There are tons of parenting books out there. I'm not suggesting with this page that I've only read the best of them, only that these are the books I've read so far and with that I've offered my opinions of them.
Playful Parenting (Cohen)
Advice on constructive and confidence building "play."
http://www.amazon.com/Playful-Parenting-Lawrence-J-Cohen/dp/0345442865/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331615259&sr=1-1
There are parts of this book worth reading, but over all not worth a lot of time. If one has no idea how to constructively play with their children, then this book might prove helpful. On the other hand it is written by a man whose job is to "work" with children with social concerns. He comes in as an outside source and "fixes" these unbearable situation for the parents. My concern with his advise isn't that it is useless, but that his success revolves around being an intermediary. In my opinion, tactics are different when the relationship is between parent and child as opposed to child and another adult.
Optimistic Child (Seligman)
Advice on how to raise an optimistic child and why doing so is so important; supported by research and statistics.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Optimistic-Child-Depression-BuildLifelong/dp/0618918094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331614884&sr=1-1#reader_0618918094
The book can be dry at some points, but it is well worth the read. It's both informative and convincing. It leaves you very much concerned about raising an optimistic child and how their lives will be better for it; from less depression to more personal happiness.
Screamfree Parenting (Runkel)
Advice on how to parent and not lose your temper.
http://www.amazon.com/Screamfree-Parenting-Revolutionary-Approach-Raising/dp/0767927435/ref=pd_sim_b_6#reader_0767927435
I found this book to be very helpful in a perspective changing way, but not in an actual implementation way. Regardless, it was worth the read, if for nothing more than to broaden your horizons.
Bringing Up Bebe (Druckerman)
Presents the perspective of French parenting vs. American parenting; addresses issues such as sleeping, eating, politeness, mother's perspectives, etc.
http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Up-Bebe-Discovers-Parenting/dp/0449806979/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331615374&sr=1-1
Very interesting. Worth reading, I think. I've implemented several of her "discoveries" and things seem to be working: pause and course feeding.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom (Chua)
Presents a parenting method that "produces" talented, accomplished children.
http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Hymn-Tiger-Mother-Chua/dp/1594202842/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1331615492&sr=1-1-spell
Interesting. Thought provoking. It's more of a memoir of a Chinese mother raising her daughters in the Chinese way, than a true "parenting" book, but it does discuss the difference between Western and Chinese styles of parenting. I'm no tiger mom nor will I ever be, but you've got to respect the author's tenacity and her value of hard work. There's a lot too that with regard to success, I think.
NurtureShock (Bronson & Merryman)
Offers a revolutionary new perspective on children that upends a library's worth of conventional wisdom.
http://www.amazon.com/NurtureShock-New-Thinking-About-Children/dp/B006LWDWZ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333068699&sr=8-1
A total MUST read! It's lives up to its name. It will shock you. I consider myself open-minded and relatively bright, but on some of these parenting ideals addressed in the book, I was totally wrong. The authors support everything with mounds of research; so, with as much validity as research can offer, it's hard not to accept their findings. The book address issues such as sleep, praise, sibling rivalry, lying, racism, giftedness, etc. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, not just parents.
