3 out of 4 stars
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Karen Budzinski's How to Build Children with Integrity is a nonfiction work that provides parenting guidance from a Christian perspective. A mother of five children herself, the bulk of the author's advice comes from her own personal experiences, although she also offers a good deal of information gleaned from various books and articles, and of course, the Bible.
How to Build Children with Integrity is a very thorough book that provides a great deal of practical information to parents. The author stresses the importance of teaching children character traits such as contentment, diligence, and consideration (among others). As previously stated, the author's philosophy is grounded in Biblical teachings, but her advice has broad applications that can be appreciated regardless of a family's personal beliefs. The author's goal is less about promoting a religious perspective and more about aiding parents in raising children who are happy, confident, and conscientious (and who doesn't want that?)
The tone of the book is friendly and warm, and the author's dedication to helping others is apparent. The writing is straightforward and easy to understand and a thorough bibliography is provided for readers who wish to delve deeper into her sources.
The quality of the writing itself is fair. I found many small typographical errors, and I noticed an increase in their frequency toward the end of the book. The sheer content of this book has likely presented a challenge for editors, as there is so much material that overlooking mistakes is almost unavoidable. Although I commend the author's thoroughness, a reduction in some of the content could result in fewer errors. This book is so informative that omitting certain parts would not impact its quality. Specifically, I would recommend the removal of some of the material located within the appendices, which are a little repetitive.
While I believe that this book would be largely beneficial to parents, I feel compelled to warn that it may not be for everyone. The author makes it clear that she was raised by loving, attentive parents, and her own parenting was inspired by the good example of her upbringing. However, not everyone has come from such fortunate circumstances, and for readers whose own parents were abusive or negligent, this book may present a standard that they may not feel capable of reaching. This book also does not provide much insight for parents of special needs children. I would suggest that new parents in these situations hold off on reading this book until they are more confident in their own abilities, or perhaps stick to books that are better tailored to their needs.
Overall, How to Build Children with Integrity is a practical resource for parents, and I award it 3 out of 4 stars for its thoroughness, although a four-star rating may have been given if not for the editing concerns. I recommend this book to parents who are confident in their roles and looking for experienced guidance in childrearing.
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How to Build Children with Integrity
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