By Rob Parsons
Lion Books
ISBN 978 0 7459 5383 0

The Sixty Minute Family is the latest book by former lawyer turned family advocate Rob Parsons.The Christian leader gave up law in 1988 to establish Care for the Family as a department of the Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) Trust based in Cardiff.

His previous books, The Sixty Minute Father and The Heart of Success, earned him accolades such as “the man who reinvented fatherhood” and as “motivating, practical and giving you the sense that somebody has just turned the light on.”

In his latest book, which can be read in an hour, as the title suggests, but which you will want to savour for longer, Rob shares his wisdom gleaned from experience raising his own family and from talking with families around the globe. He aims to positively transform relationships and to help create stronger families.

The 10 life lessons (chapters) in the book are each followed by action points that are easy to implement.

Topics include “making time for my family,” “discovering the power of encouragement,” “take time to talk,” “learn to love in January” and “seize the moment.”

I found this an encouraging little book brimming with great advice and simple strategies for enhancing family life.

Rob writes engagingly, using a mix of humour, refreshing anecdotes and common sense to remind us just how important our families are.

As he says: ”We need our family. It’s the place where we discover who we are – our gifts and ambitions, our hopes and fears. It’s the small body of people who help us prepare to face a whole world.”

No matter what stage your family is at, I’m sure you’ll find this 60 minute read offers something inspiring for you.

– Fran Pardon