Book Review: How to Raise Successful People

Have you heard of this book? It's the latest self-help guide to parenting. It was written by Esther Wojcicki, an uber famous Silicon Valley educator who has inspired thousands including Steve Jobs and her 3 incredibly successful daughters. To clarify - her daughters are a top medical researcher, CEO of YouTube and CEO and founder of 23 and me. While I love the idea of my offspring succeeding at that level, right now our household needs help in completing chores, finding motivation for homework and surviving the teen and tween attitudes.

I excitedly opened the book in hopes of finding the holy grail of child rearing. I was pleasantly surprised at interesting anecdotes and insight into the theory she has lived by for decades. Her ideas are the opposite of helicopter parenting and tiger mom philosophies. Wojcicki emphasizes trust, respect, independence, collaboration, and kindness. While I don't subscribe to all of her ideas, I found the book to be very interesting, helpful and reassuring. The stories and methods she shares about mothering and teaching are ones that I have found myself trying to implement more in our house. Worth the read for anyone looking for a little motivation, thought provoking or just a new way to talk to your children.

How to Raise Successful People