Now in paperback!

"Garbarino makes us believe that we can have control over our environments and the kind of society we want for our children. . . . He gives all of us valuable tools for helping kids negotiate through an increasingly complex, high-risk world."

--Paul Simon, former U.S. Senator, Illinois

"I am struck by how readily we ignore the very real toxicity of our children's social environment. I am grateful to Jim Garbarino for this A to Z list of ways we can respond more positively."

--Anne Cohn Donnelly, executive director, National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse

"Garbarino is one of our nation's major social critics. This insightful analysis is a must-read for parents, early childhood advocates, and policy makers."

--Edward Zigler, Sterling Professor of Psychology, Yale University

Childhood has become a minefield of risks--dangerous to the health and well being of children and adolescents. School violence, drugs, AIDS, poverty, uncaring communities, abusive families, and custody battles are just some of the dangers that children face daily. In this timely book, renowned child development expert James Garbarino explains how we can make choices and decisions that strengthen children and strike a blow against the social toxicity that surrounds us.