Some families just throw of happy vibes don’t they? They always seem to be there for one another. Their relationships seem to be based on honesty and trust and they just enjoy each other’s company. Wouldn’t we all like to be part of such a family?
What Are The Secrets Of Happy Families?
Author Bruce Feiler asked himself that, after a reunion with four generations of his own family. Then he went out to look for answers that resulted in his book : The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More
Background:
Driven by his own need to find solutions to making his family work as a unit, bestselling author and New York Times family columnist put in a lot of research into out about families. He collected problem-solving techniques and team-building exercises from creative folks in Silicon Valley and even the Green Berets! Then he tried out these ideas in his own family.
The Secrets of Happy families is a collection of over 200 unique practices that can be used to draw families closer, create better relationships and teach children valuable lessons while having a lot of fun.
I really didn’t know what to expect from this book, but I found the author’s style very interesting and the book filled with anecdotes and information. It made me smile, made me go ‘aha’ and made me want to consider many of the ideas he has shared.
Watch the author being interviewed by Katie Couric here:
This post is written for the letter ‘S’ for the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014.
I received this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review.
Corinne this a very valuable topic. To remain normal it is essential that you have a happy family.In a closely knit family trust comes first. The ultimate aim should be the three R’s Righteous, Responsible and Reverent. I am very lucky that ours is a very well knit family. We (me and husband, son and DIL and two teen aged grand daughters) all follow my hubby’s one advice,”a family that dines together stays together”.
usha menon recently posted..Teej Festival
Sounds like a nice read. I can’t remember where I saw this book cover. The toolkit is quite nice. These days even in one-kid families they talk about spending “quality time” as if there is any other kind of time one spends with family. I know of people where, when you ring their doorbell, they have to check to find out if their child is home. Same goes for parents. Busy lives, no communication – even when they go out together everyone is busy on their devices with someone who is absent from the gathering. 🙂
Nice review! I’ll look for the book.
Vidya Sury recently posted..Take A Break. Take Twenty
Hmmm…somehow I think this may be a bit too much of “corporatization” of the family 🙂 Whatever happened to the good old idea of love! O maybe I am a bit too old-fashioned, but I think having structured family meetings/conversations is not something I would enjoy much. And perhaps there is a hidden (and not so hidden) reason behind the present troubles the family as a “social unit” is going through….maybe some other form might be evolving through the breakdown we are seeing, especially in the so-called “modern” societies. I realize this may not be a very popular view, but can’t help thinking along this line 🙂 In a country like India, family is still a highly revered social unit and there is a lot of value in that, but we also know that sometimes there are also things that happen in families which can be quite soul-crushing to the children/individuals/adults. I don’t know where all that came from, may be your post inspired it all 🙂 Thanks Corinne!
Beloo Mehra recently posted..T is for Teacher, the Seeker
That’s an interesting topic for a book… For me love is the basis of a happy family…Love and not duty and everything will fall into place..
nabanita recently posted..T is for Tired
I have 2 kids and they were brought up the same yet they are totally different in their approaches. All my dad did was love me unconditionally, be there for me when I needed him, lifted me up when I was down, was always kind and encouraging. I follow the same with my kids. This structured stuff would never work for me, I go with the flow and I learn something new with parenting everyday. In fact a lot of the time my kids teach me! The interviewer was right – sounded like a board room to me. I will be giving this one a miss.
Suzy recently posted..Life’s Jigsaw – Temple
This sounds like an interesting book. Of course, one should know which of the tips given in such books should be followed and which of the tips may be ignored.
Proactive Indian recently posted..Thoughtfulness
Indeed a Happy Family is a dream come for all of us! It indeed needs a lot of work eveyday to get there
Meena Menon recently posted..The Thinker!
Secrets of Happy Families… Now, this is definitely a very interesting subject. The Tool kit is pretty cool and informative and a lot can be picked from it! Thanks for sharing, Corinne ♥
Shilpa Garg recently posted..T is for Traditions
Such an important topic this is!
Being happy individually and happy as a unit, as a family is important.
I have always felt communication is the key.. with silliness and laughter and lots of hugs and kisses of course! 🙂
Pixie recently posted..The Stalker – Part 2
This sounds like a great book for people with young families to read! My family was pretty dysfunctional growing up and I longed to live the idyllic life portrayed on television in those days (late 50s, early 60s). Others may benefit greatly from this author’s advice.
Debbie recently posted..#AtoZChallenge: “S” is for SENSATIONAL SANTORINI
I have a feeling those happy families often enjoy meals without bringing electronic devices to the table!
Stephanie Faris recently posted..T is for Tervis
Sounds interesting, I have more reasons now to read this book !
Ananya Kiran recently posted..Unforgive me !
Sounds interesting, I have more reasons now to read this book !
Ananya Kiran recently posted..Unforgive me !
That sounds like a very interesting book! I’ll be sure to check it out.
Modern Gypsy recently posted..{U} Travel Postcard #8: Under the Indian Sun
The video is enlightening… I haven’t read much on this topic. But seems it’s a good book to read.
Rajlakshmi recently posted..The Ultra-Chic Complex
A timely post and I will put it on my list. There is nothing more important to me than family and with some tragic losses in the past two years, this brought tears.
Carol Graham recently posted..Dogs – U is for Unique and Upside Down
sometimes families need a little help and if a book like this helps them become a more loving family then that is great. I know I needed books to help me be the best parent I could be and I know I have needed books and courses to help me be a good parent substitute for the many children I have fostered but through all that I know there are many things needed to make a family work. Understanding, communication, respect, flexibility and really clear guidelines about what is right for my family and what is unacceptable. Love of course is the underpinning emotion that makes it all work.
So, happy families have secrets 🙂 We all love to be happy, so what’s the harm in learning th secrets !! This book sounds so good to me and makes me want to grab it soon.
* Looking at Flipkart with expectation*
Thanks for sharing this one , here, Corinne 🙂
Sreeja Praveen recently posted..A to Z Random Post # 22 V – Victory !
Sounds like a valuable book. Strange isn’t it how we need books these days for something that came quite naturally to our parents? .. Creating happy families shouldn’t be such a task!
Obsessivemom recently posted..V is for Vikram Seth
Secrets of happy families? A book? I believe there can be no common secret, it is always an each to his own.
Richa Singh recently posted..Weight and Watch