The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families—How They Do It by Michelle Duggar

Aug 04, 2010 Christina rated it 2 of 5 stars

8/4/10 NOTE: Although I stand by my review of this book, I do want to point out that it was written long before Michelle Duggar gave birth to a preemie ... and long before *I* gave birth to a preemie. Her 25-weeker was born just two years or so after MY 25-weeker, and having such a public representation of what I went through admittedly made me feel a connection to the family, if that makes any kind of warped sense. It's the same connection I feel to ALL preemie families, but the fact our girls...more 8/4/10 NOTE: Although I stand by my review of this book, I do want to point out that it was written long before Michelle Duggar gave birth to a preemie ... and long before *I* gave birth to a preemie. Her 25-weeker was born just two years or so after MY 25-weeker, and having such a public representation of what I went through admittedly made me feel a connection to the family, if that makes any kind of warped sense. It's the same connection I feel to ALL preemie families, but the fact our girls were born at nearly identical birth weights/ages, and under similar circumstances, really resonated with me. Although my girl came home much before her due date whereas Michelle Duggar's baby did not, it's hard to shake. Once you enter the world of prematurity, everything changes. Thanks for listening.

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It's seriously impossible to explain why I find this story fascinating. Um, hello. Fundamentalist Christianity? Shouldn't my head melt or something? And yet I DO find it fascinating. But reading the book, while all cheery and uplifting, made me find a great sadness in this family's life.

So when the Duggars started out life together, she was on the pill for a couple of years before they decided to have a baby. Their first one comes along and they decide to go back on the pill. But she gets pregnant, then loses the baby around 2-3 months. So some asshole idiot doctor tells them the miscarriage happened because of the pill. Ta-dah! With that massive guilt, a 20-and-counting (21?) family is born.

And how do they do it all, and debt-free, you ask? Well, we don't really get into many details about the debt-free thing. It's basically all about saving your money and then asking god for help. Oh, and letting TLC pay for things once in awhile.

And how about food? Luckily for us, they've included their favorite recipes. Man. They eat CRAP! If it's a creamed soup, it's in their favorites. I have to admit being a bit pissed that they use disposable plates etc. to eat the food that's the girls' job to prepare. It's wonderful that they don't mooch off society to pay for their enormous family, but hello! Environmental impact, anyone?

And to answer the child-rearing question. They raise their children by letting the other children raise them. Each older kid gets a buddy. They SAY they spend time with each child, but how much individual time can you spend in a day with so much going on? And those kids are homeschooled, and sheltered from TV/Internet (and apparently anyone who lives off their compound. Oops, I mean property) so they're pretty much mind-controlled.

Speaking of ... adding to the cult-like aura is their new monster house. The kids sleep in dorm-like rooms by gender. We're told several times it was the kids' choice ... which I suppose is possible considering it's the kids raising the other kids and they wouldn't want to be away from each other. I'm thinking that, along with the enormous prayer room area AND the fact that Jim Bob holds PRAYER SESSIONS ON SUNDAYS in his home, once the kids are gone, those dorm rooms will be great for the cult members to come. I predict it won't be long before god calls Jim Bob to open a church in his house.

Now that the oldest kid is married off, it'll be interesting to see how many children his wife can produce before his mother stops having babies.

AND YET. I know I'll still watch the reruns. So that raises an obvious question: Who's really the sickest here? (less)

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Dec 03, 2008 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, biography-memoir

I am addicted to this odd family and their TV show on TLC.

******I don't understand my own fascination with this family. They are the type of Fundamentalist family who appear to be continuing to have children so that those of their ilk will take over civilization through sheer numbers. They go to the Creation museum. The girls must wear dresses and not cut their hair. And yet I keep watching. Maybe it's just a sociological fascination. I don't know. I feel shame.

And based on the recipes included....more

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Feb 18, 2009 Mommywest rated it 5 of 5 stars

Was it the same phenomenon that causes people to flock to the scene of an accident, or was it a combination of curiosity and admiration of how this family is able to have that many kids and love and care for them all that led me to read this book? Probably a little of both!

I really enjoyed this book. The Duggar parents have written a great resource that simultaneously tells their family story and shares the parenting philosophies and practices that have worked for them in raising their many chil...more

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Feb 16, 2009 Carmie rated it 2 of 5 stars

A while back I caught the show on TLC about the Duggar family building their new home. I was intrigued by the Duggars and judging by the response to their reality series, I'm not the only one. So, I picked up their book which is really a companion to their TLC/Discovery Channel shows. It's a quick read sprinkled with info on how Jim Bob and Michelle live their faith, raise their large family, stay organized, live debt-free and discipline etc. They get so many questions that they wrote this book...more

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May 14, 2009 Tamsyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, parenting, homeschool, biographies-autobiographies

I was really impressed by this book and how organized their family has learned to be. It was fun to see a family so large I could tell them there's only 13 in my family! Many of the family scenarios rang true from my own experience, and it was really fun to read. I liked the idea of blanket time for toddlers and will probably use it, and some of the other organization tips I think we'll be using soon. I've always admired large families, and this book was truly a pleasure and inspiration to read....more

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Apr 09, 2009 julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow! I found this family so inspiring. I loved the parents' attitude on parenting and life in general. This book reinforced my belief that attitude determines our experiences much more than circumstances. Our lives are what we believe them to be, whether full of grace and beauty,or negativism and unhappiness. While many of the Duggars' specific tips about things like laundry, mealtime, etc. aren't necessary for my small family, their beliefs about giving our lives to God, avoiding debt, purposef...more

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Feb 16, 2009 Sarah Wade rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love this family!! I watch the show all the time, so I was excited to read this book. They are a wonderful Christian family who stick by their values and make things work. They have 18 children, no debt (nope, not even a mortgage!) and loads of great advise- after all- with a crop like that, they are experts! This book offers a lot more details on their parenting techniques and also has lots of great sounding recipes. It was an easy read and definitely one that I will refer to a lot. I think w...more

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Apr 03, 2009 Hank rated it 4 of 5 stars

Since I am not exposed to much television, I had no idea who the Duggars were when I picked up this book on a friend's coffee table two weeks ago. Since this loving couple is proliferating at an unrestricted rate, I figured they were studying the Duggars as a model for their own family expansion.

Intending to read just a page or two, I set the book down a couple of hours later, having read the whole text skipping recipes and omitting the last chapter. Not an English scholar myself, I'd characteri...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of the Duggars TV series

The Duggars: 20 and Counting! was actually an interesting book. I used to watch their show, but haven't in a while. I read this book a few years ago. It basically explains their story of how they met, were married, and decided to have a large family. They have always worked hard and encouraged the same out of their children. They even bought a steel kit and built that monstrous house mostly by themselves. The only thing that really bothers me about their child-raising techniques is that they sti...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Veronica Noechel rated it 2 of 5 stars

"Why in the heck did you read this book?" is a valid question from those who know me, but then, if you *do* know me, you know I like to read about individuals and groups I don't...um...get. So I couldn't resist picking up this book, which offers a little (and I mean a *little*) more detail into the lives of the Dugger family than can be gleaned from their tv show--X Kids and Counting (I omitted the exact number since it may vary depending upon when you read this review.)

Reasons to read this boo...more "Why in the heck did you read this book?" is a valid question from those who know me, but then, if you *do* know me, you know I like to read about individuals and groups I don't...um...get. So I couldn't resist picking up this book, which offers a little (and I mean a *little*) more detail into the lives of the Dugger family than can be gleaned from their tv show--X Kids and Counting (I omitted the exact number since it may vary depending upon when you read this review.)

Reasons to read this book include getting a look into the childhood's of Michelle and Jim Bob, the couple who made the choice to forego all efforts at slowing their reproductive powers and allow the eggs and sperm to fall where they may, so to speak. It's interesting to see how they related to their own parents, when they got involved the sect of Christianity they embrace, and how they met, matched up, and married all by the ages of 17 and 18, respectively. I also enjoyed reading their recipes though wow--I hope they don't eat these highly unbalanced recipes too often. I'm not sure it would be possible to cram more sodium and animal fat (whoa...waaaay too much dairy, folks!) into one family's diet. There were a few interesting behind the scenes anecdotes from the show itself that I hadn't heard before that filled in gaps here and there if you're curious about some of the house building details, how the show has effected their finances and/or changed their lives.

Reasons I gave this book such a low score? I bought the Kindle version, so it's possible that the formatting may be somewhat better on paper, but the constant switching back and forth between Jim Bob and Michelle's voices is incredibly irritating. They both use the first person and refer to the other in the third person with no break at all between them--one sentence "I" refers to him and in the next it refers to her. They put the names in parentheses after the pronouns in question, but geez, what a mess! It makes for an incredibly sloppy book. Other problems included time line issues, with a lot of messy doubling back, some repetition, and disorder. I was interested in reading about Jim Bob's political career (Eek! Sorry conservatives, but yeah...eek!) but there was waaay too much time spent detailing his losing campaign. I realize it's a part of the family's life, but at the same time, it gets tedious.

So, if you watch the show, yes you'll probably get some unanswered questions addressed, but overall it's a poorly put together book. Hopefully they sought out a better editor for their other book. This one didn't do them any favors.(less)

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Mar 27, 2013 Maggiemuggins added it · review of another edition

Amazing! People who can count up to, what is their score now 20? but can't imagine a number as huge as 7 billion and increasing exponentially. A bare half century ago the human population was 2 billion...it's more than tripled since 1950. What part of that statistic are these idiots missing? Which number are these rabbit-imitating idiots aiming for all by their sex-mad little selves? 14 billion by the year 2040? 28 billion by the year 2080? 56 billion by 2100? Does 112 billion sound like an inte...more

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Mar 17, 2009 Ellyn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

I'm embarrassed to admit that I read this book. I almost didn't put it into my profile, but then I decided that I'm no worse than all of the people who watch this family on TV, which I've never done. For some reason, I find them strangely fascinating. Michelle and Jim Bob are the debt-free parents of 18 homeschooled children, Fundamentalist Christians, and members of the quiverfull movement. I don't know if I could find a way of life more different than my own if I looked for years! I do pity th...more

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Jan 19, 2009 Talia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adultnon-fic, inspirational

Ah, the Duggars. Although I don’t believe in their particular form of religion nor their feelings on procreation, there’s something about this family that fascinates me, that fascinates EVERYONE. Regardless of your personal feelings towards their fundamentalist beliefs, there lies the question: could I do this? Be pregnant every other year and raise a family of 18 kids and not be committed to an asylum? Nope. But Michelle Duggar (who is a whole heck of a lot more likable than Kate Gosselin) tell...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Delicious Strawberry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: michelle-duggar, religion

When I first heard of the Duggar family, my initial reaction was 'How the heck can someone have so many kids???' I watched them on some of their Discovery Channel episodes. When I heard the book had come out, I was curious as to see what they had to say about themselves.

Yes, there are some things I disagree with them on. There's nothing wrong with birth control, I hope that their daughters at least make that decision for themselves, that they realize that they don't have to have so many children...more When I first heard of the Duggar family, my initial reaction was 'How the heck can someone have so many kids???' I watched them on some of their Discovery Channel episodes. When I heard the book had come out, I was curious as to see what they had to say about themselves.

Yes, there are some things I disagree with them on. There's nothing wrong with birth control, I hope that their daughters at least make that decision for themselves, that they realize that they don't have to have so many children so they can have careers and such, and that the Bible isn't the right life tool for everyone.

The Bible has clearly guided the Duggars well. Their children are polite and well behaved, the older siblings have jobs and what not, the girls are taught to drive as well as the boys and aren't treated like the women in a Mormon polygamist community and what not. Jim Bob and Michelle don't beat their kids or mistreat them in any way - more mothers should be like Michelle!

My concern is that Jim Bob and Michelle shelter their children too much. Everyone plays two or three instruments (I doubt that each and every single Duggar child actually has the passion for music) and it doesn't seem that their homeschooling education offers much in the way of a well-varied curriculum, according to what Michelle teaches her kids. I heard that the oldest son was refused from a college because his homeschooling curriculum wasn't enough. Do these children ever learn about other religions and cultures, or read great classic novels or Greek, Roman, Latin, or medieval works? Have any of the lids expressed curiosity in it, and what was their parent's response? I guess I'm asking this because I had a history minor in college and love to read, but not all of the kids are the same and some of the kids are bound to have literary interests rather than say, musical like some of their siblings. I hope these kids realize there's a richly varied world out there, and I hope that their parents don't make it seem like a bad place (aside the obvious things like war and such)

The love that Jim Bob and Michelle have for their family is very real, as well as the fact that they are taking their time to write a book to share their happiness and knowledge with us. Jim Bob and Michelle are still clearly passionately in love with one another, and I don't question their loyalty to one another.

Their economy is to be commended. Many parents today complain about how hard and expensive it is to raise just a few children, while Jim Bob and Michelle do just fine with their large brood. Granted, I feel that much of the responsibility has been delegated to the older girls as well as cooking and cleaning - Michelle even looked surprised on the TV show when she was asked questions about that matter.

But their budgeting advice is to be taken seriously, whether the economy is high or low. Too many people have become wasteful and disrespectful, and the Duggar's firm and loving hand in raising their children is to be commended in a society where so many parents choose to not take responsibility for the education and rearing of their child.

I took away a star because there needed to be more financial information in this book. I mean, living debt-free is a great idea, but not everyone can just buy some property and sell it for profit (r become landlords). For people who live in say, the big city, where all the land is already taken, what options does one have? Or college? I currently am debt-free, but I used to owe money for college. You know what they say - you gotta spend money to make money. There really should have been more money-saving info in this book. Bills, college funds, emergencies, other things like that. I didn't expect them to like, tell us exactly how much they spend on what or how much taxes they paid or profit made, that's personal. But I really had been expecting more in the financial tips department. (less)

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Aug 17, 2012 Sanz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know much about the Duggar family other than that they have a lot of children and a TV show that I've never seen. If I had cable TV I can bet I would watch their show. The Duggars are good people. I was inspired by their book. While I don't have any interest in having 20 children, I learned a lot from them like their family rules, living debt-free, enjoying today, praising your children, anger, (they suggest whispering when you are angry, which I've done recently and noticed it really h...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Holly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't understand why people get so upset about the Duggars.
I get the whole overpopulation thing, but really, the people are living in rural Arkansas.
AND people get upset about them living-debt free, like that's a problem.
AND their parenting techniques...what's wrong with gentle correction and training, and teaching kids to be polite? Their methods may not be mine, but I can't dispute their effectiveness.

As for the book, it gave some nice background on the family from the beginning and how th...more

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Feb 24, 2012 Suzee Storz rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved getting insight into how Mr and Mrs Duggar deal with living day to day with so many children. The tips were awesome and I liked the recipes okay. I especially liked how open Mr and Mrs Duggar were with missteps they have made and the lessons they learned over the years. The insights they give on what they dealt with during their marriage was one of my favorite parts. I would have like seeing more written by their children, rather then little excerpts here and there. I may not agree with...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because I'd heard widely varying opinions of the Duggar family from my friends, and I was curious to form my own opinion. I was quite inspired by this book. The Duggar's lifestyle is extremely unusual in many ways, but I loved their enthusiastic attitude about parenting and was very impressed by their commitment to living their convictions. While I don't think I could do a lot of what they do (have tons of kids and home school all of them, for a start) I agree with many of their...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Louise rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: do-not-want, non-fiction, religious, home-and-crafts

Though I do not particularly care for the Duggars' religious/political convictions, my low rating for this book has nothing to do with any kind of personal dislike. The book is simply badly written/edited. Perspective constantly shifts from Jim Bob 1st person to Michelle 1st person, often from one paragraph to the next. The kids' Q&A sections and the recipes are included in little side boxes throughout every chapter -- except that these "side" boxes are often more like "2/3 of the whole page...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Jessi rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have a hard time deciding how to categorize this book. My local library has it filed under "religion", but it's not really a book about religion, just a family that practices it. The majority of the book reads like a biography, from a bit of info about how the Duggar parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, met, to their courtship and marriage, to their business struggles and the births of their children (in fact, Jim Bob's narratives about the business can be a bit long, and they make up a sizable port...more I have a hard time deciding how to categorize this book. My local library has it filed under "religion", but it's not really a book about religion, just a family that practices it. The majority of the book reads like a biography, from a bit of info about how the Duggar parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, met, to their courtship and marriage, to their business struggles and the births of their children (in fact, Jim Bob's narratives about the business can be a bit long, and they make up a sizable portion of the book. This is the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five!). And yet, the book also includes things like recipes, organizational tips, and other helpful information. The last portion of the book details the Duggars' path to national attention, starting with Jim Bob's brief stint in politics to The Learning Channel offering them their own regular television show (I would assume this was in part because of the recent huge popularity of their other hit show with a big family, Jon & Kate Plus 8). Then Michelle Duggar provides quite a bit of tips and information on parenting, with helpful sources and many gentle disclaimers that these are things that work for this particular family, but they understand they might not be for everyone. While I do not have children myself at this time, when I do have a family I plan on turning to this book's resource section, particularly for the sources on childhood literacy and home organization of which Michelle Duggar speaks so highly.
This book may not be for everyone, but it has the potential to please a broad audience. Parents of large families (or those looking to start one) and folks who reminisce about bygone days when parents did have more kids will find this an enjoyable read. Some may like it especially for the references and tips I mentioned. I also feel that this book would be a good read for those who don't feel like they understand the Duggar family, or perhaps have unkind words for them and their show. This book dispels a lot of myths and misconceptions about the family, their lifestyle, and their faith. In speaking about these things, the Duggars are never condescending or judgmental. Even when discussing matters of faith, they are careful to point out that what should matter in a relationship with God is just that- that you have a relationship. They don't want you to feel like they are saying that women all have to wear dresses and grow their hair long, or that no birth control is the way to go. They also explain some things in the book that others may poke fun at them about (for example, they buy almost all their clothing at yard sales and thrift stores. When you see them dressed alike, it's not because of some weird penchant for uniforms, but more likely because it was requested by a television producer. Or the oldest three or four Duggar children's names start with "J" simply by coincidence, and Michelle and Jim Bob decided that they would continue that trend, to keep anyone from feeling left out.)
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. And I must say, if you are deciding between this and the other book by a famous TLC mom who has lots of kids, go with this one. It's sweeter and a lot more fun.(less)

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Sep 13, 2010 Heidi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Yeah, I read it. You got something to say about that?

Let's clear something up right away. I have absolutely zero desire to have 75 kids, and after reading this book that desire has probably gone down. We don't have cable TV, so I've never seen one of their shows, but I heard a glowing review of this book, rolled my eyes, and thought I'd check it out. The up sides to this -- they are incredibly organized and unashamed of their faith. No one could deny that they love the Lord and aren't afraid to...more

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May 20, 2010 Challis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: true-life-adventure, instructional

I enjoyed reading this book. I saw one of their episodes on my mom's TV (the one about their house being built) and it was the first time I'd ever heard of them. I didn't hear much more about them til their latest baby ended up in the hospital.
I dont' really see why people get so upset about other people living their own lives to the best of their conscience. The whole 'overpopulation' myth has been debunked for ages. Everyone is going to do something you don't like or agree with. Someone made...more I enjoyed reading this book. I saw one of their episodes on my mom's TV (the one about their house being built) and it was the first time I'd ever heard of them. I didn't hear much more about them til their latest baby ended up in the hospital.
I dont' really see why people get so upset about other people living their own lives to the best of their conscience. The whole 'overpopulation' myth has been debunked for ages. Everyone is going to do something you don't like or agree with. Someone made a complaint about them using paper plates (which I also dont' like, but is it better to use all the water it would take to wash that many dishes every day?) but what about all the books that are printed and so many other things that are wasteful? I recycle loads of mail (most of it junk) every week.
I was impressed with this couple, Jim Bob and Michelle. They decided early on what their convictions and priorities were and they have mostly stuck with them through it all. How many of us have actually made that distinction in our lives and then dedicated ourselves and our family to it? I know I have fallen short! They have incredible faith in God. I love the stories they shared about how He answered their prayers. Too many times I think I have to make my own way and it was a good reminder to me to rely more on Him. He wants to bless His children.
I also liked some of the parenting tips and the reminder to speak more softly as I have had an anger problem since having children as well. I know it is hard, but I believe with a more concerted effort I can overcome that fault.
I love the homeschooling part too because we have discussed it a lot. I think it's ridiculous when people say these kids are brainwashed. Aren't all kids? Whatever we as parents, or teachers at school teach kids, it could be considered brainwashing. To the people who believe in global warming, I'm sure they 'brainwash' their kids about being 'green' and other things. So anytime you're teaching your kids your own beliefs, you could be brainwashing them. But I guess we only call it that when they are being taught something other than our personal beliefs! I come from a family with 6 kids, and no it wasn't love and hugs all the time, but we did get a long a lot better than some of the families I saw with less children. It seems families with 2 or 3 kids have the most sibling rivalry in my experience.
I also liked their commitment to being debt free and their examples of how The Lord helps them keep that commitment.
Overall this book helped strengthen my own faith, gave me confidence to more and rely on the Lord more.
The recipes are pretty horrible if you were expecting them to eat healthfully, but I bet they taste good!
I agree that some of their answers seem over the top sunshine and roses, even the new daughter in law. But if you've ever been around someone that really immerses themselves in their faith, they seem a little unreal. I think it just gives me more incentive to overcome the natural man and be more Christ-like. Even if others find me unbelievable or hard to relate to.(less)

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Nov 21, 2009 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm fascinated by this family. I think, because they are the absolute opposite of me. Eighteen kids and I have one. Extremely conservative and I'm liberal. She's a subservient wife and I'm a full partner in my marriage.

I think the title would best be changed to Blind Faith. For that's what the Duggars live on . I admire that wholeheartedly, for I'm often the Doubting Thomas. No, not doubting in the sense that Thomas was, but I'm much more likely to use the free will and thought that God gifted...more I'm fascinated by this family. I think, because they are the absolute opposite of me. Eighteen kids and I have one. Extremely conservative and I'm liberal. She's a subservient wife and I'm a full partner in my marriage.

I think the title would best be changed to Blind Faith. For that's what the Duggars live on . I admire that wholeheartedly, for I'm often the Doubting Thomas. No, not doubting in the sense that Thomas was, but I'm much more likely to use the free will and thought that God gifted me with. I often wonder how they can so blindly follow. I've found using scripture for your own needs to be quite dangerous and controlling. Any church or person that asks for blind faith is frightening.

I've studied both the Old and New Testament at the college level. Both of these classes were some of my most difficult (until nursing school, chemistry, etc.) My Bible is dog eared and written in. It's well used. So, I could match verse for verse just about anything that these people hand out. That's not my point, though. My point is that I've noticed that they pick and choose scripture to fit their needs. That they isolate themselves and their children from the world, which they consider evil and filled with temptation.

That's fine, I guess, to each their own, but I often wonder which one of those children will be the one to escape the confines of their family and venture out on their own. I wonder what will happen when they realize that the world really isn't this evil place after all. I wonder if their family will shun them. I wonder how they would see their parents through these new eyes.

If we raise our children up to be good, decent people then they must be challenged. They must be out in the world, evil or not, to find out if our guidance has led them to the right path. If you don't allow them that, then that's your issue. Not theirs.

Like I said, I'm fascinated by these people. I enjoy watching them on TV. I enjoyed reading their book, for to me, it was eye opening. This is important for us all to do. Reach outside ourselves to try to learn more and understand more about others. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Duggars would ever step outside their world to look into mine.

As a side note, the recipes contained within the book are an unbelievable tribute to the power of the can. Cream of whatever soup, pasta, heavy cream, ground meat, canned vegetables. Heavy, rib sticking food, but not necessarily healthy. I'm sure that the point is to fill aching stomachs, but my hope is that these kids are getting more than just filling. I'd love for the Duggars to touch on that in future episodes. Man cannot live on cans alone.(less)

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Jun 25, 2009 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

It seems that a lot of people share my fascination with the Duggar family, and with good reason -- they've done some thing phenomenal: they've turned the seemingly daunting task of parenting so many children into the image of an idyllic family lifestyle. And they've entered the public sphere, and their own dose of celebrity, without any of the drama that accompanies Jon & Kate, among others. What's their secret? There may be no simple answer to that question, but in this book they lay out so...more It seems that a lot of people share my fascination with the Duggar family, and with good reason -- they've done some thing phenomenal: they've turned the seemingly daunting task of parenting so many children into the image of an idyllic family lifestyle. And they've entered the public sphere, and their own dose of celebrity, without any of the drama that accompanies Jon & Kate, among others. What's their secret? There may be no simple answer to that question, but in this book they lay out some of the specifics of their life choices that have led to their success and happiness.

Written from a first-person perspective (Jim Bob and Michelle take turns narrating, with intermittent interjections from their kids in response to e-mailed questions they've received), this book gives a basic overview of the family history, starting with Jim Bob and Michelle's childhoods and ending at the point at which they were writing their book and expecting their eighteenth child. Along the way, they discuss their various successes and failures, and the little tidbits they've learned that have helped to "save their sanity," as they say.

Many of these tidbits are excellent advice for any family, even those with only one or two children. Some of their advice is more specific to the needs of large families. (For example, family laundry is not such a daunting task in a family of three or four.) But their advice is always delivered with a sprinkling of humility -- they never claim to be parenting experts, but instead offer suggestions based on what they have learned, from experience, to be solid parenting and family-management practices. Also, they offer a lengthy list of outside resources for further consultation, should readers need more information or wish to pursue some of the techniques and suggestions on their own.

While Fundamentalist Christianity is a tremendous part of this family's lifestyle, I did not find their inclusion of their faith to be overbearing in this book. While I don't share their religious beliefs, they presented their views and their spirituality in such a way that I could appreciate its value to them, without feeling that I was being preached at. As a matter of fact, it was a far more subtle approach to religion than I would have expected from a book from this publisher. Only in the last few sentences of the book do the Duggars ever turn their religion outward toward the reader: "We hope our story inspired you to seek out His [God's:] guidance in everything you do." (p. 228)

I found this book both fascinating and useful. The Duggars have quite a remarkable story, and I'm anxious to check out some of the resources they've listed to see how I can put them to use in raising my own three kids. As a parenting manual, this is one of the best and most helpful I've ever read. As a parenting story, this is one of the most inspirational and calming. Highly recommended for any parent.(less)

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Jun 06, 2009 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-reads, nonfiction, library-book

I guess you could say the Duggars are my guilty pleasure; I watch their show “18 Kids and Counting,” previously titled “17 Kids and Counting,” religiously and I’ve seen all the specials on their lives, starting with “14 Kids and Pregnant Again.” I can also recite the names of their children in order — all the way from Joshua to Jordyn-Grace. {Just reread that and just realized how creepy that sounds.)

Although I fundamentally disagree with everything the stand for, I find their family utterly fas...more I guess you could say the Duggars are my guilty pleasure; I watch their show “18 Kids and Counting,” previously titled “17 Kids and Counting,” religiously and I’ve seen all the specials on their lives, starting with “14 Kids and Pregnant Again.” I can also recite the names of their children in order — all the way from Joshua to Jordyn-Grace. {Just reread that and just realized how creepy that sounds.)

Although I fundamentally disagree with everything the stand for, I find their family utterly fascinating, and so I turned to their autobiography to learn about what the show doesn’t show you. The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is an easy read that offers a wealth of information about the Duggars that the show skipped over, especially the Duggars’ life before they had fourteen children. They share two little tidbits in the discipline {I’ll let you find out about that} and in the kitchen department that really worried me — they use paper plates since washing 60 dishes a day would be too much. Imagine if everyone on the planet had this large of families, which is their ultimate goal, and therefore had to rely on paper plates. Landfills would be overflowing!

And they answer that “burning” question as to why they give all their children ‘J’ names; They loved the names Joshua, John-David, and Jana, so when Jill was born, they didn’t want her to be the only one without a ‘J’ name. Normally this amount of religion would begin to bother me after a while, but when it comes to the Duggars, I knew to expect that every page would involve some sort of reference to their religious views.

However, there are to stylistic choices that really bother me — one due to publishing format and another due to narrative format. In the book, the sidebars are stuck right in the middle of the text, which interrupts the flow of the narrative, and the sidebars often have nothing to do with what that page is talking about. As for the narrative problem, both Jim Bob and Michelle refer to themselves as ‘I’ in the book. Therefore, there are several instances where the reader has no clue as to who is talking, and as a result of this confusion, they rely on “I (Michelle) … I (Jim Bob)” to correct this problem, which only aggravated me more.(less)

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May 24, 2009 PhilorChelsy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chelsys-readings

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Another inspiring book for me so I have to record all the notes I take right here for my reference. They have their reference listed on their website www.duggarfamily.com too. Their chore methods, blanket time, organization methods in such a big family, Buddy System, and daily schedules are very interesting.

Through trial and error (as with us all) this family has learned to apply Christian principles to their life in every way they possibly can. From child rearing to money management. They have...more

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Apr 01, 2009 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

As a work of literature, this isn't exactly a masterpiece. A good editor could have found a much better way to differentiate between the two first-person voices behind the story. As it was, every few paragraphs the voice would switch between Michelle and Jim-Bob, with an "I (Jim Bob)" or an "I (Michelle)." I found it really distracting and somewhat annoying by the end. Couldn't they have used different shading or put in some headings to transition between them?

However, as a book that shares how...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have nothing but respect for this family. The book offered practical advice and wisdom that any parent can use, without an attitude of superiority and a preachy tone. We could learn a lot from the way they shape their family and home and I believe the world would be a better place if everyone cherished their children in the ways Jim Bob and Michelle do.

One small note: I do wish they would not use paper products so often. That's a lot of trash being generated by one family.

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Apr 16, 2013 Kelli rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting to read how a family that large does it. I admire their ability to stick to a decision like that and remain behind it 100%. I don't know if I could have that many children and still be sane, but they seem to make it work. Lots of good tips for raising children in here, though some are common sense and it just confirms some things you are doing to hear that it works so well for her. I think after about 5 children I might revisit my decision to let God decide, but like I said, its admi...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Jennifer Gelert rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am proud to admit I love this family! A few years ago I discovered them on t.v. At first, I was not sure what I thought. The more I watched, the more interested I became. This book, for me, lets me know who they were (and are) before they became a household name. The struggles they went through. The desire to follow God - no matter what. As a Christian myself, I do find some of their beliefs a little extreme. But guess what? They live what they believe and don't care what others think. As long...more

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title link	preview: The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families—How They Do It
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The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America's Largest Families—How They Do It

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