Love That Boy

What Two Presidents, Eight Road Trips, and My Son Taught Me About a Parent's Expectations

By: Ron Fournier

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

Love That Boy is a uniquely personal story about the causes and costs of outsized parental expectations. What we want for our children - popularity, normalcy, achievement, genius - and what they truly need - grit, empathy, character - are explored by National Journal's Ron Fournier, who weaves his extraordinary journey to acceptance around the latest research on childhood development and stories of other loving-but-struggling parents.

©2016 Ron Fournier. Recorded by arrangement with Harmony, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. (P)2016 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Compelling Story, difficult to listen to narration

What didn’t you like about Jonathan Yen’s performance?

I thought the accents of the Presidents were too affected and not authentic. It took away so much from the story.

I couldn't listen.

This story is fantastic, but this is this narrator hard to listen to. He ruins the story. Just read the book.

Very enjoyable. Listened to it twice.

Excellent narration. Terrific way to deliver a message. Book for fathers and mothers.

This book answers many questions that I have had all my life

I found that this book to be a eye opener I related to many of of the experiences he talks about in this book with my own family growing up on how my own parents reacted to me. It filled in some holes in my past and help me understand why I am drawn in and relate to artistic kids. Even with one of my grandkids and others that I work with. I highly recommend this book for everyone to read and learn and use

If you can, read the printed book instead

It's a good book. He has Interesting points about how our expectations as parents make life so hard for us and and our kids, and his own story is very inspiring.
Listening to the whole book through that narration was a real challenge though. It sounded like the narrator was reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a five-year old kid.

Confessional and Critical

His honest discoveries and willingness to be impacted by the parenting experience is refreshing. This is an excellent read for parents who ask the hard questions. One hard issue: "knowing" my kids / wife / family vs having good life experiences with them. He is painfully critical, judgmental, of some approaches to parenting / child development. While jarring at times, his critiques remind me of the inner dialogue that I often keep to myself. The overall message is helpful and the story keeps your interest from start to finish.

A must-read for ALL parents

What started out as a story about a father discovering how to best parent his special needs son turns into a story about the necessary self awareness all parents need to possess when it comes to expectations for their children. Simply wonderful story and stunning audio performance.