Raising Children

'David F. Lancy's fascinating and comprehensive work on the anthropology of childhood puts modern Western parenting into much needed historical and cultural context, calling into question all that we assume to be best practice or most 'natural'. In an age of unprecedentedly high parental anxiety, Lancy's work offers compelling, welcome evidence that there truly are many ways to raise a thriving child.'       

-Christine Gross-Loh, author of Parenting Without Borders and co-author of The Path

'Dr Lancy exhibits an all-too-rare talent in the academy: the ability to synthesize an impressive array of scientific data in an easy-to-read, even delightful, manner. What makes Raising Children: Surprising Insights from Other Cultures particularly rewarding is its broad scope, weaving stories from scores of cultures across time and space, coupled with its intriguing focus. Readers who explore the universe of child-rearing techniques will gain insights not only into the human animal, but their own children as well.' -Michael S. Sweeney, author of Brain: The Complete Mind

'David F. Lancy has written a compelling compendium of cultural differences in child care philosophy and child rearing practices. He clearly demonstrates that the Western (middle class) views and practices, which are offered in textbooks as the normal and healthy way, are at best an outlier in the world wide spectrum. David F. Lancy says it is a book about parents, but it is also a book for parents, especially for Western middle class parents which would help them relax and rely more on their intuitions. It is moreover a must for health care professionals and educators who deal with multicultural realities. It can help to prevent damage based in lacking knowledge and awareness of the contextual nature of any developmental processes.' -Heidi Keller, author of Cultures of Infancy

'If you've ever wondered why you are sitting on the toy-strewn floor, playing a third game of Candyland, so bored you are ready to hang yourself with a Slinky, Dr Lancy has the answer. It's the culture, not you.'     -Lenore Skenazy, founder of the book, website, and movement, Free-Range Kids