Why read The Nurture Assumption?

Book cover of The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do

Book description

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

How much credit do parents deserve when their children turn out welt? How much blame when they turn out badly? Judith Rich Harris has a message that will change parents' lives: The "nurture assumption" -- the belief that what makes children turn out the…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Nurture Assumption as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Sue Palmer

Author

In recent years, my work is increasingly concerned with the interface between child development and evolutionary biology. The Nurture Assumption is a challenging book that’s attracted praise and vilification in equal measure. Judith Rich Harris argues that ‘parenting’ is less influential in children’s emotional and social development than is currently assumed and I think that’s well worth thinking about. The love and care of adults are obviously of immense importance, but children bring their own strengths into the world, not least their inborn drive to learn through play.

From Sue's list on The best books about child development and education.