated by: Roger Wayne

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

A practical guide to understanding teens from best-selling author and global youth advocate Josh Shipp.

In 2015, Harvard researchers found that every child who does well in the face of adversity has had at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive adult. But Josh Shipp didn't need Harvard to know that. Once an at-risk foster kid, he was headed straight for trouble until he met the man who changed his life: Rodney, the foster parent who refused to quit on Shipp and got him to believe in himself.

Now, in The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans, Shipp shows all of us how to be that caring adult in a teenager's life. Stressing the need for compassion, trust, and encouragement, he breaks down the phases of a teenage human from sixth to 12th grade, examining the changes, goals, and mentality of teenagers at each stage.

Shipp offers revelatory stories that take us inside the teen brain and shares wisdom from top professionals and the most expert grown-ups. He also includes practice scripts that address tough issues, including:

• Forgiveness: What do I do when a teen has been really hurt by someone and it's not their fault?
• Communication: How do I get a teen to talk to me? They just grunt.
• Trust: My teen blew it. My trust is gone. Where do we go from here?
• Bullying: Help! A teen (or their friend) is being harassed.
• Difficult and awkward conversations: Drugs. Death. Sex. Oh my.

Written in Shipp's playfully authoritative, no-nonsense voice, The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans tells his story and unpacks practical strategies that can make a difference. Ultimately, it's not about shortcuts or magic words - as Shipp reminds us, it's about investing in kids and giving them the love, time, and support they need to thrive.

And that means every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story.

©2017 Brilliant Partners (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

Read it....then read it again!

I just finished this audio book and I'm starting it over from the beginning. I like that this book gives you practical and compassionate ways to be involved with your teen, how to talk to them and how to get them to talk to you, but without being a pushover or over powering. Most books just say that you should do something but give you no instructions on how to approach it...this is not that kind of book. I also like that Josh Shipp provides insight to what certain behaviors may be saying about what your teen is going through and what they need from you...plus a little comic relief, which is also a nice touch. After doing Josh Shipp's "A year of awesomeness", I've come to expect and enjoy his sense of humor. You know, I was a teen myself once, but sometimes I forget just what it is I needed when I was going through these things. Oftentimes, though, I just wasn't given those things as a kid myself and I don't know what to do. Thank you for a this treasure!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

I got immediately positive results

Wow! This is the best practical book that I have ever read on parenting teen. I had amazing conversation with my teens and our relationship has improved after following the suggestion of this book. I'm able to give them full responsibility for their actions and provide limits more easily. Many times I got emotional while listening to the book. This is a God-send manual for parents. It's an oasis in the dessert.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Better resource in hard copy

I absolutely loved this book and the narration was fantastic. Since I typically listen to audio books in the car or while running, as a resource, I would have preferred to have had it in hard copy. There are several sections which are suppose to be used as a "refer back to" when dealing with a situation. In audio form, this is almost impossible. There are also surveys which you can have your teen read and then both of you can talk about to start a conversation. Again, not easy using an audio form. Finally, there is a section giving example questions you can write to your teen in a journal - I thought that was a great idea when I was listening to the book in the car (no way to write it down) and now can't remember what chapter that was.

However, I can't stress enough how much I appreciated this book and have used several of the suggestions already (the very first night I scheduled more one-on-one time with my teen and we had the best conversation we have had in months). I am actually headed out to buy the hard copy.....

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

if you have a Teenage Human you have to have this

As a mom of two terrific teenagers and a marriage and family therapist I would say this is my number one recommended book for parents of teens. It gives you actually hands on strategies and fabulous information

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

get this as a hard copy

very insightful and great guides for specific issues. I would recommend getting this as a a hard copy resource so you can revisit the more practical suggestions when those things become reality.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Just ok.

Not as insightful as I was hoping. Note the author is a "teen expert". Very difficult to hear him dictate and speak in character of teens. Eek!!!! I will be trading this book in!

0 of 3 people found this review helpful