The Youngest Minds: Parenting and Genetic Inheritance in the Development of Intellect and Emotion

The Youngest Minds is a surprisingly readable mixture of science review, advice manual, and consciousness-raising book, which should be at the top of every expectant parent's reading list. Child neurologist Ann B. Barnet and her husband, Richard, explore the world of the very young with the aim of providing an overview of early development in such areas as language, emotional attachment, and socialization. Dr. Barnet puts her expertise to good use in lucid explanations of the biology of brain growth, and both she and her husband draw on their experience as parents and grandparents to put this scientific material in a practical perspective. They also express concern for children worldwide who are suffering from less-than-optimal social and economic conditions and consequently are missing out on their full potential. Chapters include "How the Brain Takes Shape"; "Pathways of Language"; "Empathy, Conscience, and Moral Development"; and Caring for Children.

So should you read to your newborn? What's going on in an infant's brain? How does language develop? What can we do to foster emotional attachment? The Barnets provide guidance rather than answers, just as any good scientist (or grandparent) would. Whether read as a science text, a parenting guide, or a plea for children's well-being, The Youngest Minds will satisfy the curious, caring parent. --Rob Lightner