Penguin Press The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years

To me, the book is a great sequel of Oster's two earlier books; but as most sequels it differs from the earlier ones (and Oster is really frank on this): The earlier books were packed with findings on very specific questions - almost a handbook. Family Firm is much more about how to approach problems giving some illistrative applications.If you read the earlier books, you might want to ask yourself what you liked about them. Lots of findings on very specific questions that are directly applicable to your life? Family Firm is probably not right for you. Clear, data-driven and businesslike approach to parenting that you would like to follow yourself? Go for Family Firm.

I’m only half way through and I’m already in love with this book. As someone who’s always looking for a thoughtful and intentional way to approach problems - I love it. This book is really helping us to create a consistent way to approach family decision making that aligns with our own personal values.

As with her other books, the best thing about Oster is she doesn’t preach or tell you what to do, she simply presents information that’s relevant to whatever stage of parenthood you’re in in a smart, distilled manner so you can make an informed decision. The added bonus of The Family Firm is her roadmap for decision making - my oldest child is 4 and we are grappling with school entry and extracurricular questions and the way she empowers parents to think about decisions that will impact their family is super helpful and honestly would be relevant to ANY family. I feel like I’m going to parent in a smarter, more confident way because of this book. Thanks Emily Oster as always!

The Family Firm provides data and a little direction, miraculously instilling parents with the confidence necessary to make the best decisions for their families. Oster’s personal anecdotes are endearing and illustrative. I gift Expecting Better to new parents regularly, as it was so helpful for me as a new mom. I will be gifting the Family Firm now, too. There is a lot of uncertainty in parenting and, as a control freak, Oster’s work eases my anxiety and helps me prepare for anything.

Emily Oster is an active parent looking for answers and is happy to share her knowledge and data with her colleagues, the parent community who are all looking for how education is meeting the needs for future careers. Emily is working her way up the public school system. She reinforces that knowledge and data is your friend. The pandemic has brought education home and parents are becoming increasingly aware that they need a larger roll in molding their child’s tool chest. Stay tuned to more books coming out in 2022.