Bad Childhood, Good Life

How to Blossom and Thrive in Spite of an Unhappy Childhood

By: Laura Schlessinger

Narrated by: Laura Schlessinger

In this important audiobook, Dr. Laura Schlessinger shows men and women that they can have a good life no matter how bad their childhood.

For each of us, there is a connection between our early family dynamics and experiences and our current attitudes and decisions. Many of the people Dr. Laura has helped did not realize how their histories impacted their adult lives, or how their choices in people, repetitive situations, and decisions, even their emotional reactions, were connected to those early negative experiences, playing a major role in their current unhappiness.

For these people and millions like them, too much time is dedicated to repeating the ugly dynamics of childhood in a vain attempt to repair or cope with deep hurt and longings. Too often they use their emotional pain to control others or excuse their own inappropriate and destructive behaviors. Some turn to therapy, only to find themselves trapped in their self-pitying victim mode, robbed of optimism, confidence, and growth.

Dr. Laura will help you realize that no matter what circumstances you came from or currently live in, you are ultimately responsible for how you react to them. The acceptance of this basic truth is the source of your power to secure the good life you long for. In her signature straightforward style, with real-life examples, Dr. Laura shows you what you will gain by not being satisfied with an identity as a victim, or even as a survivor, but striving to be a victor!

In Bad Childhood, Good Life, Dr. Laura will guide you to accept the truth of the assaults on your psyche and soul, understand your unique coping style and how it impacts your daily thoughts and actions, and help you embrace a life of more peace and happiness.

©2006 Laura C. Schlessenger (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Readers already of the Schlessinger school will find much here to appreciate." (Publishers Weekly)

Leave Your Past Behind You

no-nonsense take and how to I did not present and not be crippled by your childhood.

An educated listening session

This book is realistic and it challenges silly notions and garage created generalizations. If you have had a super rough childhood like me it will slap you in the face first but then pat you on the back!

Tough love

Not as good as her book “stop whining and start living but still a decent listen.
Go listen to her podcast if you’ve never heard of her before she has a rough demeanor but she is just straight to the point. Basically so you had a bad childhood time to get over it, sure you can be sad here and there but overall get over it.
I personally suffered from S abuse as a child and have done pretty well as an adult but struggled to be fully happy this book is good definitely read her other books too.

Excellent insight and advice! Helped with healing and living a happy fulfilling life.

I experienced an unhappy childhood with a father who was self-centered, mean and narcissistic, a mother who was weak, incredibly unhappy, and had to be hospitalized with a nervous break down when I was eight old. As the oldest of the last six children, I was responsible to help care for them as well as help my mother feel better by listening to her express her emotional pain, unhappy marriage and the sad story of her life prior to marriage. Dr. Laura's book helped me heal. By understanding, facing and accepting the reality of my childhood experiences, I was able to deal with the anger and loss I felt because I didn't have a supportive and nurturing childhood. i've created the fulfilling life I wanted and am very happy.

Very encouraging and provided actionable steps for happy living

Dr Laura is very straight and to the point. She offers people alternatives to self pity. She encourages people to move on with life and find joy despite bad experiences. She

Very impacting

There is a lot to unpack in this book. For me it is something I will listen to several times to glean all that there is. First read through was to get the overall gest, then more closely introspection as I revisit each chapter.

Awesome content

This book and information is and will be valuable for my clients! There are too many people stuck here. I have began recommending this book. I can't wait to discuss it with them once they have read it too!

Good Listen

With my long drive to and from work, this allowed me to drift off mentally and to reflect on my own childhood and how there are always people out there with worse experiences. So pretty much I gathered what I already knew. Get over it - learn from it - and move on.

Helpful title from Dr. Laura

Lots of people miss out on life because of "issues" from their past. Instead of enjoying life and moving past whatever happened to them at a young age, they are "stuck" in misery and manage to spread the misery to those around them. Dr. Laura's book, written and spoken by Dr. Laura herself, offers her words of wisdom about how to release your past burdens and enjoy life. I enjoyed listening to the book and I plan to purchase a copy for a friend of my daughter's who had a very miserable childhood and is a very miserable adult at age 26. I hope he will be receptive and that it will be a great help.

Moving forward to healing my life

Dr. Laura provides good insight and information on moving on from childhood pain to healing