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Parenting Books by Dr. Buck

Changing Everything without Shame

A happy little girl with her mother

If you have ever found yourself yelling, bribing, or threatening, then later lying in bed filled with regret, you are not alone.

You love your child deeply. You want to do better. But much of today’s parenting advice either talks down to parents or focuses on controlling behavior instead of understanding it.

These books are different.Dr. Nancy Buck writes with clarity, warmth, and humility. She does not give scripts. She gives insight.Her work is grounded in developmental psychology and Choice Theory psychology, explained in a way that feels human rather than clinical. Whether you are raising toddlers or teenagers, her writing helps you stop reacting, start decoding behavior, and feel more confident in your role as a calm, connected leader.

Start Here

How to Be a Great Parent

This is the best place to begin.

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How to Be a Great Parent is Dr. Buck’s most accessible and widely loved book. It brings together decades of experience working with parents, children, schools, and families into one clear, compassionate guide.

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This book helps parents understand what their child’s behavior is really communicating, and how to respond in ways that build cooperation, responsibility, and connection.

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Inside, you will learn:

  • The Magical Question that helps decode tantrums, defiance, and shutdowns

  • How to replace yelling and punishment with calm, steady guidance

  • Why most behavior challenges are expressions of unmet wants and needs, not defiance

“The use of choice theory is not only sound, it obviously works! Also, the stories enrich the theory in chapter after chapter... It has practical application across the child/adolescent life span.”
Dr. Gail Brophy
Academic Dean, The Union Institute
"This book is one of the best ‘How to’ Manuals for understanding children that I have ever read! Dr. Buck really understands what motivates children and parents in the dance they co-create.”
Kim Olver, MS, LPC
Relationship Coach
“Peaceful Parenting was invaluable to me as the mother of a son with ADD... My son, now 22, is employed full-time with the U.S. government... Nancy’s book will be a handbook for parents that they will refer to over and over again.”
Sheila Gibson
Parent

A Note About the Title:

You may see this book listed under two titles.
How to Be a Great Parent and Why Do Kids Act That Way? are identical in content.
The difference is the title and cover.
Some readers resonated more with one name than the other. The message inside is the same.

Other Writing and Contributions

Dr. Buck’s books are part of a larger body of work developed over decades in parenting education, psychology, and family systems.

  • A Choice Theory Psychology Guide to Parenting: The Art of Raising Great Children

  • The Peaceful Parenting Workbook

  • International editions and audio versions, including titles popular in Japan, China, and India

  • Peaceful Parenting and Contextual Essay, her original dissertation

  • Ongoing essays on Substack, Growing Good Family and Mental Health

  • Regular contributions to Psychology Today and U.S. News and World Report

Want to explore other books by Dr. Nancy Buck? Just send a message to request pricing details.

Bulk Orders for Schools and Groups

Dr. Buck’s books are widely used in parent cohorts, teacher trainings, and school counseling programs.

Discounted bulk pricing is available for educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Ready to Begin?

If you are in the middle of a hard season, or simply want to lead your family with more calm and clarity, start with How to Be a Great Parent.

You do not need to read everything.

You just need a place to begin.

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