Book Rating (48)
Narrator Rating (12)

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

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Abby Craden

9 Hours 8 Minutes

Random House (Audio)

February 2012

Audio Book Summary

The secret behind France's astonishingly well-behaved children.

When American journalist Pamela Druckerman has a baby in Paris, she doesn't aspire to become a 'French parent.' French parenting isn't a known thing, like French fashion or French cheese. Even French parents themselves insist they aren't doing anything special.

Yet, the French children Druckerman knows sleep through the night at two or three months old while those of her American friends take a year or more. French kids eat well-rounded meals that are more likely to include braised leeks than chicken nuggets. And while her American friends spend their visits resolving spats between their kids, her French friends sip coffee while the kids play.

Motherhood itself is a whole different experience in France. There's no role model, as there is in America, for the harried new mom with no life of her own. French mothers assume that even good parents aren't at the constant service of their children and that there's no need to feel guilty about this. They have an easy, calm authority with their kids that Druckerman can only envy.

Of course, French parenting wouldn't be worth talking about if it produced robotic, joyless children. In fact, French kids are just as boisterous, curious, and creative as Americans. They're just far better behaved and more in command of themselves. While some American toddlers are getting Mandarin tutors and preliteracy training, French kids are- by design-toddling around and discovering the world at their own pace.

With a notebook stashed in her diaper bag, Druckerman-a former reporter for The Wall Street Journal-sets out to learn the secrets to raising a society of good little sleepers, gourmet eaters, and reasonably relaxed parents. She discovers that French parents are extremely strict about some things and strikingly permissive about others. And she realizes that to be a different kind of parent, you don't just need a different parenting philosophy. You need a very different view of what a child actually is.

While finding her own firm non, Druckerman discovers that children-including her own-are capable of feats she'd never imagined.

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Reviews

  • Senka K.

    It is a really nice book to listen and think about. I'm coming from the culture which implements both styles - American and French, so I was really comparing it along with the author. Narrator was excellent, it kept me engaged for the most of the book. At first chapter it might sound a bit offputting (not sure why, maybe it was just me) but stick to the next chapter and you'll love it :)

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  • Anonymous

    Really good book, with really good tips for parents that do work with every child. I have read this and then introduced it to many new parents! Not everyone has the will to follow up, but whoever did had good results. GO FRANCE! Makes me wanna move there!

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  • Mariam M.

    I loved both book and narration. Narrator was really great to face up transition from French-English terms. The book I liked because it provides you set with basic principles as there is no "fit to everyone" approach

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  • Baigalmaa B.

    Narration was good but book was too pretentious for me as a fellow Parisian.

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  • Myriam Lucía M.

    Although entertaining to some extend, the book focuses too much on the author’s personal journey and not the much needed advice I was seeking as a new mom. If you are looking for practical recommendations and tips to deal with the challenges of a new mom. This may not be for you. I’ll give this to the book: after reading it you’ll realize that you’re not alone.

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  • Stephanie B

    I enjoyed the book but the narration was a bit challenging to listen to. I feel like her inflection was off in some instances which affected the way the story came across.

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  • Sally F

    Great book! Interesting look at French culture.

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  • Anna T

    Absolutely fantastic! Funny, informative and so so real!

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  • Francesca Bolognini

    I thought the narrator sounded a little too posh.

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