The American Family: Discovering the Values That Make Us Strong - Softcover
A former Vice-President collaborates with a noted psychologist to examine five strong families who have survived such problems as infidelity, poor health, and gang violence, and presents an agenda for bolstering the American family. Reprint. $50,000 first printing.
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From the Publisher:
In this profoundly important, inspirational book, Dan Quayle, America's 44th Vice President, introduces us to five American families who speak bluntly -- and often poignantly -- about the values that give them strength.
From Kirkus Reviews:
Quayle and his collaborator, psychologist Diane Medved, journeyed thousands of miles to meet with and interview a diverse mix of families. Liberal and conservative; Christian and non-Christian; black, white, and mixed race -- these families till the rich Virginia soil, walk the streets of East LA, grapple with single motherhood, confront racial hatred and learn to live with disabilities.
They are us. And in these pages they gather around dining-room tables and backyard barbecues to reveal the truth about what it takes to keep a marriage intact (or to keep going when, despite best efforts, it falls apart), to raise happy kids who make something of themselves and to build community even in difficult circumstances.
As we visit with the families, we hear not just from deeply committed parents but from grateful children whose optimistic outlook and grounding in time-honored principles suggest there is much still right with America. We hear, too, from seniors who, by passing on a sense of heritage and tradition, exert a remarkable influence on the younger generation.
Whether you're a parent eager to safeguard your children, a spouse seeking ways to invigorate your marriage or a citizen searching for practical, innovative ways to usher America into a more vibrant future, The American Family is vital reading. It is also absorbing reading -- a tearful, heartwarming and always insightful look into ourselves that stirs a deep sense of hope even as it casts light on the most pivotal issue of the decade.
With psychologist Medved (The Case Against Divorce, not reviewed, etc.), Quayle reboots the controversy stirred by his 1992 speech that included criticism of the television character Murphy Brown. The vice president faulted Brown for ``mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another `lifestyle choice.' '' Quayle continues the argument here, defending family values via five affirmative profiles of families. Quayle writes in support of strong, ``intact'' families, meaning families with a father present. Nevertheless, the families interviewed for this book include one headed by a divorced mother of five children who illustrates the important role community and support networks can play. The other families are ethnically and economically diverse, ranging from Caucasian farm owners in rural Virginia to a Hispanic family in East Los Angeles, African-Americans in Chicago, and an entrepreneurial clan in Hawaii. The authors say they looked for ``healthy'' families, with children who were going to make it, sans drugs, alcohol abuse, and violence, in an attempt to identify the qualities that made families succeed. Parents, children, and extended family members were interviewed by both Quayle and Medved, who have recorded some moving stories. Among the values these families share that the authors believe to be essential are: A belief in giving priority to the children (without indulging them); practicing mutual respect; the presence of religious beliefs; and the cultivation of extended family and community support. The families also place a major emphasis on securing a good education (and on strictly limiting the time their children watch TV). Recommended reinforcement for families already on the road to success, but unlikely to break through to those struggling with the moral, economic, social, and philosophical confusions of the new millennium. (24 b&w photos, not seen) ($200,000 ad/promo; author tour; TV & radio satellite tour) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherHarperCollins
- Publication date1997
- ISBN 10 0060928107
- ISBN 13 9780060928100
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages304
- Rating
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