I both highly appreciate and strongly recommend this book. It might be about 200 pages, but it contains practically everything what is to be said about the people who both come from the dysfunctional families and are hurting - and who are parents themselves. (But you do not need to be a parent, also people coming from healthy (or healthier) families might learn a lot, because someone dear to you might have come from these circumstances).
I deeply like the author’s approach. He has the rare ability to compact facts and emotions to the very readable and informative sentences and texts, while he stays warm and focused. He tells it like it is - no sugar-coating and avoiding the unpleasant facts about abuse and life in general. Yet he has a great gift of compassion. He is also a very good guide and companion, who can both show you the hard goals and cheer on you on so you can find the needed strength.

This is much needed and useful book for our fallen world. It is also a book that can give you hope. And hope-giving I consider one of the greatest gifts.

I think we are quickly approaching the "apocalyptic meltdown" the author writes of in this book. Millions of children have experienced so many of the Adverse Childhood Experiences discussed in this book, and unless they learn different methods of parenting, the cycles of neglect, abandonment, and abuse will continue. I found this book to be helpful and hopeful, although quite sobering. The author gives solid advice on how to recognize toxic parenting and concrete, actionable steps to help one overcome the aftereffects of toxic parenting. Will every piece of advice work for every person? No, probably not. But there is plenty of real help here for almost everyone wanting to parent himself or herself better.

I gratefully received this book as an eARC from the author, publisher, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.