The Nurture Assumption

By: Judith Rich Harris

Narrated by: Paula Parker

What makes children turn out the way they do? Why is it that good parents don't always turn out good kids? Judith Rich Harris questions the assumption that nurture is the crucial factor. Using examples from folklore, literature, and scientific research, Harris puts forth the electrifying theory that children aren't socialized by their parents, they're socialized by other children. It is what happens outside the home, while kids are in the company of their peers, that matters most.

The Nurture Assumption challenges everything we've been taught about rearing children and everything we believe about the emotional hangups of adults. It offers wise counsel on what parents can and cannot do, and relief from guilt for those who have tried their hardest but have somehow failed to produce a happy, confident, well-adjusted child.

©1998 Judith Rich Harris (P)1998 Audio Renaissance

great for parents, new and old

nature vs nurture simplified. Homo sapiens destiny is in our genes. environmental genetics and epigenetics are two fields worth considering after a reasonable person completes this reading.

very abridged, and a bad reader on good book.

the performance was bad, the book was good. author presents a heterodox view on child rearing, and, though it has its own logical fallacies and weak points is a welcome additional perspective. this version seemed to be aggressively abridged.

a book to think, to question ourselves as parents

What made the experience of listening to The Nurture Assumption the most enjoyable?

a very interesting book, voice and speed of narration very nice and the topic of my keen interest.

What did you like best about this story?

the way is presented, an invitation to rethink from a different perspective our role as fathers.

Have you listened to any of Paula Parker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no I think it is my first.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Hmmm only genes mater ????

Would you try another book from Judith Rich Harris and/or Paula Parker?

tough the author presents a strong argument there are other aspects of why we turn out the way we are besides genes

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

it is not a story it is science

Did Paula Parker do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

not applicable

I don’t get some other reviews

She clearly states that some things parent do effect their children but not as much as we think. She doesn’t completely disregard the affects of parents and I think most people choose to hear what they want to hear and didn’t have an open mind as the reader asked.
Shame.
Interesting book, and highly recommend

Very well reasoned and presented, but disconcerting!

I learned more from this book than any other parenting book, but its conclusions are pretty unsettling. I look forward to exploring more by the author and her supporters before totally reorganizing my life, but the arguments presented are powerful enough to make me rethink a lot about parenting priorities.

Interesting book. Poor quality abridged audio.

The book is interesting and I enjoyed it. Didn’t realize this was abridged. Probably wouldn’t have gotten it if I’d known.
Also, the audio quality is poor. Hiss and hum throughout. As a sound engineer I’m surprised no one took the 10 minutes it would’ve taken to filter it out.

Excellent book... on print.

'The nurture assumption' is a fantastic book on which many reviews have been written elsewhere on the web. I own the book both in its paperback and its audible version. I was disappointed by the audio quality (very compressed 12.5 MB for 3h30 of audio) and by the fact that large sections of the book are not covered in the audio version.

very interesting

I love hypothesis that are supported by evolution. defenatly few point that we should consider when raising our kids.

A ridiculous assumption

A ridiculous assumption based in the experience as she knows it of an upperclass English person