It's a frightening and sobering read... I welcomed the emphasis throughout this book on the bigger picture; in a nutshell the theses Is that we need to widen the parameters of what we currently accept as child abuse to include the pervasive and longer term damaging effects of neo-liberal economics on human development and specifically child development... Essential reading for anyone who is concerned about the future of our children and young people.'Nurturing Potential/Potential Unleashed'This captivating book is a must read for parents, teachers, ministers, counselors, social workers, and pediatricians. Jim Wild, the editor, has skillfully found a way to link the new culture of children's addiction back to the family, or lack of family guidance, and more interesting, the community. The book details the many ways that corporate America has preyed upon the innocence and gullibility of children as well as parents... This books was enlightening, frightening, and infuriating, as adults are allowing this abuse to take place, often condoning it to assuage the child. This placation to children, with video games, and iPods, and Play Stations, is keeping children indoors, unable to remember to play, create, recreate, run, scream, climb trees, run on the grass. And the more we keep our children inside, the more obese, apathetic, lethargic, and sickly they are becoming. The book is an easy-to-read collection of well written, short, concise, and very clear chapters, focusing on material and sexual exploitation... This book outraged me, as I hope it does every single other reader. I hope, however, the outrage turns into action, as this book draws a straight line from corporate America greed to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse.
