There are certain things that all parents should know—like how to change a diaper, for example, or how to function on three hours of sleep for a full year straight.
For everything else, we have books written by the experts. So to discover essential insights on both parenting skills and parenting as a social phenomenon, check out the four superb reads below. (Then go get some shut-eye.)
Work Matters: How Parents’ Jobs Shape Children’s Well-Being
By Maureen Perry-Jenkins
Drawing on years of research and more than 1,500 family interviews, a psychologist describes how new parents cope with the demands of infant care while holding down low-wage, full-time jobs, and she considers how managing all of these responsibilities has long-term implications for child development. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Maureen Perry-Jenkins, in the Next Big Idea App
Long Days, Short Years: A Cultural History of Modern Parenting
By Andrew Bomback
From a physician and father comes not a “how to” book but a “how come” book, investigating the emergence of an immersive, all-in approach to raising children that has made parenting a competitive (and often not very enjoyable) sport. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Andrew Bomback, in the Next Big Idea App
Ambitious Like a Mother: Why Prioritizing Your Career Is Good for Your Kids
By Lara Bazelon
In this captivating and radical look at work-life balance, an acclaimed law professor and mother reframes our understanding of working women—and shows how prioritizing your career benefits mothers, kids, and society at large. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Lara Bazelon, in the Next Big Idea App
The Parent Trap: How to Stop Overloading Parents and Fix Our Inequality Crisis
By Nate G. Hilger
An economist and data scientist combines cutting-edge social science research, revealing historical case studies, and on-the-ground investigation to recast parenting as the hidden crucible of inequality. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Nate G. Hilger, in the Next Big Idea App
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