Synopsis

Public high schools do a poor job of preparing teenagers for the realities of life. I know, I teach in one. It is not the fault of the high schools. They are forced to focus on state test scores, graduation rates and an outdated curriculum. Research tells us that employers don't care about state test scores. They want people who are reliable, work hard, get along well with others and are trainable. Students bound for college are ill-prepared for the stresses and challenges of life away from their families.

"A Teenager's Guide to Living: Navigating the Challenges of Adolescence" is designed to teach kids about the subjects that high school doesn't typically cover. Topics for chapters evolved out of interviews with teenagers. They include love, compassion, integrity, character, finding your passion, conflict resolution, money, grief, tolerance and acceptance, technology, stepping outside your comfort zone, taking responsibility for your life and much more. The book is written in a conversational tone with many anecdotes and lots of humor. Each chapter contains reflection questions.

I've worked as a high school and college teacher for the past 30 years. I've spent a great deal of time mentoring and counseling teenagers. Often I've been a surrogate parent for students. I was fortunate to teach a philosophy class at our school based on this book. Students could ask questions about anything, and we discussed them in a safe, loving environment. At the end of the class I asked the 28 students to review the class, and everyone said the course needs to be a requirement for high school students.

Sales arguments

• High schools don't prepare kids for the real world and these kids are anxious to learn about reality.
• Research indicates that teen depression, anxiety and suicide are at an all-time high.
• Teenagers are struggling with establishing meaningful relationships.
• The dynamics of contemporary family life have changed and teens spend less time with their parents.
• Amy Fast, author of "It's the Mission, Not the Mandates: Defining the Purpose of Public Education" endorsed the book.

Similar titles

• "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People", written by Stephen Covey, teaches adults the habits necessary to create a successful life. My book does this for teenagers.
• "The Book of Joy", written by the Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu, 2016 deal with how to live a life of contentment and joy. These topics are covered in my book in a very concise manner.
• "Do what You Love, the Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood, written by Marsha Sinetar, 1989, deals with finding your passion and identifying a healthy, fulfilling career path. My book has a chapter on finding, your passion and one on doing your best.

Audience

This book is for teenagers, their parents and high school teachers.

Advance praise

“I’ve had the honor of working with Dana the past four years, and this book perfectly encapsulates his passion for not only helping the students acquire the content but also for helping them live ethical and fulfilling lives. Dana has a way of cutting through the noise to shine light on the heart of any given issue. Teens will find this an easy and profound read – two qualities that are sure to keep them turning the pages.” Dr. Amy Fast, author of "It’s the Mission, Not the Mandates: Defining the Purpose of Public Education"

"A teenager's Guide to Living: Navigating the Challenges of Adolescence is the culmination of 35 years of teaching, mentoring and in some cases being a surrogate parent. Dana's caring, honest, direct nature in the classroom translates beautifully to the written page. Thought-providing, funny and helpful, reading this book is like sitting down with an old friend. Dana's down-to-earth advice and simple, open-hearted approach to living is more than just a book for teens, it's a book for everyone."