Nurtureshock, by psychologists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, is an informative book on recent research in child development. 
To the authors' credit, it doesn't read like a scientific journal or even a textbook. 

While each chapter is essentially a meta-review of current large, long-term studies on childhood development issues like sleep, sibling rivalry, achievement tests, and other items with significant impact, it's also a mass-market book that's surprisingly enjoyable to read. 

And, although the authors have some obvious bias (they make the clearest case I've ever heard for pushing back the starting time for high school classes, for one thing) they don't really 'make the case.' Rather, they present an analysis an interpretation of recent studies and present the information in clear, interesting prose.  

The book is thorough, but so well-organized and well-crafted that it's not overwhelming. I was also happy to find it never digresses into lecture/advice/blame territory. 

The authors have practiced their writing craft for years, penning popular articles for Newsweek, however, while those articles cover much of the same subject matter as the book, the book is far more in-depth while at the same time not tedious in detail.

I highly recommend the book not just for parents, but also for teachers, school administrators, psychologists, and anyone youth sports coaches. The research is fascinating and perfectly packaged for the reading public. 

Enjoy!

Recommended: Yes