Salwak is not a pie-in-the-sky orator looking for a return to the family values of a bygone era. Nor is he a right-wing zealot blaming liberal lifestyles for destroying the sanctity of family. Instead, he is more likely to wag his finger at rampant consumerism that turns parents into working slaves. Or at the obsession with electronic stimulation--such as video games and television--that entertain rather than enrich children. ("Many children spend more time with television than with their fathers," he writes.) Or a at culture that has little respect or resources for the care of elderly family members. "For many of us, the demand of taking care of our elders is the first real test of character."

Most of the time, Salwak writes like a kindly godfather who sits at your kitchen table amidst all the dust bunnies, homework papers, soccer gear, macaroni dinners, ailing grandparents, and parental fatigue and passes no judgment. He doesn't offer much specific advice. Instead, he tells a story about his sister-in-law Betty who discovered her brother was gay only when he was dying of AIDS, and the courage it took from both siblings to overcome the distance between them. Or he'll tell about the time that his father built him a bookcase and how seen and treasured he felt. Or he'll quote a local rabbi, Robert Coles, Carl Jung, or Maya Angelou and suddenly all your household priorities fall into place like a deck of freshly shuffled cards. For families who are seeking their true north, Faith in the Family is a compass well worth investing in. --Gail Hudson

Book Description
"Faith in the Family: Honoring and Strengthening Home and Spirit," is a celebration of the ties that bind and a refreshing look at how much families have to offer children and adults alike. Dr. Salwak successfully combines captivating storytelling with spiritual insight to create part history, part story, and part advice for reaping the rewards of family life. His advice throughout the book is firmly grounded in Judeo-Christian traditions and yet presents a wide range of other teachings on family and kinship, including the insights of other great writers, from C.S. Lewis and Henri Nouwen to William James and Duong Van Mai Elliott. The book is filled with suggestions for embracing the power and joy of our family connections. The book offers a precious gift to all of who want to build families on a foundation of love and affirmation. This is a must read book for all who cherish and honor the importance of the family.