<p>I heard this author on the Diane Rehm show yesterday, and although I HATE pop-psychology books (especially about parenting) I thought she made a lot of sense. I hate to say it, but I especially recognized a lot of kids and families that I know…particularly when she was talking about substance and alcohol abuse.</p>
<p>The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids by Dr. Madeline Levine</p>
<p>I think that the author–“A practicing psychologist in Marin County, CA”–speaks, as does Diane Rehm, to a particular subset of the country that lives on the west coast, listens to Diane Rehm, and incessantly posts lefty-liberal tripe on CC. I wouldn’t pay that much attention to it, but then, I’m a fly-over country person at heart.</p>
<p>Gosh! I didn’t know only west coast people listen to Diane Rehm. A “particular subset” no less – did you mean a “peculiar subset”? Imagine. Silly me. </p>
<p>(P.S. We already know how continental, cosmopolitan, and sophisticated and all you are. No need to rub it in to us lower level beings…)</p>
<p>Pirate-boy: I’m pretty sure you’re confusing sweetbreads (pancreas) with tripe (ruminant stomach). But you do sound continental and cosmopolitan, nevertheless.</p>
<p>I read the Amazon review and it sounds like she’s on to something. Having money seems to raise the stakes for kids. It’s no longer about buying a new $25 T shirt, it’s about having perfect breasts under that shirt. It’s no longer being happy to afford tuition at your hometown college but making sure you get into a (very expensive) college that enhances your prestige. . . </p>
<p>When I was little my parents often and with good reason told us kids “we can’t afford it” when they had to say no. Many of us can’t use that legitimately (I know, we are privileged, but privilege has its downsides) and rather than search for a real, values-based reason, we give in.</p>