Nurtureshock, by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, was released last year to a great deal of media attention. The book debunks the research behind popular child development advice from earlier decades, such as strategies for boosting a child’s self-esteem, teaching children emotional intelligence, and attempting to increase racial sensitivity.

As Kay Hymowitz noted in her review in the Wall Street Journal:

“Education policy makers will find more cause for embarrassment in “NurtureShock.” Drop-out programs don’t work. Neither do anti-drug programs… Oh, and those tests that school ­districts use to determine giftedness in young ­children? They’re just about useless.”

This week’s Ed Next podcast is Po Bronson reading an audio excerpt from the book.

You can find excerpts from other books on our audio excerpt page here (including Rod Paige reading from The Black-White Achievement Gap and Richard Whitemire reading from Why Boys Fail).