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33rd out of 43 books
—
55 voters
Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
by
Zoe Weil (Goodreads Author)
Above All, Be Kind teaches parents how to raise their children to be humane in the broadest sense—to become not only more compassionate in their interactions with family and friends, but to grow up to make life choices that demonstrate respect for the environment, other species, and all people. The book includes chapters for early, middle, teenage, and young adult years, a...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
October 1st 2003
by New Society Publishers
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Definitely an interesting read and a worthwhile read. She gives lots of scenarios and how parents dealt with them - she even includes a few brief interview with kids who are humane and what their parents did to get them there.
I'm glad I read it. I wrote down a few other books to read from her recommended reading section. Also has a few facts on sweatshop labor, child labor, etc, etc to get you thinking about how what you are doing every day impacts the great world outside your door and on the ot...more
I'm glad I read it. I wrote down a few other books to read from her recommended reading section. Also has a few facts on sweatshop labor, child labor, etc, etc to get you thinking about how what you are doing every day impacts the great world outside your door and on the ot...more
Although this book has been previously reviewed as a "parenting book," I have looked at this book as a concerned citizen and educator who believes it takes a "village to raise a child." One need not be a parent to pick up this book to reap benefits.
If you look at any point in history, people may have described their lives as "challenging" and difficult. Times of challenge can be reflective of times of change in the world. In today's world, for example, there are so many developments and changes...more
If you look at any point in history, people may have described their lives as "challenging" and difficult. Times of challenge can be reflective of times of change in the world. In today's world, for example, there are so many developments and changes...more
After putting it off for close to two years, I finally pulled this book off my shelf and read it last month. I think I stalled so long because of a two-pronged fear: one, that the book would be another mindless collection empty platitudes (likeso many other partenting books before it) or conversely, that it would fully live up to its promise and make me feel like an utter failure. In a sense, the book's mediocrity came as a relief.
The book's middling success isn't really its fault: it just so ha...more
The book's middling success isn't really its fault: it just so ha...more
One of the better parenting books I've read by a socially progressive, vegetarian author. Contains no homophobia, overt Christian messages, or anti-pornography or anti-sex rants (though she does advocate treating sexuality with seriousness and respect). Her argument that children need to learn to live their lives with greater intentionality and according to a moral compass is based more in a principle of consideration for others and oneself rather than in negative proscriptions. Encourages teach...more
This book was different than what I was expecting.
The author believes there are 4 elements to raising a humane child:
*Providing information
*Teaching critical thinking
*Instilling reverence, respect and responsibility
*Offering positive choices
Basically the parent should model good behavior/their message and promote critical thinking positive choices. Involve yourself and your children in things in your community that promote values and community (volunteer with nonprofits, join a food coop, etc.)...more
The author believes there are 4 elements to raising a humane child:
*Providing information
*Teaching critical thinking
*Instilling reverence, respect and responsibility
*Offering positive choices
Basically the parent should model good behavior/their message and promote critical thinking positive choices. Involve yourself and your children in things in your community that promote values and community (volunteer with nonprofits, join a food coop, etc.)...more
Intensely earnest, well-meant little book, but I was really weirded out by all of the faux-anecdotal parenting stories, and pretty offended by the one about "Brian, Charlene and Bill," which described one teenager flirting with a "cult" full of full time religious "devotees" that seemed to be a very thinly-veiled average Buddhist monastery. I imagine a lot of American parents, even hippy-dippy ones like the author, look on Buddhist monks and nuns as cult devotees, but I found this very inconsist...more
You may wonder why I am reading a parenting book. After all, my three feline “children” will never learn to be kind, neither to each other nor to the small animals and bugs they find, so that’s a lost cause. However, I purchased this book for my library, so I felt obligated to read it, and I am also a great fan of Ms. Weil’s, having attended a wonderful participatory lecture she hosted. This is an informational and fun book, a sort of Most Good, Least Harm for parents and those who work with chi...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a tough book for me to rate, because I like the premise and ideas, but there were things that just didn't work for me.
Some of the scenarios were so overdone it seemed like I was watching one of those after-school specials that have the big moral lesson at the end. I think the author could have gotten her point across just as well (or perhaps better) if she hadn't been so heavy-handed at points.
My favorite thing about the book was her theme throughout of, "My life is my message," (a quot...more
Some of the scenarios were so overdone it seemed like I was watching one of those after-school specials that have the big moral lesson at the end. I think the author could have gotten her point across just as well (or perhaps better) if she hadn't been so heavy-handed at points.
My favorite thing about the book was her theme throughout of, "My life is my message," (a quot...more
This book gave me so much more then I expected. Living humanely means to encompass all the best qualities of being human: kindness, compassion, honesty, willingness to change, generosity, courage, self discipline, humor, wisdom and integrity ... of course being all of that all the time is not realistic but, learning to have most qualities most of the time can be. It's the kind of book I'll want to read again to remind myself and reinforce the messages.
This book teaches the four elements of human...more
This book teaches the four elements of human...more
May 14, 2010
Shirari Industries
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
parents, educators, environmentalists, vegans
I really liked this book and recommend it to all parents and folks who care for children! Weil has carefully crafted a humane education curriculum to help kids learn how to make compassionate choices, and this book shares the best of what she's learned from her experiences. It's packed with complex examples of challenges that parents run into with kids of different ages, showing very clearly how parents can help their children learn to make decisions for themselves with great kindness and wisdom...more
First parenting book I've read (which is not saying much) that has made the connection between compassion and responsibility, and also stresses that you must model the behavior and beliefs you wish your children to learn. Very much appreciated, especially the sections on Weil's 3 Rs: respect, responsibility, and reverence. Loved it, will be buying my own copy to refer to and loan out.
Really great parenting philosophy book that was spot on in my opinion. She is not overtly religious but I do think her teachings fit well with Progressive Christian ideas. I particularly liked that she directly links reverence to respect to responsibility. Basically, if you encourage kids to find beauty in and to love and care for the earth and other people, and also teach them that their actions can make a difference, they will grow up to respect the earth, themselves, and other people and will...more
LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Thank you Zoe Weil! This book has warmth and wisdom. It is an inspiration and a call to make the world a better place starting with our own little piece of it.
This book changed the way I communicate with my children and the way I teach. Perhaps the best parent guide put there. Zoe Weil is an inspiration.
I know, it's funny, an eleven year old reading adult parenting books. But this was really good!
Have read bits and pieces, will continue to reference as Maria gets older. Thought provoking and sensible ways to raise good quality human beings.
My most favorite parenting book =0)
I think everyone should read this book--especially parents. It caused me to do some deep thinking. I'm going to try and be more mindful of my decisions too. It isn't overly judgmental so don't let that scare you away (although she is obviously vegetarian/vegan and feels pretty strongly about that choice). I haven't finished reading through all the older age sections yet since my kids are only four and two months...but I skimmed them. It's the kind of book I'll want to pull out to remind myself a...more
I've been wanting to read this for a long time. I fear that I have only a pompous perspective about this book and that is I already knew about most of the content. I live all of the content every day and raise my child accordingly.
The writing is not great. The story in the beginning about the mothers who were in conversation about their situations was just cheesy. The resolutions they came to were even cheesier. I appreciate the message especially against animal cruelty.
The writing is not great. The story in the beginning about the mothers who were in conversation about their situations was just cheesy. The resolutions they came to were even cheesier. I appreciate the message especially against animal cruelty.
With practical tips for a variety of situations, based on the author's experience as a humane educator and on anecdotes from parents and children, this book encourages parents to foster open, respectful relationships with their children and attitudes of reverence and respect (toward others & the environment). I enjoyed Weil's conversational tone. I hope she writes a companion book that's more empirically based, to help create the humane world she envisions.
I found this book mostly useful. Although I have younger children and feel like this would be more useful to reread when my children are slightly older.
Compassionate and encouraging. Great book for parents or educators.
Originally read January 3, 2009
I re-read it this week, because I'm considering going for a Master's in Humane Education that Zoe Weil's institute handles. I want to do some more research on the program in general.
Originally read January 3, 2009
I re-read it this week, because I'm considering going for a Master's in Humane Education that Zoe Weil's institute handles. I want to do some more research on the program in general.
I just read the beginning and first years chapters - there were some inspirational and useful things - but overall I thought the book was all over the place - yes there are a lot of things that go into being "kind" but I just didnt feel like it was connected as well and came off more as preachy
I shouldn't put a rating because while I liked what I read, I didn't get very far. It was a library check-out, and from skimming through it, I didn't find anything very fresh or novel, but it is probably a good reminder/refresher on parenting consciously.
I had read "Calm and Compassionate Children: A Handbook" last year and forgot to take notes of all the great tangible ideas the author offered. I'll try this book to see if its as good.
Nice book. Works really well for me as a reminder. In fact, I need to put the cover on the wall in font of me for, er, "those days". Y'know the ones where you aren't being Mother of the Year?
OK, so I didn't exactly read this book cover to cover. I greatly appreciate and value the message. But I can't say it made for gripping reading.
May 13, 2013
Carissa
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Meghan Muscato
marked it as to-read
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Zoe Weil is the co-founder and present of the Institute for Humane Education(IHE). In addition to creating the M.Ed. and certificate programs for IHE and leading IHE’s Sowing Seeds and MOGO (Most Good) workshops, Zoe Weil is the author of The Power and Promise of Humane Education (2004) for educators, Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times (2003) for parents, and Most Good...more
More about Zoe Weil...
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“Reverence is an emotion that we can nurture in our very young children, respect is an attitude that we instill in our children as they become school-agers, and responsibility is an act that we inspire in our children as they grow through the middle years and become adolescents.”
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15 people liked it
“If the traditional Rs (reading, writing, and arithmetic) are the basics that we want our children to master academically, then reverence, respect, and responsibility are the three Rs that our children need to master for the sake of their souls and the health of the world.”
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13 people liked it
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Oct 24, 2012 11:51am