Book Summary: The Turning

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

Author: Richard and Linda Eyre

Overview:

It is no exaggeration to say that this is a book that I have waited for my entire adult life. I have always been passionate about the importance of families, and have tried to share how integral the family is to the success of individuals, nations and the world–yet I’ve not been able to articulate it sufficiently. But now, Richard and Linda Eyre have done just that, in a powerful and convincing way. The Turning is equal parts eloquent, well-researched, and realistic, yet practical and hopeful.

The statistics in the Eyres’ research illustrate a frightening truth, that when the family fails, so does government, commerce, education, and individual well being–every facet of our world is harmed. The opposite is also true– where the family succeeds, every other part of life prospers.  This book educates us on why the success of families is pivotal to the success of the world, and explains the dangers to the family. It also inspires and presents a strategic battle plan to save families and have media, government and economic spheres understand the benefit to them of proactively supporting families.

The part that I liked best:

As a mother, I appreciated the bold language used to assure me that what I do really DOES matter. As the Eyres discussed the importance of parents and the danger of delegating our children’s care to others, even very loving and capable people, they used a lot of analogies, such as “the substitute is never as good as the first string player” (pg. 83). They also compare some parents to general contractors hiring subcontractors–electrical, plumbing, etc. and likened it to how often we “subcontract” our children: nannies, sports, school, after school programs, dance lessons, tutors, etc. They underline that all of these people and activities are not bad, but ask the question, “Do these activities support or take away from the family?” They also addressed the “cult of the individual” and explained why it is a danger to everyone when taken out of proportion.  

How This Book Made an Impact In My Life, Especially as a Mother:

This book made me re-evaluate how our family spends time and what we do when we are together. It made the point that in our efforts to provide for our children, give them every opportunity, help them develop talents and have time with friends, we are actually taking away something much more valuable because we are always so busy. In addition, “attention is focused on competition and comparison rather than on cooperation and communication” (pg 116). In essence, we often take away deep and real relationships that last a lifetime and that give meaning and purpose to life, often in exchange for the superficial and short term.  

The other part of the book that really made an impact on me was the strategic plan to re-take the family and put it at the forefront of society. This part made me want to stand up and cheer, to take up the banner and carry the cause forward. The Eyres make a case for moving away from anti-(fill-in-the-blank: abortion, poverty, drugs, crime, etc), and move toward promoting a cause which we are for: the family, which in turn brings health, prosperity, and true and lasting happiness.

This book will start a movement. If people everywhere start implementing its ideas, we can save our children from becoming depressing statistics, save our struggling economies, strengthen our governments, be better educated and informed and we will all have more meaning and purpose in our lives. I am excited to give this book to families as a gift, encouraging others to learn as I have, that “turning our hearts” towards our families is a very practical way to more happiness and overall success. 

Interested in hearing more the Eyres’ new book? Saren recorded a podcast with Richard Eyre (her father) about The Turning. Click here to listen.

About Jennifer Brimhall

Jen is a homeschooling mom of one overly teased girl and four rowdy, teasing boys. She is married to an incredible man who bears an uncanny resemblance to Abraham Lincoln both in appearance and goodness. She is passionate about personal development, education, and dark chocolate. Her goal is to help each of her children find their passions early in life and be kind, well-read, thinking individuals who contribute. She is amazed at how much raising children is really just learning to be your best self in many different ways. Her kids think she has a long way to go, but she tries her best. And then tries again. And then goes and eats chocolate.