Michele Borba

This book works well if you're looking for a "how-to" style informational workbook. It offers insights into how to teach children empathy both at home, and in public, and can translate into the classroom.

I was at the end of the school year when I read this so I was unable to try some of the activities mentioned in the book, but I would like to go back and perhaps build some of them into my lessons for next year. Some of the activities seem too young for a teen audience and even border on ridiculous but there seems to be a method to the madness. There are a few parts I would skip over and I don't think I would venture to have my entire class work through this book or even have an entire department let alone the school site work through it. Once I've tried it out, I'll be able to better inform on how it models in the classroom and what benefits can be derived. Simply reading the book has helped me to point out aspects from my classroom experience that would benefit me.

The author even has discussion notes for parents and educators available for download on their website.

This book looks at ways for children to learn and practice empathy in their lives which Borba (the author) feels is lacking. The book begins by saying teens are 40% less empathetic than they used to be and continues to discuss potential reasons why; spoiler: social media plays a part, naturally.

There will be some who will not like this book because it asks them to do uncomfortable emotional digging in themselves and then ask others to do the same but [hopefully] the result will be seeing more empathy in yourself and those who you teach.

**All thoughts and opinions are my own.**… (meer)

Our culture in general is becoming more self-centered. Kids are taught that hard work will lead to success and happiness. This author argues that those ideas are leading to selfishness, not happiness. Instead of praising our kids so much for their intellect and talents, we should be praising them each time they put the needs of others before their own. There lies the secret to happiness. My only disappointment with the book is that it's really for parents of younger kids. You need to start teaching empathy early because once you realize you've raised a narcissist it's pretty darn hard to reverse. Tips and ideas in the book are best suited for younger families. A follow-up book directed specifically at getting teens off their phones and out into the world to do good, would be awesome.… (meer)