What happens when you try to behave ethically in the real world-not out of obedience to some higher power but because behaving decently toward others is the right thing to do? In I Hate Children and Other Humanist Stories, author Marv Friedlander answers that question while providing an entertaining introduction to the moral fabric of humanism.
To be a humanist is to believe in the inherent worth of every person-a message that shines through in the first tale in this collection. "I Hate Children" is the account of a grumpy old man and a precocious girl who find common ground and friendship where they least expect it.
"We grown-ups pretend to like children. Some of us don't care a whit (a little bit) about them. We live with them. Heck, they are all around us. Perhaps, I need a sign firmly planted in my front yard.
Kids: The farther away, the better the day."
While humanism adheres to such positive values as fairness, honesty, authenticity, and trustworthiness, these stories bring ethical ideals delightfully alive.
Friedlander uses humorous stories, insightful essays, and personal narratives to make these values accessible to readers while encouraging the development of right relationships and fostering the ability to make responsible decisions.
Friedlander's tales revolve around giving second chances, offering forgiveness, and coping ethically with unfortunate circumstances. His conversational style will appeal to readers of all ages, while his straightforward definitions of more complicated words will ease younger readers through these appealing stories.
Discover the principles of humanism; discover a better way to live. Purchase it for your children, enjoy it for yourself.
About the Author: Marv Friedlander lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife, Mary Ann. They have two children, Sarah and Joseph, who put up with Friedlander's offbeat sense of humor. He also has two children from a former marriage: Peter, who lives in Maryland, and Hal, who lives in Brooklyn. He has worked at the IRS and at a pizza joint, learning as much from making pizza as from auditing the tax returns of nonprofit organizations. There is room everywhere for tolerance, respect, and kindness.
Friedlander is the author of Felix Speaks: Adler's Ethical Culture, which offers a fun and insightful examination of the philosophy and life of noted humanist and social reformer Felix Adler. He also wrote Du Bois Speaks, a book detailing W. E. B. Du Bois's efforts to promote human rights.
