The Grown-Up's Guide to Teenage Humans

How to Decode Their Behavior, Develop Unshakable Trust, and Raise a Respectable Adult

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!

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.

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.....

Very distracting Narrator

Overall, the content of the book is fantastic. I learn and and am currently implementing a lot of ideas and reflections from the book. The 4 parent traps are excellent points to ponder.
The downside of this audible product is the narrator Roger Wayne. Whenever there is a dialog, he tried to change his voice to someone else to mimic what is in the book. He is terrible at it, and it is very very distracting and sounds disrespectful. He does NOT have to change his voice to sound like a female voice! So, publisher, please do not use this narrator.

Mostly Intuitive advice

This is the first (of many, I've no doubt) guide I've read on how to better get along with the teenager in your life, and honestly, I'm pretty underwhelmed by it. Shipp is a good author; I'd love to read his memoir (if he has one..If he doesn't, he should); his story sounds absolutely fascinating. I think it's great that he reaches out and tried to help, but I personally can't say that I got too much out of this book that I didn't remember from being a teenager myself. all of his tips and advice seemed very intuitive but also pretty common sense.

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

A Must Read for All Parents

This audiobook was very informative and thorough in a wide array of things parents should discuss with their teens. This is the closest thing to a Parent's Manual as I have ever seen.
Just get it. Read ALL if it. Do ALL of it.

Best book for parents of teenagers

Filled with practical examples. I have read many, many books about parenting teenagers, And by far this is the best. Really appreciate the insight. The author is authentic, and very inspiring.

Insightful Book

Great content. He really is passionate about the healthy development of teens. Kudos too for the content available on his website. I've already made use of the teen cell phone contract.

Only negative-reason for 4 stars on performance... The audio of the "scene plays" is corny to the point of annoying with the faked voices for parents & teens. would have been better to actually have other real people just read out the parts.

Best parenting book I’ve ever read (listened)

From the amazing story that is Josh Shipp to the step-by-step guides, tips and role plays, this book is FANTASTIC! I have already recommended this book to several other moms. I’ve already starting implementing some of these tips with my 13 year old son and am already seeing a difference.

One to return to time and time again!

Absolutely loved this book from the opening sentence. It was engaging, funny, extremely practical and eye opening. The narrator made you feel like you were in a living room hanging out and talking. I would definitely recommend this book irrespective of whether you have teenagers or not. Fantastic insight into navigating the teenage world.

Easily could apply to Adults

I had bought this month's ago, and had finally decided to look into it. Really pleasantly surprised with how good this book was. While it certainly contains a plethora of lessons to help raise young adults and teenagers I do think the vast majority could just as easily apply to adults and how we can communicate/interact with each other. It's all compiled smartly and written in a no-nonsense manner which is easy to take in. The narrator again was brilliant, really made you feel like Josh was speaking to you. Would highly recommend this book.