Do you feel that your family is not what it used to be, or what it has the potential to be? Do you worry that the parenting decisions you're making today may be scarring your child for life? Do you sometimes feel you are in a tug of war with the world over who will shape your child's values and beliefs?
Dr. Phil has been working with families for over 25 years to help them repair the fissures that have fractured their home lives. In Family First, he provides a proven action plan to help parents determine the strengths and weaknesses of their parenting style. His 7 Tools for Purposeful Parenting cover the most important elements for any parent: parenting for success -- for the purpose of raising cooperative, caring, and competent children.
Dr. Phil shows parents how to make changes now -- how to put a stop to your children's tantrums, talk to them about peer pressure or self-esteem, instill values like integrity, honesty, and respect for other people and bring order back to your house. If you want your child to have a happy, fulfilled life, you must open your eyes to the crucial role you play in his or her development.
Family First offers you and your family hope -- for a phenomenal home life now, and a productive, fulfilling future for your children. As Dr. Phil says, you are not raising children you are raising adults, and everything you do today impacts what kind of adult your child will become. You are building the future.
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"I got a lot of good ideas from this book, things to try in my family and to try to improve myself. Good reading, if you like Dr Phil's style. I even highlighted parts that I want to really work on, remember and put into practice, and now I am going to do a quick-reference notebook or something :) "
— Stephanie (4 out of 5 stars)
“A masterpiece in terms of the initiatives it proposes for achieving healthy and successful families in American society today.”
— Psychiatric Services“Based on the very sound principle that parents must be willing to really parent, each tool of talking and listening, disciplining, and guiding by example…is backed by McGraw’s rock-bottom, no-two-ways-about-it confidence that nurturing our children and strengthening our families is the most important work that any of us can be doing. This plain-spoken guide will convince millions that this is so.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)“There apparently is no bottom to the well of intelligent advice that appears in Dr. Phil’s books and audios. With the earnestness and vigor we hear on his TV show, he lays out a bulletproof defense of the importance of the family in preparing children for life in an X-rated world. He speaks kindly but firmly to parents who make excuses when they can’t find the courage they need to provide good moral structure. The advice about getting professional help is especially practical so that by the end of the program you know your family’s problems are not unique or hopeless.”
— AudioFile" I kinda like Dr. Phil. He's practical. I don't always agree with how he says things. "You gotta chase that skunk into the hole, ride the dog in and chase your grandma!" What? Ok, so he didn't really say that, but that stuff is there. I liked the book. "
— Pants, 2/10/2014" This book has some good pointers, but there is something fundamentally missing and that is a home built on faith in Jesus Christ. I realize that this book is a secular book and that is fine. It could work well as strategy on top of the appropriate foundation. I do have a lot of respect for Dr. Phil. "
— Perelandra, 2/9/2014" Not sure how I felt about this book. There is some good advice in there, obviously, but I think I'm not the self-help type of person. It was motivating at the time, though I can't really remember anything about the book almost two years later except that Dr. Phil quoted the Blackeyed Peas... "
— Dee, 1/31/2014" I hit or missed this book. Some of this is common sense...which some people don't have. Some stuff I thought was too hard for me to remember in the heat of the moment... "
— Lewie73, 1/27/2014" Good basic fundamental information for families raising kids. "
— Melissa, 1/23/2014" liked the ideas presented but some of them are more ideals than practical ideas. still, i think if all parents wold read it, at least they would have more tools for parenting and maybe we would have a generation of children who grow up more balanced and socially adept. "
— Thewritingmommy, 1/20/2014" Lots of exersizes & assessment solutions for specific problems & the steps you need to take. How we as parents are our childrens models & the fact that most of us are failing at this. Mostly the book has a lot of good sound advice, some I did disagree with. Like for example if the parents are neat the child will be too. "
— Tiffany, 1/19/2014" Practical and yet over the top the way that only Dr. Phil can be. Many helpful insights - even if you don't have a "problem" child or "dysfunctional" family. I found this book to be a positive learning experience and look forward to applying the methods to my family. "
— Sherry, 1/19/2014" Do not discount this book just becuase it is written by Dr. Phil. I personaly think his show has gone to pot and that he has fallen the way of dumb talk shows that I refuse to watch --that said I agree with lots in his book. He has some good ideas for help with raising your kids. "
— Jennifer, 1/13/2014" So it only took me 5 months but finished! Yay! It was good. Very "search your feelings Luke" but with a lot of good pointers and ideas. May be worth the time it took to finish. "
— Cori, 1/1/2014" I think this was really helpful for me to understand how and why my children respond the way they do to my style of parenting... now if I could just get better at parenting them the way that is best for them. "
— Amanda, 12/24/2013" Very good read. Intellegent and very insightful/helpful. "
— Susan, 12/13/2013" First half had ZERO info. Second half was informative, but all common sense. Dr.Phil is from Dallas, too, so southern mentalities tend to be alike. "
— Brandy, 12/6/2013" Pretty good book...I'm still reading it. I just love the outlook Dr. Phil has on life and your ability to really be upbeat and make things happen. I love the mindset it puts me in... "
— Julie, 11/28/2013" I started reading this book and could not finish it. It was too much. Just too much. Been there done that and don't need to do it again. "
— Carol, 11/20/2013" I love Dr Phil. Great book! "
— Carol, 11/19/2013" I probably need to read this again because it was so chock full of good ideas that I can't remember everything. "
— Jill, 11/15/2013" As much as the pompous ass gets on my nerves recently, there is wisdom in the book "
— Krystal, 9/28/2013" He really tells it like it is. A great read for parents. "
— Ileana, 9/2/2013" Some okay material, but uninspired. "
— Sean, 8/28/2013" I am a big fan of Dr. Phil and his straightforward advice. This book offers a lot of useful information and, while the tips and advice did not really pertain to my family, reading this book made me feel that I already have a phenomenal family. "
— Bobbie, 6/13/2013" In contrast to Life Strategies, this one didn't light a fire for me. I was bored a quarter of the way through it, tried to pick it up again and again, and never did finish it. "
— Sara, 4/20/2013" I have only given it # stars so far because I have only read about 5 chapters so far. I'm sure by the time I am done it will get 5 stars. "
— Melanie, 12/6/2012" A great thought starter for parenting and family action plans. Dr. Phil can be mildly self promoting at times but does have some great observations and ideas. "
— Cortino, 4/15/2012" By no means what I expected! "
— Nichole, 3/10/2012" Had lots of useful information! "
— Holly, 1/9/2012" This is not the first time I have read this one. I love dr. phil and agree with him on most everything. Lots of work involved in this book if you do it correctly but I think we could all work on ourselves. "
— Rita, 11/7/2011" I got a lot of good ideas from this book, things to try in my family and to try to improve myself. Good reading, if you like Dr Phil's style. I even highlighted parts that I want to really work on, remember and put into practice, and now I am going to do a quick-reference notebook or something :) "
— Stephanie, 9/19/2011" yes I admit I read Dr.Phil books. "
— Penelope, 7/19/2011" Why is this man so popular? He says nothing of substance. The only reason I read this book is because Border's gave it to me free during a pre-motional period. Who am I to look a free book in the face? "
— Sarah, 7/3/2011" I felt this book was aimed more at fixing split/blended families, and not so much as improving on the first going around. There is alot of hype behind Dr. Phil and I think this was slapped together to address some of the same crap he see's/deals with on shows like Oprah. "
— Brett, 6/4/2011" Ok, so it's Dr. Phil...but this is a great book with good, solid, fundamental parenting advice. I like his common sense, tell it like it is approach. "
— Stephanie, 5/20/2011" First half had ZERO info. Second half was informative, but all common sense. Dr.Phil is from Dallas, too, so southern mentalities tend to be alike. "
— Brandy, 5/11/2011" A great thought starter for parenting and family action plans. Dr. Phil can be mildly self promoting at times but does have some great observations and ideas. "
— Cortino, 4/1/2011" This is not the first time I have read this one. I love dr. phil and agree with him on most everything. Lots of work involved in this book if you do it correctly but I think we could all work on ourselves. "
— Rita, 1/31/2011" tried to read, watching him is fine, reading him is a different horse altogether. "
— Debra, 8/25/2010" Very good read. Intellegent and very insightful/helpful. "
— Susan, 7/14/2010" I love Dr Phil. Great book! "
— Carol, 9/15/2009" liked the ideas presented but some of them are more ideals than practical ideas. still, i think if all parents wold read it, at least they would have more tools for parenting and maybe we would have a generation of children who grow up more balanced and socially adept. "
— Thewritingmommy, 8/31/2009" I think this was really helpful for me to understand how and why my children respond the way they do to my style of parenting... now if I could just get better at parenting them the way that is best for them. "
— Amanda, 7/15/2009" Love the ideas and parenting reminders. Traditions, goals, a family motto... <br/> <br/>(rereading) "
— Shelly, 4/30/2009" By no means what I expected! "
— Nichole, 11/20/2008" Good basic fundamental information for families raising kids. "
— Melissa, 9/10/2008" So it only took me 5 months but finished! Yay! It was good. Very "search your feelings Luke" but with a lot of good pointers and ideas. May be worth the time it took to finish. "
— Cori, 8/2/2008" I felt this book was aimed more at fixing split/blended families, and not so much as improving on the first going around. There is alot of hype behind Dr. Phil and I think this was slapped together to address some of the same crap he see's/deals with on shows like Oprah. "
— Brett, 7/22/2008Dr. Phil McGraw is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Ultimate Weight Solution, Self Matters, Life Strategies, and Relationship Rescue, among others. He is the host of the nationally syndicated, daily one-hour series Dr. Phil. One of the world’s foremost experts in the field of human functioning, Dr. McGraw is the cofounder of Courtroom Sciences, Inc., the world’s leading litigation consulting firm. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.