Achtung Baby

An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children

By: Sara Zaske

Narrated by: Sara Zaske

This audiobook provides an entertaining, enlightening look at the art of raising self-reliant, independent children based on one American mom's experiences in Germany

When Sara Zaske moved from Oregon to Berlin with her husband and toddler, she knew the transition would be challenging, especially when she became pregnant with her second child. She was surprised to discover that German parents give their children a great deal of freedom - much more than Americans. In Berlin, kids walk to school by themselves, ride the subway alone, cut food with sharp knives, and even play with fire. German parents did not share her fears, and their children were thriving. Was she doing the opposite of what she intended, which was to raise capable children? Why was parenting culture so different in the States?

Through her own family's often funny experiences as well as interviews with other parents, teachers, and experts, Zaske shares the many unexpected parenting lessons she learned from living in Germany. Achtung Baby reveals that today's Germans know something that American parents don't (or have perhaps forgotten) about raising kids with selbstandigkeit (self-reliance) and provides practical examples American parents can use to give their own children the freedom they need to grow into responsible, independent adults.

This instructive audiobook is perfect for new parents and anyone else interested in how different cultures approach child-rearing.

©2017 Sara Zaske (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"[Sarah Zaske] reads her fascinating book on contemporary German parenting with friendly confidence and a delightful curiosity about her discoveries while raising two young children in Berlin...Zaske's gift for narrative and her keen observations about German and American parenting make this a refreshing, eye-opening audio for those raising young children." (AudioFile Magazine)

Great honest take

I absolutely loves this book. God bless this woman for bringing fire to America to share with the rest of us.
Lovely reading voice too.

A guide on letting go a little

The author seamlessly weaves together studies and reviews that back her claims while telling the story of raising her two young children in Germany. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in “letting go” a bit in parenting and to those who think today’s children are over scheduled and over worked. I found it inspiring!

I want to move to Germany!

Where does Achtung Baby rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Achtung Baby ranks very highly among all the audiobooks that I have listened to so far. I have been listening to tons of parenting books since having my daughter recently. I love hearing about how other cultures/countries do things. I think that they have some great ideas in Germany about raising children. I plan on using many of the ideas that I got from this book in my own life.

Great New Perspective

Our children don't belong to us, they belong to themselves. This book is informative and helpful if you are open to a new perspective.

This is a must read for any American Mom

I love this book. Having grown up in Germany but living in the states as a mother. This book was a good reminder of how I grew up and what I might just deprive my son by protecting him in the Name of Love and safety. If it doesn't prepare them for Life Is it really protecting them? probably not! Thank you Sarah Zaske
love love love the book

I wish I could raise my kids in Berlin

I love the parenting messages in this book. I only wish our American parenting culture was similar.

Excellent insights into surprisingly stark differences around the interpretation of freedom, - Germany the land of the free!

“We cannot raise free and responsible children by trying to restrict what they think and believe and beating them for misbehavior.

We raise free and responsible children by giving them freedom and responsibility.”

ilustrativo y positivo

Como mamá mexicana, leer este libro me hace reflexionar sobre cómo México con o sin la ayuda de la influencia gringa sobreprotege a sus niños también. Me hace sentido que al darle libertad a mi hija al jugar ella pueda volverse una mujer independiente y autosuficiente en el futuro. Me hace pensar en mí comunidad y como utilizar algunos de estos valores aquí para el bien común.

Interesting insight into upbringing

This book gave me a bunch of ideas on how to make my child confident and self reliant. Some ideas seem hard to introduce into life, but will keep trying. Well narrated by the author.

Good on Parenting - needs work elsewhere

I really appreciated the parenting stories and advice she gives. Sharing her personal internal conflict and how she and her family adapted to help her kids be self-reliant was great. I hope to incorporate several of the strategies she mentioned. I also REALLY appreciate it when parenting books include babyhood as well as school-age kid advice.

I never appreciate it when authors of books on a specific topic try to make general policy recommendations that are completely one-sided. She did this several times and each time it was thoroughly distracting from wanting to understand/hone parenting skills.

Last - the audio - while good quality in terms of sound, is poor in terms of talent. She's a good writer, but she doesn't have a voice for audio.