close Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
4 mins

10 Books You Wish Your Parents Had Read

Almost 50% of people say they parent differently than how they were raised. Here are 10 books that might explain why.
by Chris Allmer | Jan 15 2024
10 Books You Wish Your Parents Had Read

Roughly 43% of people say they’re trying to raise their kids differently than how they were raised. That’s almost half the population of parents right now. 

The thing is, we all have different feelings about how we were brought up: some of us are trying to recreate our childhoods for our kids, while others are trying to create something entirely different and new. And, of course,  a few of us are somewhere in between.

With so many parenting and self-help books now available — and available on apps like Blinkist, which allow users to read or listen to a book in just 15 minutes — it’s hard not to wonder what parenting might have looked like back then. 

 With Blinkist, parents can now listen to or read books on the go: while getting their kids ready for school, doing laundry, or commuting.  With over 6,500 titles in the app, 70 new additions every month, and 27 categories to choose from, perhaps if our parents had access to Blinkist, their lives — and our own — could have been made better. 

10 Books You Wish Your Parents Had Read

1. The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

This book pretty much speaks for itself. From outlining the necessity for secure attachment to helping to develop optimal mental health right from childhood — The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read is the holy grail of parenting advice.

“The core of parenting is the relationship you have with your child. If people were plants, the relationship would be the soil. The relationship supports, nurtures, allows growth—or inhibits it. Without a relationship they can lean on, a child’s sense of their security is compromised. You want the relationship to be a source of strength for your child—and, one day, for their children too.”
Philippa Perry, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read

2. Simplicity Parenting

There is so much to consider when it comes to parenting, but Simplicity Parenting makes it, well, simple: by detoxifying a child’s environment, giving them a clear daily schedule, and allowing them room to grow, kids and parents can enjoy calmer, more secure childhoods.

3. Becoming Attached

Attachment styles have become a bit of a buzzword, but they’re actually incredibly crucial to understanding ourselves and the ways we were raised.

 In Becoming Attached, Robert Karen explores how our relationships with our primary caregiver can shape the way we show up in relationships as adults.

 4. Mindset

If we want to be capable of growing and changing throughout our lives, we have to change our mindsets. A fixed mindset, as opposed to a growth mindset, can make all the difference. And for parents trying to figure out how best to raise their kids in an ever-evolving world, this book is the key.

5. Daring Greatly

Being vulnerable with another person can breed a true sense of belonging and care. Without it, we can feel deep shame and resentment. In Daring Greatly, Brene Brown teaches anyone — including parents — how to embrace vulnerability in our everyday lives in order to build stronger bonds and relationships.

6. It Didn’t Start With You

It Didn’t Start With You explains how the source of your emotional or mental problems didn’t necessarily start with you — and how anyone can break the cycle. Mark Wolynn’s book notes that some of our greatest struggles often come from our family history, often called intergenerational trauma. 

7. The Body Keeps the Score

If the idea of intergenerational trauma is interesting to you, it might be worth taking a look at The Body Keeps the Score — another book that could have been, and is now, an essential read for parents. In Bessel van der Kolk’s bestselling book, he explores how trauma impacts every facet of our lives.

8. Permission to Feel

Permission to Feel is essential for learning how to be more emotionally intelligent by practicing emotions like a skill. With time, we can better identify our feelings, and what triggers them — but only by allowing ourselves to experience each and every one of our emotions, including the difficult ones.

9. The Power of Showing Up

An essential book about the psychology of parenting, The Power of Showing Up, explains that the secret to raising secure, well-adjusted children is the ability of parents to be fully present. With this book, parents and caregivers can learn how to build strong bonds with their children that encourage them to feel confident and secure throughout their lives.

10. 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Do

Simple and effective, this book outlines the essential guiding principles that so many accomplished parents live by. The book includes everything from setting strong boundaries to teaching kids how to deal with guilt and fear.

10 Books You Wish Your Parents Had Read

Become a better parent with Blinkist

“As a wife, a mom of three, and a full-time entrepreneur, I yearn for some time to read for both personal and professional reasons. Blinkist is my car companion and pre-sleep friend! I love it.”
Oula Farawati, Co-founder & CEO Printati

Over 29 million users trust Blinkist every day to learn more about themselves and the world. Named by both Apple and Google as one of the best apps in the world for its noble mission, Blinkist was neuroscientifically designed for optimal learning. 

Packed with real-life examples and relevant case studies designed to be retainable and actionable, every Blink was made to help t users make real, lasting change. In fact, 87.5% of the 3,500 surveyed US users said they make changes in their lives based on the books they read or listen to on Blinkist.

Whether you’re looking to learn more about your own childhood, or are getting ready to raise a child yourself, use Blinkist to become the best parent you can possibly be.

Start your free 7-day trial

Facebook Twitter Tumblr Instagram LinkedIn Flickr Email Print