Letgrow Books Reading

Changing the way America thinks about, educates and raises its kids

These groundbreaking books by Let Grow’s thought leaders and others are changing the way America thinks about, educates and raises its kids. They all make the case that today’s kids are safer, smarter and stronger than the culture gives them credit for — and that more independence is crucial, not crazy.

The current push to overprotect is undermining our kids and our country. It is time to let go — and Let Grow.


Free-Range Kids

Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow — By Let Grow President Lenore Skenazy. Second edition just published. Download free chapter for educators here!

The Coddling Of The American Mind

The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure –By Greg Lukianoff and Let Grow Co-Founder Jonathan Haidt

Free To Learn

Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life — By Let Grow Co-Founder Peter Gray

Everyday Vitality

Everyday Vitality: Turning Stress into Strength–by Let Grow Board Member Samantha Boardman.

They Took the Kids Last Night

They Took the Kids Last Night: How the Child Protection System Puts Families at Risk — by Let Grow Legal Consultant Diane Redleaf

A Nation of Wimps

A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting — by Hara Estroff Marano

Act Natural

Act Natural: A Cultural History of Misadventures in Parenting — by Jennifer Traig

Hunt, Gather, Parent

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans — by Michaeleen Doucleff

In the Interests of Safety

In the Interests of Safety: The Absurd Rules that Blight Our Lives — by Tracy Brown and Michael Hanlon (also published as Playing by the Rules)

Playing It Up

Playing It Up: With Loose Parts, Playpods and Adventure Playgruonds — by Joan Almon

Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder — by Richard Louv

Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do)

Fifty Dangerous Things (you should let your children do) — by Gever Tulley with Julie Spiegler

How Fear Works

How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the 21st Century — by Frank Furedi

The Nurture Assumption

The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do. Parents Matter Less Than You Think and Peers Matter More

Neuroparenting

Neuroparenting: The Expert Invasion of Family Life — By Jan Macvarish

Adventures in Risky Play

Adventures in Risky Play: What is Your Yes? — By Rusty Keeler

Teen 2.0

Teen 2.0: Saving Our Children and Families from the Torment of Adolescence — by Robert Epstein

The Gardner and the Carpenter

The Gardner and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child Development Tells us About the Relationship Between Parents and Children — by Alison Gopnik

Small Animals

Small Animals: Parenthood in the Age of Fear — by Kim Brooks

Urban Playground

Urban Playground: How Child-Friendly Planning and Design Can Save Cities

Shoeless Soccer

Shoeless Soccer: Fixing the System and Winning the World Cup — by Carlo Celli and Nathan Richardson

The End of American Childhood

The End of American Childhood By Paula Fass

The Problem with Parenting

The Problem with Parenting: How Raising Children is Changing Across America — by Nancy McDermott

The Science of Fear

The Science of Fear: How the Culture of Fear Manipulates Your Brain — By Dan Gardner

Threatened Children

Threatened Children: Rhetoric and Concern About Child Victims — by Joel Best