Parent Nation

Unlocking Every Child's Potential, Fulfilling Society's Promise

By: Dana Suskind, Lydia Denworth

Narrated by: Caroline Hewitt

World-class pediatric surgeon, social scientist, and best-selling author of Thirty Million Words Dr. Dana Suskind returns with a revelatory new look at the neuroscience of early childhood development—and how it can guide us toward a future in which every child has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

Her prescription for this more prosperous and equitable future, as clear as it is powerful, is more robust support for parents during the most critical years of their children’s development. In her poignant new book, Parent Nation, written with award-winning science writer Lydia Denworth, Dr. Suskind helps parents recognize both their collective identity and their formidable power as custodians of our next generation.

Weaving together the latest science on the developing brain with heart-breaking and relatable stories of families from all walks of life, Dr. Suskind shows that the status quo—scores of parents convinced they should be able to shoulder the enormous responsibility of early childhood care and education on their own—is not only unsustainable, but deeply detrimental to the wellbeing of children, families, and society.

Anyone looking for a blueprint for how to build a brighter future for our children will find one in Parent Nation. Informed by the science of foundational brain development as well as history, political science, and the lived experiences of families around the country, this book clearly outlines how society can and should help families meet the developmental needs of their children. Only then can we ensure that all children are able to enjoy the promise of their potential.


* This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of the Parent Nation Action Guide and Discussion Guide.

Supportive family values.

If the sacredness of the family were important we would be a “Parent Nation”.
This book deals with the importance of day one education for infants and how much family and community support is to the ability of child caregivers, (mothers, fathers, their extended families and every other care giver) to give day one and ongoing quality care.
It offers collective solutions to build a ParentNation where taking care of the very youngest makes life so much richer for us all

One of the best!

I’ve read dozens of books on parenting, early childhood development, trauma, the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and more. Dr. Suskind connects the dots between each study in a profoundly enticing way. I couldn’t stop listening! Her rage at the way parents and children are treated in our nation — as opposed to the way parents are supported with parental leave, high quality childcare and pre-k, equity in medical care and education in many other advanced nations, but not OURS — is palpable. I love that. She is NOT accepting of our state of the child and parenting. And she doesn’t want us to be either. The missing link is what to do. And I have thoughts on that and would love to ask her and you all join our movement to prevent and heal childhood trauma; to build healthier and more compassionate people, families and communities, at PACEsConnection.com PACEs stands for positive and adverse childhood experiences, and how it takes both — though not the excess of toxic childhood experiences so many endure today — to build healthy brains that will help children achieve the “promise of their promise.” Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) help buffer the adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs science is a topic in this wonderful book, as Dr. Suskind explains the undeniable link between childhood adversity and adult disease, behavioral challenges, violence and more.
It’s a natural partnership and one I am pursuing. Carey Sipp, director of strategic partnerships, PACEsConnection.com

Not sure what to think

This book could have been much shorter and to the point if the author were not treating it as an SJW think piece. There was about 2 hours worth of helpful content on what is going on with your child's brain in the earliest stages of life. The rest of the book was covid this, covid that, and then some inequality here, and inequality there. Just leave that crap out and give us a book with just the science and steps to take toward's helping our children as best we can!

A relevant, action-oriented read.

I appreciated a multicultural, multigenerational look at the development of caring for children. This is a timely book!

No solutions to become the “parent nation”

The first chapters were really good but then it expands on issues like the pandemic, inequality, expensive childcare but it provides no solutions or actions. It gives very punctual examples confirming her biases. I don’t know, I tried to like it but I couldn’t.