Review Detail

This book is about finding the blessing in the deep wounds that parents, knowingly and unknowingly, inflict on their children. It is heart-wrenching, because I know how very relevant it is to way too many people. I can imagine giving these little books out by the carton to kids in homeless shelters across the country...and to their parents, who are probably acting out the violence perpetrated on them.

It is not terribly deep, as were Bach's other books like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, One, or Illusions, but it shines light into a dark place that sorely needs it. While it is a sad reminder that we are an imperfect species, it also celebrates our capacity for rising above adversity and turning it into fuel for love and creativity. “Thank Your Wicked Parents” is a virtual hug to hurting humanity, reminding those who need it that we control our perceptions and choices, and that our tormentors can be our greatest teachers. It is also a good reminder to all of us how unthinking behavior can inflict wounds that last a lifetime.