The Secrets of Happy Families: Surprising New Ideas to Bring More Togetherness, Less Chaos, and Greater Joy

by Bruce Feiler Narrated by Bruce Feiler

Overview

• Don't worry about family dinner.
• Let your kids pick their punishments.
• Ditch the sex talk.
• Cancel date night.

These are just a few of the surprising innovations in this bold first-of-its-kind playbook for today's families. Bestselling author and New York Times family columnist Bruce Feiler found himself squeezed between caring for aging parents and raising his children. So he set out on a three-year journey to find the smartest solutions and the most cutting-edge research about families. Instead of the usual family "experts," he sought out the most creative minds-from Silicon Valley to the set of Modern Family, from the country's top negotiators to the Green Berets-and asked them what team-building exercises and problem-solving techniques they use with their families. Feiler then tested these ideas with his wife and kids. The result is a fun, original look at how families can draw closer together, complete with two hundred never-before-seen best practices.

Feiler's life-changing discoveries include a radical plan to reshape your family in twenty minutes a week, Warren Buffett's guide for setting an allowance, and the Harvard handbook for resolving conflict. The Secrets of Happy Families is a timely, counterintuitive book that answers the questions countless parents are asking: How do we manage the chaos of our lives? How do we teach our kids values? How do we make our family happier?

Written in a charming, accessible style, The Secrets of Happy Families is smart, funny, and fresh, and will forever change how your family lives every day.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2013 - AudioFile

With engaging writing and a friendly speaking voice, Bruce Feiler, NEW YORK TIMES columnist and author, offers the results of his research on what helps families become happy with their togetherness. Some of these ideas aren’t really new—family meetings, honest sex talk, proactive conflict management, clear definition of responsibilities—but many are quite creative and inviting. Feiler surveyed diverse groups—from a Green Beret unit and the cast of “Modern Family” to academics and a Christian marriage counselor. In addition to the many practical suggestions he’s assembled, what makes this guide so exceptional is the humble authority in the author’s voice. He’s a careful thinker, and you can hear the diligence behind his suggestions, but it’s the laid-back sincerity of his performance, as well as his exceptional storytelling, that makes them so inviting. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2013 - AudioFile

With engaging writing and a friendly speaking voice, Bruce Feiler, NEW YORK TIMES columnist and author, offers the results of his research on what helps families become happy with their togetherness. Some of these ideas aren’t really new—family meetings, honest sex talk, proactive conflict management, clear definition of responsibilities—but many are quite creative and inviting. Feiler surveyed diverse groups—from a Green Beret unit and the cast of “Modern Family” to academics and a Christian marriage counselor. In addition to the many practical suggestions he’s assembled, what makes this guide so exceptional is the humble authority in the author’s voice. He’s a careful thinker, and you can hear the diligence behind his suggestions, but it’s the laid-back sincerity of his performance, as well as his exceptional storytelling, that makes them so inviting. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170208807
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/19/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged

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