Book Nook: Don't Be a Pusi - An Inappropriate and Politically Incorrect Book for Entitled Teens and Their Traumatized Parents

 Are you raising a Pusi? This is the question raised by behavioral scientist Elizabeth Jordan in her new book, which I got to review, Don't Be A Pusi: An Inappropriate and Politically Incorrect Book for Entitled Teens and Their Traumatized Parents. 

In the 1960s, clinical psychologist Dianne Baumrind  categorized four different types of parenting styles- Authoritative, Authoritarian, Permissive and Uninvolved. However, to accommodate the ever-changing attitudes and viewpoints of today's parents, Elizabeth has tweaked these categories to reflect a more modern sensibility. 

She categorizes them as The Fair Judge (reasonable and nurturing with high and clear expectations), The Dictator (thought of as a disciplinarian), The Permissive Parent  (let their children do what they want with limited guidance) and The Absent Parent (give children a lot of freedom and generally stay out of their way). 

The book is written in the style of a kids' book, with rhyme and lots of illustrations. It's definitely not for kids, though, full of adult language and very irreverent in describing what happens if you have a Permissive parenting style. It's definitely not for everyone, but people who have a certain sense of humor will find this book a great look at what not to do as a parent.

Don't Be A Pusi: An Inappropriate and Politically Incorrect Book for Entitled Teens and Their Traumatized Parents is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.