Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as I thought
Review: I did not think that this book had helped me alot when i read it. It was kind of boring because the author tries using tones that sounds informative but doesn't really relate. Instead it sounds like him scolding at me the whole time. If you are looking for a good self help book I would definently not recommand this , instead the book Seven Habits for the Highly Effective Teen by Sean Covey is a way better book and has alot of quotes that have deep meanings.
Rating: 
Summary: FINALLY A BOOK WRITTEN FROM A TEEN'S PERSPECTIVE
Review: I have counselled teens over the years on every subject from abuse and low self-esteem, to teen pregnancy and peer pressure. There are many books written for teens, but not on a level that captures and holds the attention of teens. So often the book is either written in a condescending manner, or comes across as just another "adult voice of authority. From the teens I have counselled, and those who have been personal friends of my daughters through the years, I find teens are great people. There are just as many irresponsible adults as there are irresponsible teens. The majority of teens are consciencious, hardworking, friendly, eager to please, and responsible. If a teen does experience difficulty, so often a parent says, "I just don't know what went wrong, we gave him/her everything, we did everything for him/her, he/she had the best of everything....." And, the sad part is, the parent still cannot comprehend that by doing all that, they were not teaching their son or daughter two of life's greatest lessons - responsibility and the opportunity to make their own mistakes and learn from them.As this book so aptly points out to teens, it is okay to be who you are. So Mom doesn't like your new haircut - in my teen years, my mother didn't like mine either. Dad, doesn't understand the beat of your music? Mine, almost had cardiac arrest when Elvis appeared on the scene. Never mind, if you do not know who Elvis was, he appeared in a different generation. The point is, every generation is a change from the last one, and it is that very change that often rocks the boat, because with change comes a new ideas and concepts not all adults understand or are willing to accept. I liked the down-to-Earth, straight forward approach taken in this book and am sure it is one most teens will benefit from. However, reading between the lines, I also see much of the influence of Jay's father, author Phillip McGraw, coming forth in this book. Perhaps, he added some pertinent touches, who knows? The end result is still an exceptionally well-written book that I will highly recommended to teens in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: I may be way past my teens,
Review: I haven't been a teen for a long time, but I still remember the frustrations and not knowing how to do what I wanted or get what I wanted. I bought this book for my oldest son and I read it in three days. Then I bought a new one for him and one for his best friend. If I had had a book like this when I was a teen it would have made my life so much simpler by showing me what I had, what I could have and how to follow the path I wanted. It's a wonderful book for teens, young adults and reminds us "old folks" how we once struggled to "figure out the rules of the game" I can only urge parents to get give this to their kids and read themselves. Closest thing to a "Life Handbook" available. :-)
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't like what I read
Review: I merely skimmed this book for about 20 minutes, but I didn't like it. I'll admit I had a preconcieved notion because I've seen Jay McGraw on the Dr. Phil show (Dr. Phil is his father)and I didn't like him at all. He grew up wealthy and knows zero about real problems (not meaning to imply the wealthy don't have problems). He's been presented as a voice for the average teen and he's not. At all. Anyway back to the book. Here are the main problems-
1. It's paifully, painfully obvious he's trying to use teenage slang and come of as your average high schooler. It doesn't work.
2. He's pretty much a poor writer.
3. This book got published, quite simply, because he is the son of Phil McGraw. And it shows.
4. He makes examples of ridiculous cliched stereotypes and there is, as someone already said, an example of sexist thinking.
5. Come on, this book isn't going to change your life like he claims in the introduction. Maybe I'm just too cynical, but when a book starts out like that I automatically roll my eyes.
6. He didn't come up with an idependant idea for a book, he just dumbed down his daddy's version. If you look at the life laws about a half of them are things Dr. Phil says on his show pretty frequently.
Rating:
Summary: Life Strategies for Teens
Review: I picked up the book at the seminar in Orlando, Fl. for my 17 year old son. I read it and was so impressed that I wish I had bought one for every teen I know. It is poignant, easy to read and humorous. I believe "Life Strategies for Teens" goes straight to the core of every issue teens experience. Then it offers solutions. What a gift to our world of troubled teens. Thank you, Jay McGraw! Be sure that all of the teens in my life will find this book in their stocking this year. Thanks, Cam
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and Insightful!
Review: I read this book about a year ago. It's written in a style most authors don't ever cross the line to write in. It takes you to such a personal level- with yourself. Do you dare to go there? Sure it seems easy but you really do find some interesting things about yourself that you might've overlooked before.
This is an exciting book. It's not boring. It's not page after page of lectures or "you should do this" or "this is how you deal with that."
It's mostly a self-discovery book with strategies on how to be your complete best!
This is a book you shouldn't pass up!
Rating:
Summary: Mixed messages
Review: I read this book after The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, and though Life Strategies has some good points, I thought 7 Habits was a much better book. The page layout of both books is shockingly similar...did they get the same graphic designer or what? Both books are similarly organized, though for 7 Habits the organization makes sense while the "life laws" of Life Strategies seem to be in haphazard order. Both books are written by the sons of the authors of the famous adult versions. Both books promise to have the magic formula for success in life, presented so that teens can understand it. Yeah, right. Life Strategies does have some good points. Its presentation of goal setting is better than the one in 7 Habits, and its section on why you keep doing those problem behaviors is insightful (and reeks of a clinical psychologist father). More troublesome was the chapter on how "You Tell People How to Treat You". This chapter is about setting boundaries, a very useful "life law". However, it is stated that people who don't obey your boundaries are "sicko freaks who need therapy or worse". In my experience, I have found that there is a gradient between a perfectly healthy relationship and a horribly abusive relationship. People aren't going to treat you well all the time, and even abusive people do something right once in a while. Dividing everything into black and white doesn't work well for describing the nature of life.
But what bothered me most about this book is its relentless promotion of the status quo. It is somehow assumed that your goals in life are to be popular and get good grades in school. The chapter on assimilating into the system is titled "You Either Get It, Or You Don't" and is described in the introduction as "how to get the L for Loser off your forehead". In later chapters you are advised to change your appearance to what will make you more acceptable to others (but don't let your peers talk you into taking drugs!), every stereotype about teens in school is repeated, and you are told that your parents won't respect you until your grades are excellent. What's wrong with that? In my nineteen years on this planet, I have found that being yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself. I don't particularly want to be popular. I'd rather think for myself. I follow the system when it suits me, but more important to me are my principles. The concept of following your principles is in 7 Habits, but not in Life Strategies, where following the crowd seems to be the only principle. If money is no object, there are some good ideas in Life Strategies for Teens which make the book worth the read. However, if you have to choose, both The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and Teens Can Make It Happen are better than this uneven and sometimes contradictory book.
Rating:
Summary: Clearly written guide for teens who need to "get it"
Review: I saw Jay McGraw on Larry King and was so impressed by his calm yet straightforward manner and convictions that I decided to buy his book. I'm glad I did. using clear language and concrete examples, Mcgraw updates and adapts his father's Life Strategies so that teens can understand them. He also adds some personal real-life examples to show how teens can either drift along in life or forge their own directions.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find that this wasn't just another cookie cutter self-help book. There are questionnaires designed to make teens think, REALLY think, about what matters to them - and why - and how they can go about achieving their goals. It isn't always an easy read but it is a worthwhile one.
As the parent of a teen, I found the short quizzes and question sections very thought-provoking and they even started some good discussions in our household.
Rating:
Summary: A genuine key to success for teens!
Review: I snagged an advance copy of this book and my husband and I , parents of three teenage sons, read it without ever putting it down. Wow! My husband questioned whether a man of 20 tender years could take on such an important and difficult topic.We say the answer is a resounding "yes"! Not only are the 10 life strategies scientifically well grounded, young Jay McGraw was raised by these laws, while struggling with all the typical issues faced by teens. Who better to write this book. Jay writes with amazing clarity and uses examples with which everyone will identify. The real surprise about this book is that its message applies to every life situation, whether problem solving or achieving goals. Also, it would be a mistake for parents to assume that it is only a "kid" book. Parents must read it to better understand their own teen, and who knows, they may learn application of the 10 life laws for themselves. Great Job, Jay McGraw. Thank you for a contribution to teens and parents alike that is beyond measure.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and interesting
Review: I thought this book was a really wicked book. Coming from a 15 year old I now understand more about life. This book is not really for parents, although they can read it, but they shouldn't review it. This book has given me new insights on life that i've never realized before. So overall it's the best book i've ever read. I don't read a lot of books, but this one just stood out. I know a lot of teenagers are looking for answers, and so therefore they will discover this book like I did. I don't agree with Wayne Mitchell's review at all. His point of view is coming from a grown up, and my review is coming from a teenager himself. I think all teenagers should read this book. I know i've gotten a lot of help out of it!
|
