We all have an imaginary definition of a great family. We imagine what it would be like to belong to such a family. No fights over the holidays. No...
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Sep 24, 2009
Shelly
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I don't give many 5-star ratings but I believe this book deserves it for one simple reason: It seems the author has done a fantastic job commenting on Family without the benefit of The Plan of Happiness in his arsenal. The first chapter alone made me realize what a small bubble of life I live in and how grateful I am for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn't truly connect, until this book, with how many thousands of people are in the world struggling with the issue of family without the
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Nov 18, 2008
'stina
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I finished Po Bronson's Why Do I Love These People? over the weekend. It was a fairly quick read about 19 families. Divorce, death, different cultures, keeping in touch, pushing away. The book sort of discusses how families stick together, make it work. It's looking from both the point of view of the family that you came from and the family that you're making.
I think the main thing that I came away with from the book is that over the last 150 years or so, we've been given a lot more More...
I think the main thing that I came away with from the book is that over the last 150 years or so, we've been given a lot more More...
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May 12, 2008
Steven
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I will admit that like others on this site, I was initially attracted to this book based upon the title. Being from a large and close Italian family, there are times when I ask the question posed by this book, and of course the only answer is that because they are family.
This book chronicles the struggles of 19 families and the various difficulties they have, especially in the realm of communication. I guess it is also not surprising to learn that there is really no “normal” family More...
This book chronicles the struggles of 19 families and the various difficulties they have, especially in the realm of communication. I guess it is also not surprising to learn that there is really no “normal” family More...
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Oct 27, 2008
Christina
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I enjoyed hearing different stories with the central theme of family and overcoming difficulty. I didn't always love the people though. A few of them struck me as essentially selfish and definitely not someone I'd want to be like (for example the woman who asked her husband if she could have an affair because she was bored). The author's constant interjections with philosophical mumbo-jumbo got a little annoying by the end. But on a positive note, I did hear some great stories, such as when
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Feb 25, 2011
Kate
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This scores four stars and a "highly recommended" rating because the stories of the families Bronson interviews are fascinating, genuine, and instructive in their own way. There is an incredible diversity of experience here that is hard to find in similar projects. The book is at its best when Bronson lets these stories flow on their own, without interjecting his own commentary, and fortunately that's what happens for most of the book.
The problem is when Bronson does inject h More...
The problem is when Bronson does inject h More...
Jan 18, 2011
Jan
rated it:
the only thing I would have suggested the author do differently is take the stories from the last half of the book and put them first. They carried a different kind of heartache, in my opinion. My mood shifted to a darker side reading the 2nd half, even though the individuals still worked out their results, it was a more challenging portion to feel inspired by at times, in my opinion.
This book is equivalent to traveling. It exposes your understanding to so many other facets of li More...
This book is equivalent to traveling. It exposes your understanding to so many other facets of li More...
Aug 21, 2008
Catherine
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If you ever questioned, "why did I have to belong to this family", read this book and embrace the amazing stories, I think it will make even the most cynical individual realize how important it may be to, accept and appreciate the family we came from.
"That which does not kill you makes you stronger"
"That which does not kill you makes you stronger"
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Aug 04, 2009
Walter
rated it:
This is a good book, uneven in spots, but, on the whole, strong. The vast majority of the stories of the people featured are instructive and inspiring ... and it's clear why they were included. So, I recommend this book, including because this book reminds us that family is an elastic, idiosyncratic concept, that we are free to craft a personalized arrangement that works for us (even if it doesn't conform to the supposed norm).
Following on the breakaway success of What Should I Do More...
Following on the breakaway success of What Should I Do More...
Mar 22, 2011
Farah
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I love this book. Each chapter focuses on a relationship between two family members. The author is able to get to the truth between them in a way that is meaningful and deep and seems to apply to my own life even though their circumstances don't necessarily mirror mine.
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Jan 19, 2010
Bob
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Bronson profiles families, warts and all, and ends up reassuring us about the imperfections and challenges in our own family. He also offers some fresh and positive perspective on commonly quoted figures that are usually cited for purposes of grousing about how modern family life is going to hell in a hand basket. I am always a sucker from anyone who points out that the "good old days" were no more good than today, and often worse.
This book doesn't suggest family life is ea More...
This book doesn't suggest family life is ea More...
Apr 22, 2009
Amy
rated it:
Po Bronson follows the same technique he used on "What Should I Do
With My Life?" to come up with the themes in this book. He interviewed
hundreds of people for many hours to try to get at what it means to be
family, and what makes strong family relationships.
This was enjoyable to read, but not quite as compelling as "What
Should I Do With My Life?" The insights he comes up with seem a little
more forced and not quite as universally releva More...
With My Life?" to come up with the themes in this book. He interviewed
hundreds of people for many hours to try to get at what it means to be
family, and what makes strong family relationships.
This was enjoyable to read, but not quite as compelling as "What
Should I Do With My Life?" The insights he comes up with seem a little
more forced and not quite as universally releva More...
Jan 17, 2009
Sally
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 01, 2009
Jeanine Marie
rated it:
Creative, introspective, and heartfelt, author Po Bronson re-tells 18 multicultural stories with family and universal lessons at the core. Developing his main theme that "creating families of our own involves both building with new people and changing the relationships we have to those we've grown up with," Bronson constructs themes that highlight caring, relationships, community and family at the foundation. I loved the nonmaterialistic and collective messages about relationsh More...
Jun 19, 2010
Jenny
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I finally finished this book and loved it! It has 19 stories in it all about different families. I enjoyed the stories very much and learned something from each. Each story begins with a question and it is beneficial to ponder each of those questions.
Some things I wrote down while I read:
All people have something to show us. Family is our common ground.
If you want to define family, then define a better family. The test is not whether we have problems, but More...
Some things I wrote down while I read:
All people have something to show us. Family is our common ground.
If you want to define family, then define a better family. The test is not whether we have problems, but More...
Sep 14, 2008
sleeps9hours
rated it:
Love Po Bronson. He wanted to explore resilient individuals—those who came from problematic families, but got through them stronger for it. His method intrigued me. He got leads on over 700 people, narrowed it down to 200 who fit his criteria, narrowed them down to 40 by trying to ignore and forget them and sticking with those whose stories were so compelling he couldn’t, then doing extensive phone and in-person interviews with them and their families/friends, even consulting about their stor
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Jan 03, 2009
Kirei
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This book tells the true stories of various family situations. They all follow the same pattern: there is hardship, and the hardship is overcome to a certain extent. The stories themselves were quite interesting, but I didn't care for the author's commentary. He tried to put a positive spin on EVERY story. The stories are lives in progess, so it is impossible to know how happy they really are or will be in the future.
Jul 07, 2011
Kelley
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A book representing different family experiences from around the country. This was by the same guy who wrote “What should I do in life” and I have to say I really liked that book much better than this one. The stories seemed way more disjointed and I didn’t fall in love with the people featured. A good filler book though and I got it for $2 so I’m not that sad if it wasn’t the best.
Aug 17, 2010
Shanna
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A collection of stories about families, both biological and chosen. It's almost always uplifting to read stories of people overcoming their issues and working together to strengthen their relationships. There are also stories of people who have realized that the troubles run too deep and cannot or should not be overcome; these, too, are uplifting in their own way.
Mar 30, 2011
John
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A compilation of people who have failed or struggled with issues of family. Some stories are encouraging, while some just peter out without resolution. There are no ribbons wrapping everything up, but that's to be expected from stories of real life. The book gave me reason to pause and think about my relationship with the families I'm a member of.
Mar 13, 2011
Michael
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I've read a total of three Po Bronson books- I liken him to Mitch Albom, John Grogan and the whole Chicken Soup for Soul series- he's not entirely mundane. There is something about intruding on a family's troubles, putting it into print and then profiting from it that requires a little more tact than Bronson sometimes presents. I think it's a noble attempt at gathering stories and information about a large number of families who need to express what makes their story unique, I also think an ed
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Mar 25, 2010
Robert
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My sister recommended this book when some problems arose with our siblings, and I was glad she did. Each chapter is devoted to a different "case study" of diverse situations, told with insight, depth and humane perspectives. Bronson is an evolved man and his writing showcases this. It gave me hope for transforming some of the considerable challenges that came about when both of our parents passed away.
Jan 12, 2010
Sally
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Um...this is a hard one for me to review. I really enjoyed it in the beginning - in fact, I may have loved it. But then the author started putting in his Buddhist views here and there at first...and then suddenly it was what the book was mainly about, instead of the beautiful stories of the unique families I was first reading about.
May 10, 2011
Shawna
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This book is a collection of stories about real families. I loved the stories because they were uplifting without being saccharine. Hearing about people who struggled with some very big problems and yet still pulled through is motivating me to make a better effort in my own life and to not judge my efforts too harshly.
Jul 12, 2011
Kendra
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Not having had much of a family compass growing up, this book inspires - narratives about different people and families tell me that, yes, it's true, there are amazing families out there whose stories blow me away, but then prompting reflection and a thorough examination of the things that make my own family unique, once completely under the authority of shame, I now see an interesting story. I don't think I would have enjoyed this book nearly so much had I picked it up before spending a year an
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Jun 13, 2010
Peggy
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I enjoy reading short stories. I enjoyed reading this book about real families. The book helped me to understand that few families are all great or horrible, but some continuing, and changing combination of both. The stories were of families of various nationalities, religions, sizes and combinations.
Oct 23, 2009
Dawn
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This book is a collection of pieces about individual's relationships inside families. Each story shows a different view of what family is, why the relationship works or doesn't work. Some of the stories were compelling, but mostly it felt overdone, too many words to tell a simple story. I like his "What Should I Do with My Life?" much better.
Dec 23, 2008
Michelle
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I found many of these short stories fascinating and everyone in my family received a copy for Christmas 2007. I felt like my family was pretty normal (maybe even a bit boring but not so dysfunctional as I had imagined) after reading some of the true stories. Bronson included in the book
Jan 11, 2008
Bethany
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This is an “inspirational” book. (The quotation marks are intentional…) I was not particularly inspired by it, though I’m sure it is intended to do so. It is, however, fascinating to read Bronson’s collection of stories from and about families.
My personal favorite involved a Caucasian man whose only immediate - and extended - family was his mom and step-sister. He married a Filipino girl, who (if you know Filipinos, you understand) had hundreds of relatives just in the United St More...
My personal favorite involved a Caucasian man whose only immediate - and extended - family was his mom and step-sister. He married a Filipino girl, who (if you know Filipinos, you understand) had hundreds of relatives just in the United St More...
Jan 05, 2010
Asilenna
rated it:
I love stories of imperfection, and Po Bronson is so good at finding really interesting people to talk to. Sometimes his commentary gets in the way but to me, the stories of families finding their ways in really different circumstances were all worth reading more than once.
Jan 12, 2012
Caro
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i like po bronson's way of writing about people and their experiences a lot. i had hoped though, that there would be at least one non-traditional family in this book: 't was all a bit too nuclear family-type for me. and the adoption story? total nightmare.
