Greater Expectations - by William Damon (Paperback)

About the Book

America's leading thinker on the moral education of children argues persuasively that young people today are seriously demoralized at a time in their lives when they should be full of high expectations and noble spirits. Damon draws on his research and experience to establish guidelines on the moral development of children in the home, school and community.

Book Synopsis

Greater Expectations is the book that exposed the low standards that children are confronted with in our homes, our schools, and throughout our culture. It exploded many of the misconceptions about children and how to raise them, including the cult of self-esteem, "child-centered" learning, and other overly indulgent practices that have been watering down the education and guidance that we are providing our young people. It disclosed how the self-centered ethic is damaging our youth. Greater Expectations started America talking about these issues and about how young people need to be provided with challenges and a sense of purpose if we want them to survive and thrive in life.
Provocative and challenging, Greater Expectations was a wake-up call, a must-read for anyone concerned about the growing youth crisis in America and what we can do about it.

Review Quotes

Arla Lindgren Library Journal In this exceedingly readable study, Damon challenges prevailing views on education and parenting...[He] sustains his passionate eloquence even when dealing with the most unpopular and potentially volatile subjects. Highly recommended.

Janice Harayda Cleveland Plain Dealer Greater Expectations is thoughtful and well-reasoned....That it has come from an Eastern intellectual who blows the whistle on many of his peers makes it seem all the more remarkable.

Jonathan Yardley The Washington Post Book World A voice of common sense on the subject of child-rearing and education...forthright, clearheaded and courageous.

About the Author

William Damon is America's leading thinker on the moral development of children and adolescents. He is a professor at Brown University and Director of its Center for the Study of Human Development.