Crises in the suburbs, academic failure, instability, violence, juvenile delinquency: when our youth goes astray the real issues must finally be faced. But, argues the author, social factors cannot be made to explain everything, the entire apparatus of advice and assistance offered by a variety of experts often seems to be of very little use, and parental love no longer suffices to overcome the problems. So what are the issues? Could it be that adults have failed to think intelligently about the role of children's education?

Living in society means that each individual must follow and internalise a certain number of rules. These are the principles underlying all education. But first we must ask: What is a child? What does he or she need to become an accomplished adult? What is an accomplished parent? What is the best way of realising the difficult task of parenting?



Aldo Naouri explains what to do so that our children do not become problem teenagers. He offers a useful reminder of the goals of education and of the principles that can make parenting meaningful.

Instead of telling parents what to do, Naouri helps them examine the meaning of their role and what they should teach their children.

This is a paediatrician's careful examination of what is lacking in the way children are raised today.

The author argues that bringing up children does not simply consist in seeing to their needs and desires, and showering them with love. Does this mean that he is calling for a return to rules, authority and discipline? In any case, this is bound to be a controversial book, one that will spark numerous discussions.

Since the publication of Les Filles et leurs mères (1998), paediatrician Aldo Naouri's books have been unfailing successes, most notably Les Pères et les Mères (2004) and the recent Adultères (2006). In addition, he is the author of Réponses de pédiatre (2000) and the co-author (with Sylvie Angel and Philippe Gutton) of Les Mères juives n'existent pas (2005)