Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times

(New Society Publishers, 2003)

It’s not easy to raise children to know who they are and what is truly important in life.

Today’s culture assaults young people with messages that not only steer them away from humane living but also endorse destructive habits and behaviors. How can you help children be happy, self-confident and caring while creating a better world? You need a guide you can trust.

Above All, Be Kind shows you how to teach children to be humane in the broadest sense: not only to become more compassionate towards family and friends, but also to make choices that demonstrate respect for the environment, other species and all people. It gives you the tools to nurture happier children, deeper family relationships and a better world.

Above All Be Kind includes chapters for the early, middle, teenage, and young adult years. Of special interest to parents and teachers, this book will also appeal to human rights, environmental, and animal protection activists who wish to reach out to parents.

Imagine that the next generation has the commitment and skills to solve the most pressing challenges of our time. Above All, Be Kind helps parents and other adults nurture that generation.

Buy Above All, Be Kind from The Institute for Humane Education (Get 20% off the list price!)

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Praise For Above All, Be Kind

“Those parents who want to raise the next generation to be compassionate, caring individuals will want to read this book.”
~ Jacqueline Bodnar, Vegbooks – Read the complete review.

“I came away from reading Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times feeling like I had useful tools to help my children (and myself) become people who think about the consequences of their actions and who are more fully aware of the world around us. There’s no question that we live in ‘challenging times,’ but Zoe Weil makes that journey a little easier.”
~ Beth H., Smart Family Tips blog – Read the complete review.

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to all parents and anyone even considering becoming a parent in the future. It’s never too late to pass the wisdom of compassion and kindness onto our children.”
~ Tammi, Tales of the Tornado Chaser blog – Read the complete review.

“Profound, practical, positive and potentially pivotal, this book is a vital tool in the struggle to raise healthy and happy children who know the joy and richness of service and compassion. Recommended reading for parents, teachers, aunts, uncles – everyone who loves children and wants to see them thrive.”
~ Ocean Robbins, Founder, Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES!), co-author, Choices for Our Future, and father of twin boys

“As a parent of six children, I found Above All Be Kind [to be] the greatest advice I have ever read about raising children. [It] will not only make you a better parent, it will make you a better human being.”
~ Howard F. Lyman, LL.D., author, Mad Cowboy and President, Voice for a Viable Future

“Above All, Be Kind is one of the most important books in the humane education movement. It is written with clarity, convication, courage, and hope. Hard facts along with deep compassion and heart fill its pages. This book will empower children and adults to act to make this a more peaceful, sustainable, and humane world. No matter how much your day is filled with busy-ness, above all, read this book and share its brilliance.”
~ Mark Bekoff, author of Minding Animals, co-author (with Jane Goodall) of The Ten Trusts: What We Must Do to Care for the Animals We Love.

“Practical and profound, full of real life examples, Above All, Be Kind is a wonderful guide to helping your children to be joyful, self-confident, and caring people.”
~ John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America

“Above All, Be Kind is a lovely book, written in a personal idiom distinguished by insight, common sense, intelligence and love. When I finished reading it I wanted to hug Zoe Weil. You will, too.”
~ John Taylor Gatto, author of Dumbing Us Down

“Above All, Be Kind is hugely thought provoking, inspiring and encouraging. It gives clear, concise direction on what each of us can do. I love this book; it gives me hope. Highly recommended for parents
and everyone who loves children and wants to see them thrive.”
~ Alline Anderson, Manager, Community Bookshelf, Intentional Communities

“Above All, Be Kind is a fantastic book which I think any parent would benefit from (for that matter I think even people without children could benefit from it.) The author, Zoe Weil, has written a book that is not only incredibly thought-provoking, raising fundamental questions about living humanely with our children, the Earth and each other, but also loaded with practical childrearing advice….Zoe does not dictate what we are or are not to do, but rather she encourages us to use our own sense of morality in our choices.”
~ Jaspenelle, Michael and Jaspenelle blog – Read the complete review.

“Above All, Be Kind is my current favorite parenting book.  Zoe Weil is a mother, as well as cofounder and President of the Institute for Humane Education.  She writes with experience and wisdom and the book is well organized and easy to read….I love the way she discusses how parents can become better role models by seriously assessing their own lives, and the choices they’re making every day.  Her words led me to do some serious (and I hope helpful) introspection.
~  Psychmamma - Read the complete review.

“Zoe Weil brings us a book that is insightful and practical….What I loved about this book, was that as an adult with parents who didn’t really help me develop good values, I have learned a great deal that will help me live a more positive life and be a shining example to those around me. I especially liked that throughout the book, the author doesn’t just provide instructions without explanation, she explains how and why the Four Elements work. She also provides so many examples from both her personal life and the lives of others which are wonderful lessons in themselves….This is by far one of my favourite parenting books.”
~ Charlene Martel, The Literary Word blog – Read the complete review.

“This is a book full of practical wisdom, tested in the immediacy of an often overly challenging school environment and also at home. The numerous anecdotes found peppered throughout the book make Weil’s discussions, which are refreshingly simple and clear in themselves, even more tangible and accessible….It is primarily intended for parents but most certainly could serve any reader in his or her self-exploration. My wife considers this to be the most important practical book on education she has ever read, and so do I.”
~ Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., Alternative Center for Responsible Living – Read the complete review.