This is a no nonsense guide to raising children with a love and consideration that does not exclude firm committed discipline. It has a refreshingly realistic assessment of children. They can, as any honest parent will admit, be wilful, dishonest and self-centred. Whether you go along with Tripp in seeing this as evidence of original sin, the truth is that children are indeed like that, as well as being delightful and a joy to have around. His recommendations for dealing with these undesirable qualities are straightforward and down to earth, Parents are the authority in a child?s life and should set clear rules and expectations. Where there is a wilful refusal to obey then the child should be soundly spanked. For a younger child this should be on the bare bottom and be a painful experience that the child would not wish repeated. To many this may sound cruel and uncaring. But set within Tripp?s whole approach to raising children and his manifest concern and love for his own children, it is no such thing. It is remedial and loving.. Although written for Christians, the approach advocated might with advantage be adopted by others. Spanking is not right because it is in the Bible: it is in the Bible because it is right. The book is thoroughly recommended to all. It is a corrective to much child rearing literature which is unrealistic and probably harms rather than helps children.