Turning: Why the State of the Family Matters, and What the World Can Do about It

(Paperback)

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It is easy to find alarming statistics on escalating violence, addiction and economic inequality in developed countries and stubborn poverty in the third world. The fascinating question has to do with cause. New York Times #1 bestselling authors Richard and Linda Eyres new book The Turning: Why the State of the Family Matters and What the World Can Do about It contends that the social and economic challenges faced not only in the United States, but throughout the world, are the direct result of an unprecedented and widespread turning away from family. The negative effects of this turning are apparent in the youth of the world today:

• In So Paulo, Brazil, more than 1.2 million street children are addicted to cocaine;
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for American fifteen-to-twenty-four-year-olds;
• Great Ormond Street Hospital in London has treated girls as young as seven or eight for eating disorders;
• In Ethiopia, nearly half of the children under the age of six work 30-hour weeks; and
• In the past year there have been over 64 school shootings in the U.S., equaling more than one shooting a week.

  The Turning uses research findings, statistics (like those listed above), and the Eyres personal experiences at home and abroad to show that families are essential to the survival and success of civilization.

  With the well-being of the world at risk, The Turning will move readers in a way that will raise personal reflection, discussion, and action to return the family to its necessary position as the recognized and prioritized basic unit of society.

  But far more than a book of statistics and political suggestions, this is a book for parentsparents who want to better understand the world their children are growing up in and who want to create a family culture that is stronger than the internet culture, the peer culture, and all the other influences that flurry around our children every day.

  As Thomas Friedmans The World is Flat opened our eyes to the cause-and-effect aspects of the global economy, The Turning will open the eyes of readers across the world to the means-and-ends connections between stable families and households and the worlds ability to meet its social and economic challenges.

  As Harvards Clayton Christensen and best-selling author of The Innovators Dilemma states, This book gives us a common cause, and a clear way to frame and explain the causality of todays problems.

  In the spirit of Friedmans The World is Flat, Richard and Linda Eyre examine the connections between the worlds mounting social problems and the breakdown of families and look deeply at the root causes of family disintegrationthe false paradigms that confuse the priorities of parents and influence the kind of policies and practices in larger institutions (from media to government) that threaten families both economically and emotionally.

Reviews

"Individuals are not the basic unit of our economy, households are. Families are far from perfect institutions, but they are the best economic engine civilization has ever produced. When families decline and weaken, the whole economy is sure to do the same. Richard and Linda Eyre make these family-to-economy connections crystal clear and point us in the directions of recovery."
Nolan and Margaret Archibald, CEO of Black and Decker

The Eyres urge enlightened religious, educational, business, and government leaderswho disagree about many thingsto at least agree about this: institutional policies should bolster life-long trust and responsibility between caring children, parents and grandparents."
C. Randall Paul, President, Foundation for Religious Diplomacy

Developing countries and post-communist nations all over the world are copying the mistakes of Americaputting ideas of materialism, entitlement, and selfish personal options ahead of responsibility and commitment to family. It is classic short-range thinking that will let us all downindividuals and countriesin our later years. I seeThe Turningas a warning, and one we had all better heed!
Przemek Gacek, CEO Grupa Pracuj SA (Poland) and YPO Regional Officer, Europe CEO

Just asIn Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifestoopened our eyes to the undesirable effects of an industrialized food chain andDisrupting Classgave us hope for reigniting the curiosity lost to the industrialized classroom,The Turningilluminates the negative influences of industrialization upon the ultimate institutionour families, while providing parents with the power to do something about it!
Adam Timothy, Young Entrepreneur and Father of three young children

"The Eyres are rightwhen families become stronger and more stable, both individual businesses and the whole economy benefits. Count me in for a movement to get all of our institutions to pay more attention to the needs of families."
Bill Marriott, Chairman and CEO, Marriott Corp.

"Well researched and thought out, this book prompts reflection and a new way of looking at the source of the worlds sorrows and the problems that fester at home."
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Author Bio

Richard and Linda Eyre are New York Times #1 bestselling authors whose writing career has spanned four decades and whose books have sold in the millions. They have appeared on virtually all major national talk shows, including Oprah and Today, and have seen their books translated into a dozen languages.