tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850528079740158873.post3317942956296372338..comments2024-03-22T19:06:59.701-05:00Comments on Lit Hum: The Age of Absurdity - Michael FoleyLit Humhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15874450288224688235noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850528079740158873.post-10466581825335258682010-07-09T20:11:15.236-05:002010-07-09T20:11:15.236-05:00Thanks for this review...it certainly echos one of...Thanks for this review...it certainly echos one of my all time favorite books: by Christopher Lasch; The Culture of Narcissism. The problems associated with a delusional belief in inherent "entitlement" and the "worship of potential" is never so prominent as it is with upper middle-class parents. They fail to realize that half of all children are below average (by definition) intellectually (and all other respects) and that of the 50% of kids who are above average, 33% are not spectacularly so. That leaves a small 17% who have the inherent capacity to truly exceed. Of that 17% many because of circumstances, bad decisions, intentionality, or luck, will not be exceptional in any substantial way. The unrealistic expectations that these parents project on their kids and on to themselves creates enormous pressure that, in the worst of circumstances, leads to depression, clinical levels of anxiety, drug abuse, and suicide. Somehow we've lost the respectability and sanity of appreciating and (dare I say) honoring, the average. The average kid, average grades (who ever said Cs were failing?!), average looks, average levels of motivation and charm. Most of the teens and young adults who are brought to me by their parents (for "treatment") are simply average. They are great, average kids. Their "disorder" or "problem" is that they have failed to be spectacular. It is most difficult to get the parents (and unfortunately the kids) to see that being an average kid is an honorable and respectable thing. And that the best thing they can do for their kids is to have "average" expectations for them and to be happy when they mostly succeed at being average in most things.Rosemary Bannon Tyksinski, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194946750976900865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850528079740158873.post-72566813846774806832010-07-08T18:26:00.606-05:002010-07-08T18:26:00.606-05:00I am going to get this book now. I also am guilty ...I am going to get this book now. I also am guilty of buying self-help books and meditation CD's and other things to "fix" myself. Deep down, something in me knows there is no one answer, although for my whole life, I have been running in circles to find it. If I had the money back that I'd spent on self-help books and gadgets, I'd been in better shape today for a comfortable retirement (whenever that's going to be).Susan Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00978664774346765224noreply@blogger.com