Hendrick is an academic historian of medicine who pulls no punches in his analysis of the political and economic backcloth to zeitgeists like `authoritative' parenting, spawned of neo-liberalism and its narcissistic fixation with the self. This intensively-researched, well-written book is in five parts Professional Social Work magazine. Situating historical and social shifts in parenthood, Harry Hendrick's latest work is meticulously researched, vigorously argued, glitteringly provocative - and sure to spark robust debate. Alan Prout, University of Leeds In progressive parenting, children came first. In market liberalism children became subordinate to parental self-interest. How and why is told here absorbingly, from the 1920s to the present. Avner Offer, University of Oxford, author of The Challenge of Affluence. A richly contextualised and beautifully crafted book on the history of parenting in Britain and the United States. Hendrick offers a sensitively nuanced appraisal of the past, asks pertinent questions of the present, leaving us with a strong message for the future. Alison Haggett, University of Exeter