To continue our monthly series of book lists, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following titles.
When Difficult Relatives Happen to Good People: Surviving Your Family and Keeping Your Sanity by Leonard Felder. Drawing on his practice for examples of effective techniques, a psychologist discusses coping with difficult relatives. Covers challenging topics including holidays, religion, money, addictions, abuse, and bigotry. Cassette book RC 58752.
The Heart of a Family: Searching America for New Traditions That Fulfill Us by Meg Cox. Discusses the psychology, history, and sociology of rituals of kinship and how they benefit children; the wide variety of family traditions that exist; and the creation and change of such practices. Cassette book RC 50169.
Family: The Ties That Bind...And Gag! by Erma Bombeck. With poignant observations and rapier-sharp wit, Bombeck writes about her family as her three adult children come home to visit. Cassette book RC 26030. Braille book BR 7152.
Family Estrangements: How They Begin, How to Mend Them, How to Cope with Them by Barbara Lebey. An attorney offers advice on solving estrangements within families due to religious, racial, and sexual differences as well as those caused by divorce, money, or conflicts with in-laws. Cassette book RC 53654.
Family Portraits: Remembrances by Twenty Distinguished Writers edited by Carolyn Anthony. Authors including Mary Higgins Clark, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and Sara Paretsky share their memories of childhood and growing up. Cassette book RC 32754.
Family First: Your Step-by-Step Plan for Creating a Phenomenal Family by Phil McGraw. TV's Dr. Phil explains seven parenting tools needed to instill values, help define and attain success for each child, and counteract outside distractions like peer pressure. Cassette book RC 58893.
You're Wearing That? Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation by Deborah Tannen. A professor of linguistics analyzes conversations between mothers and grown daughters, explains why their interactions are often tense, and suggests ways to improve both communications and relationships. Cassette book RC 61332. Large print book LP 22281.
Link to previous Recommended Reads.