Achtung Baby, Sara Zaske
Achtung Baby, Sara Zaske
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Achtung Baby
An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children

Author: Sara Zaske

Narrator: Sara Zaske

Unabridged: 7 hr 57 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/02/2018


Synopsis

"[Sarah Zaske] reads her fascinating book on contemporary German parenting with friendly confidence and a delightful curiosity about her discoveries while raising two young children in Berlin...Zaske's gift for narrative and her keen observations about German and American parenting make this a refreshing, eye-opening audio for those raising young children" — AudioFile Magazine

This Audiobook Provides an Entertaining, Enlightening Look at the Art of Raising Self-Reliant, Independent Children Based on One American Mom’s Experiences in Germany

When Sara Zaske moved from Oregon to Berlin with her husband and toddler, she knew the transition would be challenging, especially when she became pregnant with her second child. She was surprised to discover that German parents give their children a great deal of freedom—much more than Americans. In Berlin, kids walk to school by themselves, ride the subway alone, cut food with sharp knives, and even play with fire. German parents did not share her fears, and their children were thriving. Was she doing the opposite of what she intended, which was to raise capable children? Why was parenting culture so different in the States?

Through her own family’s often funny experiences as well as interviews with other parents, teachers, and experts, Zaske shares the many unexpected parenting lessons she learned from living in Germany. Achtung Baby reveals that today's Germans know something that American parents don't (or have perhaps forgotten) about raising kids with “selbstandigkeit” (self-reliance), and provides practical examples American parents can use to give their own children the freedom they need to grow into responsible, independent adults.

This instructive audiobook is perfect for new parents and anyone else interested in how different cultures approach child rearing.

About Sara Zaske

SARA ZASKE is an American writer who lived in Berlin for six and a half years. Her articles on her family's experiences in Germany have appeared on Time.com, in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bild am Sontag, Germany's largest Sunday paper. She lives in Idaho with her husband and two children. Sara is the author of Achtung Baby:An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dawnie

Okay let me start this out with: I am not a mother, i do not have children i take care of (at least not the human kind -do furry kids count?!?) BUT i was interested in this because i am German and i always interested to see an American share their option on Germany. Because honestly most of the time......more

Goodreads review by Susan

As a mom of 3 and as an elementary teacher, I'm always up for a read relating to children and parenting. I enjoyed the tiger mom book comparing Asian parenting with its US version. When I heard that Achtung Baby was out -- a book comparing German parenting with US -- I was thrilled. I *am* German; w......more

Sara Zaske wrote this book about her experiences of raising her children in Berlin, Germany. Instead of being preachy and telling parent's do's and don't's, she explains her direct experiences with a different mode of parenting. What I love about Zaske is not only is she open minded to German parent......more

Goodreads review by Cat

The U.S. educational system has gone in the wrong direction cutting down on recess, over-emphasizing literacy, and slamming kids with testing. Zaske does an excellent and fair-minded job exploring the German child care and kindergarten system and its strengths--interwoven with the memoir of her own......more


Quotes

"American writer Sara Zaske reads her fascinating book on contemporary German parenting with friendly confidence and a delightful curiosity about her discoveries while raising two young children in Berlin. She's a sensitive observer of culture with a good grasp of history, so she gives everything a pleasing context without distracting from her message: When parents worry less about protecting, controlling, and keeping kids occupied with gadgets, their kids turn out just fine. ...Zaske's gift for narrative and her keen observations about German and American parenting make this a refreshing, eye-opening audio for those raising young children." -AudioFile


Awards

  • NPR Best Book of the Year