Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids
Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids
Bryan Caplan
Sam Hinkie
I was really influenced by this book. - Sam Hinkie
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Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids

Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids: Why Being a Great Parent Is Less Work and More Fun Than You Think

Bryan Caplan
By
Bryan Caplan
3.5
1489
ratings on Goodreads

In "Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids," Bryan Caplan challenges the modern parenting paradigm with a provocative thesis: less is more. Caplan, an economist, leverages a wealth of research from twin and adoption studies to argue that genetics, not parenting style, plays the dominant role in how children turn out. This groundbreaking perspective offers a liberating view for parents engulfed in the pursuit of perfection, suggesting that they can ease off the intensive parenting pedal without sacrificing their children's future success. Caplan's engaging narrative is not just about the joy of parenting with less anxiety; it's a call to rethink how we raise our children and how many children we choose to raise, making a compelling case for expanding our families. Beyond its bold premise, Caplan's book is a treasure trove of insights on the economics of family life, offering practical advice on how to maximize happiness within the household. He addresses the fears and misconceptions surrounding the decision to have more children, providing readers with a nuanced framework for considering their family size. Through a blend of humor, rigorous research, and personal anecdotes, "Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids" dismantles the myths that have made parenting seem like an insurmountable challenge, and instead, paints a picture of it as a source of unparalleled joy and fulfillment. As Caplan peels back the layers of societal expectations, readers are invited to envision a future where they can have more kids, more love, and surprisingly, more freedom.

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Released
2011
18 Feb
Length
240
Pages

1

recommendations

recommendation

I was really influenced by this book. - Sam Hinkie
In 1984, Science published a study of almost 15,000 Danish adoptees age fifteen or older, their adoptive parents, and their birth parents. Thanks to Denmark’s careful record keeping, the researchers knew whether any of the people in their study had criminal convictions. Since few female adoptees had legal problems, the study focused on males—with striking results. As long as the adoptee’s biological parents were law abiding, their adoptive parents made little difference: 13.5 percent of adoptees with law-abiding biological and adoptive parents got convicted of something, versus 14.7 percent with law-abiding biological parents and criminal adoptive parents. If the adoptee’s biological parents were criminal, however, upbringing mattered: 20 percent of adoptees with law-breaking biological and law-abiding adoptive parents got convicted, versus 24.5 percent with law-breaking biological and adoptive parents. Criminal environments do bring out criminal tendencies. Still, as long as the biological parents were law abiding, family environment made little difference. In 2002, a study of antisocial behavior in almost 7,000 Virginian twins born since 1918 found a small nurture effect for adult males and no nurture effect for adult females. The same year, a major review of fifty-one twin and adoption studies reported small nurture effects for antisocial attitudes and behavior. For outright criminality, however, heredity was the sole cause of family resemblance.
— Bryan Caplan, Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids

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