Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman built NurtureShock around a genuinely systematic collection of research findings that directly contradict popular parenting assumptions, most notably the specific, well-documented finding that praising children for being smart actually makes them more risk-averse and afraid of failure, since children praised for effort rather than innate intelligence prove measurably more willing to attempt genuinely difficult challenges. The authors organize the book around distinct chapters addressing separate parenting myths, examining research on sleep, sibling relationships, lying, and racial attitudes among children, each chapter presenting specific documented studies that complicate or directly overturn common parenting intuition with rigorous, cited research rather than anecdotal claim. The book's genuine contribution lies specifically in taking parenting research seriously enough to report findings even when they contradict comfortable conventional wisdom, giving readers documented, occasionally uncomfortable correctives to assumptions many parents had never actually verified against real evidence, rather than simply repeating advice that sounded reasonable enough to never get questioned.
Documenting the Counterproductive Effects of Praising Intelligence
The book documents the specific, well-researched finding that praising children for being smart makes them more risk-averse and afraid of failure.
Showing Effort-Based Praise Produces Measurably Different Outcomes
Bronson and Merryman show that children praised for effort rather than innate intelligence prove measurably more willing to attempt genuinely difficult challenges.
Organizing Around Distinct Chapters Addressing Separate Parenting Myths
The book organizes around distinct chapters addressing separate parenting myths individually, giving readers a specific reference structure rather than one general argument.
Examining Research on Sleep's Impact on Child Development
The authors examine specific research on sleep's impact on child development and behavior, giving readers concrete rather than assumed understanding.
Addressing Sibling Relationships Through Documented Research
The book addresses sibling relationships through documented research findings, complicating common assumptions about how siblings actually interact and develop.
Examining Research on Children and Lying
Bronson and Merryman examine research on children and lying specifically, presenting documented findings that complicate simple assumptions about honesty development.
Addressing Racial Attitudes Among Children Through Cited Studies
The book addresses research on racial attitudes among children through cited studies, tackling a genuinely difficult topic with documented rather than assumed findings.
Presenting Rigorous Cited Research Rather Than Anecdotal Claims
Each chapter presents specific documented studies with rigorous citation, distinguishing the book from parenting advice based primarily on anecdote or intuition.
Taking Parenting Research Seriously Even When It Contradicts Conventional Wisdom
The book's genuine contribution lies in reporting research findings even when they directly contradict comfortable, widely held conventional parenting wisdom.
Why NurtureShock Remains an Influential Bestseller on Parenting Research
NurtureShock endures as an influential bestseller because Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's willingness to report research contradicting comfortable assumptions gives parents genuinely documented, occasionally uncomfortable correctives worth taking seriously.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Grounded in rigorous, specifically cited research rather than anecdotal claims
- Organized into distinct chapters readers can reference for specific topics
- Willing to report findings that directly contradict comfortable conventional wisdom
- Addresses genuinely difficult topics including racial attitudes with documented research
- Offers concrete, well-documented correctives to common parenting assumptions
Cons:
- Some cited studies have been revisited or refined by subsequent research since publication
- Its research-focused approach means less prescriptive step-by-step guidance
- Its chapter-based structure means less single, unified overarching narrative
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the book's most well-known finding?
That praising children for being smart makes them more risk-averse and afraid of failure, compared to praising effort specifically.
Is this book based on the authors' personal opinions or research?
It's grounded in specific, rigorously cited research studies rather than anecdotal parenting advice.
Does the book cover a single parenting topic or multiple?
Multiple distinct topics organized into separate chapters, including sleep, siblings, lying, and racial attitudes among children.
Does the book confirm or challenge common parenting assumptions?
It frequently challenges common assumptions directly, presenting research findings that complicate or overturn popular parenting intuition.
Final Verdict
NurtureShock earns its bestseller status through Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's willingness to report rigorously researched findings even when they directly contradict comfortable parenting assumptions. Its chapter-based structure gives readers specific, documented correctives on distinct topics, from praise to sleep to sibling dynamics, rather than one sweeping theory applied indiscriminately everywhere. The book's lasting value comes specifically from its discomfort, since the most useful chapters are usually the ones that make a reader wince at a habit they already had before opening the book. For parents seeking genuinely evidence-based rather than intuition-based guidance, willing to update their assumptions when the research actually says otherwise, this book remains essential reading.
Rating: 4.6/10