A Perfectionist's Guide to Not Being Perfect by Bonnie Zucker

A PERFECTIONIST'S GUIDE TO NOT BEING PERFECT by Bonnie Zucker needs a more appealing cover, don’t you think? But maybe that is an intentional, yet subtle, point? The text, which begins by defining perfectionism, then deals with issues like body image, making mistakes, self-care, and coping with stress, and will likely be high interest for our students. Throughout, Zucker often suggests some “self-talk” exercises framed around examples (e.g., not being invited to a party) and time management plans that are relevant to teens, (i.e., students in grades 7 through 12, her intended audience). Zucker, a licensed psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD, offers an eclectic list of recommended reading for parents and teens (including Zero to 60 and workbooks by Mary Karapetian Alvord, Karen Bluth, and Kristen Neff). I would add The Grit Guide for Teens. Zucker also includes several pages of references, a helpful index, and an outline of key points at the end of each chapter. A recent article in The Washington Post by Jennifer Breheny Wallacy cites related research and offers specific suggestions for parents concerned about perfectionists.