Book Reviews

By óJames F. X. McLaughlin

Book Review

Every Family Needs a CEO
By Reuben Bar-Levav, M.D.
Published by Fathering, Inc. Press

Even before I received this book, I was prepared to hate it. I was ready to present a scathingly negative review. When it comes to "parenting experts," I do not believe such a creature exists, and when they try to write books...quite frankly, it annoys me, and worries me.

I was wrong.

First of all, Dr. Bar-Levav is a parent, the only true avenue of expertise, psychiatry degrees notwithstanding. Second, and more important, this is less a book on parenting as it is a book on being a parent. By that I mean it suggests more of what you can do for yourself that what to do for your child, though the book does include a manual.

The book is written in a clear, concise manner, neither lecturing nor condescending. It is told in a conversational tone with little jargon or psycho-babble. The first part states Bar-Levav's position on parents, clearly defining their roles and responsibilities, the effects they have on themselves, their children, the family and society. His stance is not gender specific, but he does focus primarily on fathering. At times he seems at odds with what we full-time dads do, but I do not believe that was his intent.

Dr. Bar-Levav cites specific cases that I am sure are composites to show cause and effect and to illustrate his points. The examples are interesting and familiar; you will know, or know of, the people he describes.

The manual section offers "suggestions" on how to rear the children. Some are helpful, others are thought-provoking but often utopian or totalitarian. Dr. Bar-Levav calls for realistic discipline, unlike most of the other "experts" in the field. There is a lost generation out there that gives strong argument to this point.

Every Family Needs a CEO provides a defining role of parents and a significant point of view. It has the diversified endorsement of the Immediate Past President of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, the Executive Director of the Christian Coalition, along with other familiar names. It provides an interesting read and I suggest putting it on the top of your reading list

óJames F. X. McLaughlin

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