Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59974 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Customer Reviews

An excellent book for anyone interested in children.
This book has gotten excellent and well-deserved advance praise from a variety of sources. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in children, children's issues, social policy, or even just looking for some fascinating information on the development of the human brain (and all that that implies). It is clear, just from news accounts, that younger and younger children are committing crimes that are more and more violent. This book is an explanation for this rising tide of violence by youth using the latest early brain development research, case studies, etc. This book asks us to look at the (largely ignored in practice and policy) 0-3 age group as a source of changing this tide of violence. Abuse, neglect, head injury, chemicals, etc. all have lasting effects on the developing child & child's brain. "Ghosts From The Nursery" shows us that we really need look not much further than early childhood to explain and alter this expanding youth violence, anger and crime. There are chapters on brain development and substances that are well-written and easy for the layman to understand. There is an excellent chapter on the important role that fathers play in their children's development, and there are some excellent resources. With all of the discussion of the importance of the 0-3 age group that is currently cropping up, this is the best and most comprehensive book for the exact importance of that age group.

Sad
This book confirmed what I suspected about kids and violence. Kids just don't kill out of nowhere and blaming Hollywood is a mute point really. This book will make you stop and ask yourself if you really can afford to have kids, and I don't mean financially. I've seen people who you would swear were born without souls and it all goes back to the cradle. I was glad to finish this book because it was extremely depressing and at times I was close to tears. We must protect and love our little babies, hold them close, kiss them and yes SLEEP with them. We had a family bed and our daughter is a very well adjusted child because of that. After she was born I told the doctor she was sleeping with us (4 months) and he was very critical and said to get her out immediately! Well, I got rid of him immediately and continued to nuzzle my little treasure and kiss her little round head and turned up nose. For thousands of years babies slept with their mom's and it's only recently in the USA where it's been taboo for some stupid reason. You mothers who sleep with your babies KEEP ON DOING IT. It will save you money by not buying cribs and gimmicy sheets and such, not to mention the special closeness and bonding you experience. It's sad that a lot of mothers can't stay home with their babies because they have to work since corporate america for the most part considers children to be non-existant. And then there's that consumer frenzy. How many SUV's, cell phones, and extra clothes do we really need. We don't need it, WE DON'T!!!! I blame consumerism for the downfall of our nation and the destruciton of the family and children.

Should be required reading for all child-bearing age adults.
This book makes a compelling case for nurturance and protection of pregnant mothers and their young children. It's wonderful to imagine a society that offered its finest resources to them.