More useful advice per page than any book I’ve read, August 11, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from Chicago, IL
If I had to chose ONE book from my large library, this would be it. There are so many ideas of things to do and learn, places to go, references to look up. I think I could blissfully spend the rest of my hopefully long life to pursue just the suggestions that interest me! Wow!!!

We homeschool and my oldest is still in gradeschool. This book has already prooved invaluable.

Buy this book while you still can get a copy! You’ll never find my copy in a used bookstore!

Awesome book! I read it again and again…, May 8, 1998
Reviewer: A reader
This is a great book! I was already homeschooled when I read it, and I didn’t know the meaning of "unschooled", but when I read it, it made so much sense, learning without being taught. Everyone can read this book, not just teenagers who are angry at school. I read this again and again. It’s my favorite non-fiction book. It has a lot of information, advice, and it’s really fun to read, too.

Being and unschooler myself…, May 3, 1998
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
I read this book after 10 years of being an unschooler and going to years in a row to Grace Llewellyn’s Not Back to School Camp in Oregon. Many of the ideas and concepts she talks about in the book were anything but new to me, and yet I still found it to be entertaining, informative and inspiring. I would recomend it to everyone without exception - teenagers, adults, teachers, unschoolers, schoolers, and people of all kinds. If it doesn’t change your life it will certainly expand your brain and if nothing else serves as a good example of how learning can indeed be fun.

Backfired on me, the kid went back to school, April 28, 1998
Reviewer: A reader
Gave this book to a high school friend who was contemplating dropping out, which I thought might be a great idea. She decided after reading it that taking the initiative to go learn stuff on her own was too darn much work, she’d stick with public high school, thanks … She graduated and was in community college last I heard.

A resource for unschooling, March 26, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from MI USA
This book sits on my shelf looking like the proverbial porcupine - it has dozens of small sticky notes bristling from the edge of it. Why? Because it’s one of my most used resources in unschooling my children. Ms. L. has provided so many good ideas and examples of ways to teach traditional things untraditionally, that I have to keep going back and getting ideas, even after 8 years of homeschooling. That’s because, with 4 children, with 4 unique personalities and interests, there is always something new for me to learn about ways for them to learn something. I have loaned this book to quite a few people, too, and believe it to be one of the best books available to give concrete suggestions of ways for kids to "get a real life and education" outside of the public system.

This book helped me personally, February 25, 1998
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
I think this book gave me a focus for the thoughts that I already had. I hated high school and didn’t know what to do about it. This book helped me to figure out what I wanted to do and how to do it as well as how to tell my parents. I would recommend this to teenagersas well as parents. My mom actually gave me this book and I think that it is a good book for parents to read with their kids. Also it might be helpful for educators and school counselors. It will help them to understand what it is that we feel the educational system is doing to us. The reason I rated this and 8 and not a 10 is because I wasn’t really interested in homeschooling and that was a big part of the book and what it was about. Still it offered a big help to me when I needed it. I appreciate that when there doesn’t seem to be much of it. (This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.)

An incredibly inspiring and validating book., February 18, 1998
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
It validated for me what I had been feeling for a long time about school. It made me interested in learning again - my own way, and also helped me deal with my classes. It helped inspire me to go to India for a semester and design my own projects. I wish i had read it earlier. (This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.)

Comments on The Teenage Liberation Handbook, January 8, 1998
Reviewer: A reader

This book contains many excellent ideas about self-education, and would be beneficial to the outside-of-school life of a traditional high school student, as well as to an unschooler.

However, this book frequently tells the reader that their problems are not their own fault. Everyone likes to hear that, but it can’t possibly be completely true. The writing is frequently, and unnecessarily, bitter and mean-spirited.

Much of the book is unnecessarily devoted to criticizing traditional school. In any work of fiction, the protagonist appears stronger with the presence of a strong antagonist, but the author presents unschooling as the alternative to something undesirable and intolerable. She also ignores the group of potential unschoolers who are happy with school and/or succeed in that environment. Unschooling is not just for those who hate school.

Completely changed how I look at my childhood, November 23, 1997
Reviewer: Brian Adler (see more about me) from Thomasville, NC USA
This book helped me to wake up and realize that I didn’t hate school because there was something wrong with me, I hated school because it was a miserable place to spend my youth. I spent my entire twenties recovering my passion and joy for learning…I would also recommend "The Continuum Concept" by Jean Liedloff. What this book does for revolutionizing how we see our childhood’s, Liedloff’s book does that for our perception of infancy and parenting infants!!!

As a parent, this book is invaluable!, November 15, 1997
Reviewer: A reader from SF Bay Area
Our highschooler has just "hit the wall" with public education. This book helped us understand what she was trying to tell us. It has helped us implement (with our daughter) an independent, self-directed course for her. At the same time, the book has helped us break through our own life-long "conditioning" about public education.

life-changing experience, literally, October 8, 1997 Reviewer: Schuyler Corry (see more about me) from Austin, Texas After reading this book, I dropped out of my horrible high school and am very glad I did. As a consequence, I managed to undo a little of the damage inflicted upon me in the public school system, and now I’m happily in college, doing better than all the poor folks who stuck with the program. I recommend this for any teenager who wants to have a life, free of grades, moronic classes (and classmates), and all the other crap that goes along with high school.

I wish I had read this when I was a teenager, May 24, 2000
Reviewer: idiot-savant from Seattle, WA USA
As a drop-out of the educational system, it was very hard for me to adjust to the embarassmemt or the feeling of being an outcast. Structured school never held my attention, and I was often bored during the advanced classes and near drooling during the regular courses. Needless to say I was able to learn on my own and succeed in the areas that I pursued, but I wish I had had this book as a reference back then so that I could have known about other people and forms of alternative education and not struggled on my own so much.

The author does a great job at encouraging the reader about the decision to take on the task of self education, but she sometimes goes a little too overboard and negative toward the public school system. That attitude is understandable, though, in a culture where a certificate that says you’ve finished some classes is actually worth more than a body of work. But that was the only downside to this excellent manual on how to successfully remove yourself from the school system and excel in your studies, including how to cope with the negative stereotype of a ‘drop-out’.

She covers several learning/teaching styles and references various home schooling and unschooling publications and organizations that provide all sorts of means for which to learn the things that interest you, as well as learn productive habits for self learning that will last a lifetime. I can’t recommend this enough, especially for people who have completed high school or college and are suddenly thrown into the workforce and are struggling to learn in unstructured environments. This books provides the methods for creating a structure that works for you and steps towards success. It really opened my eyes.

Great Book!, March 7, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from USA
This is my favorite book by my favorite author. It explains how to quit school and teach yourself. It answered every single one of my questions about unschooling. It explains about legal troubles convincing parents, and SO much more.

Ideas that most people just can’t bring themselves to think., February 16, 2000
Reviewer: villainess (see more about me) from Ithaca, NY United States
Most people were miserable in school. Most people have been convinced that school was good, even necessary for them. The unfortunate result is that many people believe that being miserable was good for them and will be good for their children. This is far from a healthy attitude.

This book presents evidence that even the most ardent defender of the status quo will be hard-pressed to dismiss out of hand; the unschoolers who went to Harvard, the youthful acheivers in every field from theatre to animal science, the testimonials of parents who report that their ‘dropout’ kids are now happier, more relaxed, less sullen, and brighter.

Though the author’s tone is often that of the impassioned hippie lady, it adds to rather than detract from this essentially idealistic and hopeful book.

This book is for all the teenagers, and all the adults who still have the spine to think that just maybe they didn’t deserve to be miserable as kids.

Amazing what a single book can do…, January 26, 2000
Reviewer: Dana Hardwick (see more about me) from Phoenix, Arizona USA
The Teenage Liberation Handbook has led one of my sisters to drop out and educate herself and another to consider dropping out. My sister-in-law is using our copy to explain to her parents why she’s quitting school at the end of the school year and why, as an unschooler, she’ll be more likely to be accepted at top universities. Because of their influence, I took a semester off college to rediscover my own childlike fascination with learning. For the first time, I feel genuinely happy to be in school and I’m earning A’s in all my classes, even though I’m taking the same classes I failed my way through before my unschooling break. There is no suitable way to thank the author for saving our young spirits from certain death in government schools.

Teenage Liberation, December 13, 1999 Reviewer: Tristan Lear from Toledo, Ohio This book has expressed the thoughts that have been hidden in everyones mind for a century because of being supressed and considered stupid.

Calling all teens!, November 10, 1999
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
I loved this book. I really don’t enjoy reading that much, but this book is encouraging and inspiring. I really enjoyed it! I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up! Please read this book! If you don’t have the money to buy it, go to your local library! I also run a club for un-schoolers. It includes a newsletter based on this book. E-mail me me to subscribe. Please read this book!

An excellent resouce for un-schoolers!, March 28, 1999
Reviewer: goff@techline.com from Olyimpia, Wa
This book will guide you through all of your questions and decisions of where your schooling/unschooling activities will happen.She explains what schooling was meant to be and why education is easy without school. From the point of dcision to unschool; she then proceeds step by step. Addressing the legal issues. How to get where you will need to go. Where resources are to be found in your community. What activities you might do for various subjects. She gives numerous examples of what people have done from letters she has recieved. The last part of the book she has included appendices to let you springboard off of. This book is a must-have if your at all upset with your present schooling situation or just launching off on your own.

The Bible of Autodidactics Everywhere, November 15, 1998
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
This book provides the strength of self confidence to all those who feel insecure or unsure of taking control of their own or their childrens education.

I particularly recommend chapters 12 and 7. I abhore compulsory or forced things in educational systems but if there was to be one thing that I wouldn’t mind is the reading of this book being compulsory for everyone. The parents who I now try to help, who want to do what is best for their children but don’t have the courage, I tell them to read this book first before they decide anything.

I asked my 13 year old nephew to read the book for a review of it from a teenage public schoolers perspective. He hated reading, but he struggled through 2 paragraphs. (It seemed to get easier for him by the second paragraph.) Then he noticed another heading and ASKED if he could keep reading it to that part, what could I say… 2 days later, I caught him sneaking it into the bathroom to read. He didn’t want anyone to know he was enjoying it and that he wanted to read it. Now at 15 1/2 he’s been homeschooling for 2 1/2 years and is a real person with his own character and personality. He’s a human being! not just a peer dependent cog. Thanks to Grace and this wonderful and inspiring book, we have had the courage to do what we feel is right for our children and ourselves.

liberating in the best sense of the word, to kids & parents, November 6, 1998 Reviewer: dbarnes45 from Upper Sandusky, Ohio Makes you wonder why you never came to these conclusions before, if you really wanted to see an "educated" public, hence a happy, common sensed, and open, public. It reaffirms what Jefferson and Locke and Aristotle saw in "Freedom" as the ultimate goal in personal and public happiness.

an update/explanation on the 3 editions, October 28, 1998
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
Here’s some clarification about the 3 editions of my book. The 1998 edition is the complete, international, revised and expanded new edition. It’s the one I recommend. Unless you are buying it for someone who doesn’t like to read much, in which case you should get the cheaper condensed 1997 edition, which contains about 1/3 of the complete edition. I don’t know why anyone would want the original 1991 edition at this point, and it will be unavailable soon anyway. Whichever edition you buy, it’s best enjoyed in the middle of a bad lecture in history class. Have fun and lots of great adventures!

essential reading for any age, January 9, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from chicago, il United States
If ever there should be required reading, this would be it. Many people believe teenagers are too idealistic, when it fact they’re actually just still in touch with their intrinsic sense of fairness and independence. They’ve yet to compromise their dreams and compassion in the name of practicality or safety. This book will tear your blinders off and either bring to your attention for the first time or simply reconnect you to the understanding that learning is a natural curiosity that we’re able to attain by our own exploring of resources and that schools have become an institution for imposing a particular dependence and culture. A great companion to this is "Dumbing Us Down", by John Taylor Gatto. This book is full of an abundance of excellent resources in itself. This book is beneficial even if you still maintain that school is for you. There’s no risk at all.

The teenage liberation handbook. . ., September 20, 2001
Reviewer: bintalla from Michigan, USA
. . . is a good discussion of "unschooling," the philosophy that children and teens should take control of their own education. It was sufficiently in-depth in its handling of various topics to make it a good manual for teens who are interested. I would have given this book 5 stars but the author is very biased in her political views and this shows through in the book.

too old now, September 19, 2001
Reviewer: Prosy (see more about me) from Chicago, IL United States
I’m too old and jaded to appreciate this book now.

But, in an effort to reach those who aren’t, let me say this: Read this book!! It changed the way I thought about learning, thinking, and living when I read it, and I was out of high school at the time. I was even a former homeschooler, but this book still presented ideas that were new to me. TTLH has had a profound impact on the way I experience education, and that has stayed with me throughout college and graduate school.

What am I saying: This book is inspiring. If you want to be inspired, read it. If you prefer to remain inspiration-less, don’t read it. This book will change you, but you have to let it. It will do nothing if you refuse to let it. I know. I recommended this book to everyone I knew, but no one took to it like I did. Not a single person. Most people just thought I was an idiot for talking about "unschooling" and "self education."

Every time I used the word "autodidact" I got a strange look.
Sometimes that’s how you tell the really good books… the strange looks you get when you talk about them.

"School sucks" justified in a well written book., July 7, 2001
Reviewer: John Goes (see more about me) from Brookfield, IL United States
Grace Llewellyn shows us in logical manner (with the aid of stories and humor) that education is not identical to formal education. In fact, she demonstrates the superiority of the autodidactic experience as opposed to formalized education.

But beyond just illustrating the benefits of "unschooling" as she calls it and portraying the pitfalls of formal education, Llewellyn shows how teaching oneself can be done successfully. She also includes persuasive techniques to convince stubborn parents to allow their children the chance to educate themselves. Unfortunately for me, I realized too late that I had an alternative to forced learning. Most of my current learning has been done independently, and I can only speculate as to what I would have accomplished had I spent time actually reading and learning than counting the ceiling tiles in my Enlish class.

How awful does this get?, July 2, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from Windsor, ON
…I thought the whole idea of ‘teaching yourself’ is totally dumb! I mean, homeschool is not going to give us the experience we need! Not only does school teach the given classes, but it also teaches us lessons in life, and gives a reason to wake up everyday. We know from summer vaction experiences how much a teenager CAN sleep, and trust me if school did not start early in the mourning we would not be up! So trust me, homeschool does not work! Also, I think the author of the book was totally trying to ‘relate’ to teenagers! My best advice: don’t try! you don’t know what you’re talking about!

Everyone who has ever been to school should read this book, June 7, 2001
Reviewer: A reader from here.
The Teenage Liberation Handbook is a book that all teenagers should read when considering their educational prospects. This book encompasses all of the educational philosophies that support unschooling while examining the reasons why school doesn’t work in a concise, quick read. If you are considering unschooling this is defintely a book you would want have by your side. An awesome book.

Life-Changing!, May 17, 2001
Reviewer: Kelly (see more about me) from Pennsylvania
Words cannot say how grateful I am for this book. I have hated school ever since I was a child, but I was always told that it was something I had to deal with. This book gave me the courage to question that dearly-held belief, and the courage to trust in my abilities to learn on my own. The decision to start home-schooling was the most difficult, and the most rewarding thing I have ever done for myself. In the past year I have learned more about myself than I have in all my 10 years of public school. I have learned that I CAN be independant, and I CAN make my own decisions, and I CAN be treated like an adult.

This book contains a lot of new ideas that will probably make many people very uncomfortable. It will shake up your beliefs about school and will make you think twice about some of the concepts in your life you have been taught to accept. But even so, it always remains respectful. It is not a book about degrading and defacing public schools or teachers. It is a book about empowering teenagers to get off their butts and start taking responsibility for their own life. It is a book that inspires self-reliance, confidence, and a genuine love of learning.

If I had my way, this book would be required reading for every teen going into high school. Everyone deserves to hear about the wonderful opportunities that lie outside of school. It’s sad that most teens are still in the dark, thinking they have no options.

a luminous book, January 6, 2001
Reviewer: Meghann McAllister-O’Day (see more about me) from Conway, AR United States
this is an excellent book–the only guide that I needed while unschooling myself through high school. in addition to providing many rational reasons for getting out of school as quickly as possible, a plan for post-school life is also provided. parents who get upset at its tone are missing the point. this isn’t a book for parents (although many parents, including my own, enjoyed and learned from it), it is a book for teenagers. the goal is for teenagers to take charge of their own lives and their own education, to begin exercising the muscles of self-determination that schools seek to bind and atrophy. for the teenagers who are lucky enough to escape schools, it is a wonderful feeling. this book should help more people be able to do that.

Book encourages poor attitudes in teenagers, November 13, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from Germantown, TN United States
The author is on target in saying that formal school is not the best environment for many teenagers. But she goes much too far in condemning school–and teachers–in general. This book may have been published in 1998, but the viewpoints and ideology are straight out of 1968.

One unusual thing about the book is that, unlike other homeschooling books I’ve seen, this one is aimed directly at the teenager rather than the parents. My husband and I bought the book for our son as well as for us, as we are planning to pull him out of school within a few months. But though the book contains useful ideas for learning at home, it spends too much time making the child feel ill-used and put-upon by the educational establishment and society in general. If I gave my son this book to read right now, while he is still in school, I think he might become insufferable in school. Then, once he is homeschooled, the type of thinking the book promotes would encourage him to be arrogant about it.

Extraordinary!, November 13, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from Glendale, CA USA
Absolutely wonderful book! Must reading for adults and youngsters who value self-direction, freedom, and intellectual creativity.

The straight dope, March 2, 2003
Reviewer: lancemajere (see more about me) from Manchester, NH USA
The fact is, American schools are based on the Prussian social-dominance-propaganda model from the 19th century. The most educated, interesting, influential, creative and ingenius people in the history of mankind have shunned traditional methods of so-called learning and gone on their own to be the backbone of our society.

Changed this homeschool mom’s view - in the 1st chapter!, January 22, 2003
Reviewer: laurie40 (see more about me) from Texas
If your looking to open your eyes to reality, this is it. I have been a homeschooling mom on and off for 15 yrs., but after reading this I found myself breaking old ideas about methods of learning….mostly taken from my own public school education. Like many other people, I thought the only way to education was through utilizing the (dry & boring texts, sit & listen) methods imparted by the school systems. I promptly encouraged my high school and middle school daughters to read this book in hopes of opening their eyes. Although gifted students, they had been feeling trapped and overwhelmed by the public system. I pulled them out and gave them all the time they needed to play, think and enjoy life once again. During that time they read their choice of books. After 2 months they claimed boredom and wanted to start school.

The authors direct and bold style can open one up to see there are many ways to skin a cat. Educators and administrators in ANY school system could benefit from reading this book. If one is open enough to hear what the author is saying, it could change more than a personal view, but the approach in which we try to impart information in the younger generation, along with the way we view our own learning through life.

This book has not only freed my view of education, but the way I view many systems dependent upon beliefs within the individual. I have learned to think more critially and develop careful independent thoughts.

I highly recommend this book to all teenagers to avoid the traps and lies in life…and to adults wanting to understand how they’ve been buffaloed into thinking the system knows more than them.

Strange and misleading, January 17, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from USA
This book has many strange ideas and euphemisms referring to the school system. The writer comes off as a strange hippie who Turned out to be a failure in high school and is now angry at the world. If you know what is good for your kid don’t by this waste of paper

Unschooler From Ohio, October 20, 2002
Reviewer: Erin from Ohio
Do not under any circumstance give this book to any strong willed, intelligent teenager.They might actually start to think for themselves and learn something.I read this book,and it changed my life. Changed my parents lives.I’ve learned how to live life. I like to learn again. Read the book, go to Grace’s camp, liberate yourself from the norm.

Pure Genius, October 8, 2002
Reviewer: prieofmorr from chisholm, Minnesota United States
Even though I am 21 years old, I still find this book very useful. At age 16 I left high school for personal problems. I spent most of my time reading books. I felt that by leaving school I was losing my education. This book teaches you different. It shows you how to leave school and get a real education. This book is very inspiring and it works. Self-teaching is the best way to go.

Stay in School and Succeed, August 3, 2002
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
Schools aren’t all bad. I like school and I do well in school. If you need to know how to do better read "The Junior High Survival Manual" published by Concordia Press.

"School is bad!"- in a book, June 26, 2002 Reviewer: Eric (see more about me) from Randolph, NJ United States Well, this book wasn’t the eye-opener for me that it was for some reviewers. I, being a victim of the school system, have already realized most of the things which Ms. Llewellyn speaks of. I must say, however, that it was refreshing to see that there are others out there who recognize the destructiveness of school. Grace points out that it’s quite ironic that a "free" nation such as America trains its youth to prepare for a life of "totalitarianism". While I would say that statement is a bit extreme, it’s very true that schools do not value individuality: in fact, they seek to squash it. Unfortunately, the destructiveness of school is not limited to the squashing of one’s person. Many students mistakenly believe the only way to learn is through the methods employed by school: dull and uninteresting ones. This can discourage them from developing their minds further, on their own time…the limited time remaining after school and homework, that is. Furthermore, the education system robs students of their freedom and natural desire to learn what THEY want to learn. A reoccurring theme in this book is that, while you can coerce students into performing well temporarily, they will only remember the things which they were passionate about. The badthing is that you will have no difficulty in finding teachers, guidance councilors, parents and students who agree that most of the material taught in school will find no real-world application. Curious, isn’t it, that they willingly squander thousands of hours of their lives while, at the same time, they recognize the futility of it all.
The reason I gave this book four stars was that the author’s bias is evident throughout. She even goes as far to suggest the "Communist Manifesto" as recommended reading! While her passion for freedom is admirable, I simply wish she could have filtered out any political bias from this book. Despite this one complaint, The Teenage Liberation Handbook is an excellent read, and I recommend it to anyone who is involved in the school system.

Quit school and learn, May 13, 2002
Reviewer: lorack64 from San Jose, CA
This book clearly shows the evils of compulsory education, and inspired me to drop out of school and travel my own path.

The Most Amazing Book Ever…, March 8, 2002
Reviewer: Terell from NYC, NY
This is the most amazing book ever written for anyone who has ever experienced high school or junior high/middle school. It encourages young adults not to lose their individualness and self-esteems in a world of "grade-point averages" and SATs. It keeps adults fascinated and opens the minds of those who used to say school was unnecessary, but have fallen into the grain of everyday "necessary" life. GET THIS BOOK NOW!

The one book everyone should read, February 22, 2002
Reviewer: jhoward@wpi.edu from Oxford, MA
I read the reviews on this site, yet it took me a full year before I finally picked up the book at my local library. One of the reasons I didn’t pick up this book earlier, is that I didn’t realize it would contain over 400 pages chock-full of truly fascinating ideas capable of changing my life. (It’s not full of pictures and fancy boxes with quotes that take up half a page — it’s ALL great information.) A second reason I didn’t pick up this book earlier is that I didn’t realize it could have such a profound effect on the life of a college freshman who had already lost his chance to quit school. I was wrong — this is a book about how to live life. I’m a motivated self-learner (as we all could be, although many of us don’t realize it). Many of the ideas, books, movies, and activities suggested in this book had already changed my life when I discovered them on my own. I’m excited because there are so many things suggested in this book that I haven’t yet tried, which I’m sure will bring my understanding of the world to a new level. And it’s already done that. (This book has motivated me to study the politics of alternative education in Germany and Denmark this summer — in which many of my interests come together: education, language, politics, and culture, and travel. It’s a book about how to "advance confidently in the direction of your dreams," as Thoreau said in "Walden."

First, I recommend this book to teenagers (or anyone old enough to read it) who thinks they don’t have any options. If you’ve never thought quitting school as an option, read this book. It may very well change your life. (Even if you still want a high school diploma, or want to participate in school sports, Grace Llewellyn amazingly shows how you can still achieve these goals).

It’s definitely not a book just for teenagers (and it probably wouldn’t be considered such if it weren’t for the title.) It’s intelligently written, and the treasures contained in this book are for everyone. It’s ultimately about how to live the life you’ve always wanted to live by following your dreams. It’s a book about taking advantage of the educational resources that we don’t realize are all around us. It helps us to realize that most of us have simply forgotten how to learn. It includes many suggestions for helping us regain our natural desire to learn about our world. Things you never found interesting in school, if approached in a new way, might just fascinate you! I’ve never found a single book with so much new and fascinating information about how to live a fulfilling life.

Hopeful and Inspiring, February 13, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from Venice, CA
I was in a school that was a failure in almost every way. Emotionanlly and physically abusive, the low achievement and education rates were hardly worth noting. The only thing that school taught was how to obey and accept abuse.

Dropping out at 16 to escape the violence, irresponsibility, and abuse dealt out by the faculty (supported by the principal), I discovered unschooling, and this book, from a woman that helped homeschooled kids. (Unschooling is a specific type of homeschooling, and different from what most people assume.) All the unschoolers that I met are light years ahead of people in the public schools that I once knew. My only regret is that I waited so long to do this!

Grace Llewellyn is an inspiring author filled with hope, enthusiasm, and inspiring thoughts for all who read her books, including this one. Even when she shares the problems she experienced as a teacher, there is an undercurrent of humor that is refreshing and inspiring. But this book is mostly about how to learn without school, not about condemning the school system. Even when she’s critical of the public schools, she remains positive. When she explains unschooling, she is inspirational!

Drawing on her experiences as a teacher and an educator, she vividly illustrates the difference between education and the currently outdated school system. Yes, there is a big difference. This book has restored my love for learning that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Grace Llewellyn, and this book, is inspiring and gives me hope for myself, and the education process as a whole for other kids stuck in the old school system.

I was outraged, June 3, 2002
Reviewer: Anthony C Valterra from Seattle, WA United States
I was a very fortunate person as I knew Grace Llewellyn personally and was privelaged to read a copy of the book when it first came out. When I she told me about the book I rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders, "that’s Grace" I thought. I felt certain that I would find the book well written but would disagree with it right down to the premise. I had an excellent High School experience and held a BA from a very good private college. I felt that schooling had been to my beneifit.

But when I read the book my reaction was one of sorrow and outrage that I had not had this book when I was a teenager. I gave it to my Mom to read and she is now a huge supporter of Ms. Llewellyn’s work as well. This is significant as my mother is a former community college administrator.

Reading this book is risky, dangerous, frightening. It will open your eyes to truths you don’t want to know and ideas you don’t want to think. It will make you question the systems we have set up for education. It might make you quit school, it might make you wish you had.

Awesome!, August 28, 2001
Reviewer: backpackerkid from Mt. Pleasant, SC United States
This is a great book for kids yound and old alike! I am currently in 7th grade and last year I started reading about homeschooling. I liked the idea of learning what you like and I strongly agree that traditional schooling isn’t schooling at all. This year I have been trying to get my mom to homeschool, with little success becasue of the usual reasons: I’m not a teacher, I couldn’t teach high school, I’m a single parent and I work, I can’t leeave you home alone, how would you make friends, etc. Well, I read this book to her and starting December I’m homeschooling. At first she thought, Oh great, it’s one of those books that teaches kids to rebel. But the stuff in there is great. It has a great section on persuading your parents and teaching yourself, as well as getting jobs and going to college. It also explains about why school isn’t schooling and legal issues. All in all, the best book on homeschooling/unschooling I’ve ever read, plus I love it becasue it’s the only book around aimed at kids!

I love this book. Should be required reading for all teens., December 20, 1998
Reviewer: armofpilot (see more about me) from New Jersey USA
This book helped me realize there was nothing wrong with me for hating school so much, even though I had been labeled an "intelligent child," and that all the damage done from it could be avoided. I am still stuck miserablly in school, but with a greater understanding and a stong will to convince my parents to let me out. I’m in the process of buying it for almost every person I know, adults with children and kids alike, to save them as much pain and valuable learning time as possible. A must read for anyone who would like a "real life" and education.

Well…, August 26, 2003
Reviewer: _ares_ (see more about me) from Alaska
One thing I can say for this book is that it definitely reaches its intended audience - that is, children and teenagers who are unhappy in school and want an alternative. It is inflammatory in its wordings and its ideals, and sometimes that’s exactly what a teenager needs to shift them into gear.

However, at fifteen, a year and a half after becoming an ‘autodidact’, I can definitely appreciate the pros and cons of both homeschooling and public schooling, something the author seems completely unable to do. In my case, there are several things that I miss from public school that, while not impossible, are hard to do in my particular homeschooling situation. Sports and Music being the most prominent examples. And while I can’t imagine giving up my academic freedom at this point, especially since I’m beginning college next year, there are details that Llewellyn either glosses over or doesn’t mention entirely while describing unschooling, and many of them are important.

Homeschooling, especially teaching yourself, takes a lot of dedication and hard work. This is not an easy ride. The nice thing about public school is that information is generally laid out in a orderly, understandable manner. You don’t have this when you’re searching through your library trying to figure out how to give yourself a comprehensive education on your own. And the internet, while a brilliant resource, is even more confusing.

Llewellyn talks about how you can go from homeschooling to college just as easy or easier than if you went to public school. This is only true if you study. I don’t care how much someone thinks that playing video games all day will help them when they’re a game designer, if you don’t have basic math and english enough to write an essay without dropping into webspeak, then you’re essentially screwed when it comes to college.

While I’d recommend this to any truly desperate-to-get-out-of-school teenager, especially if there is no chance of them graduating on time or even at all, I’d also recommend that they read more than just this one book and have a good idea of what they’re getting into before they make a commitment. And the more help you can get from learned adults, the better!

An important, engaging work, August 22, 2003
Reviewer: Linda Hessel from USA
There are no doubt going to be a lot of people threatened by what Grace Llewellyn has to say, because a lot of people have their entire identities and lives invested in believing that our school system fosters true learning and the confidence and self-knowledge necessary to creat a satisfying, fulfilling life. It quite frankly does nothing of the sort, and Llewellyn is very good at logically spelling out for us exactly why this is so.

Like Llewellyn, I attended compulsory school, was a good student, and went through college (a professional school) in preparation for a career, and also like her I now see the terrible limitations inherent in our school system. Had I had the opportunity of different and more choices, I could have avoided a lot of the tedium, mediocrity, and loss of freedom that such an educational path demanded, even had I eventually *chosen* to educate myself in a traditional way. As well, I have spent the last decade of my life unlearning bad habits that are directly a result of being coerced for years into doing things that are irrelevant to my life, and being subject to arbitrary authorities. Those things crowded out my spirit and my voice until I forgot I had them or how to use them. I am now remembering how, and books like Llewellyn’s have been invaluable to me in doing so.

"It is nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiousity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreck and ruin. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty." — Albert Einstein…

Ditch school (or work) and read this book–now!, July 10, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from Texas, United States
I am 32-year-old recovering public school student. This book finally validated what I knew in my heart all along: education is not a one-size-fits-all deal. This book isn’t just for teens–adults cannot afford not to read this. Chances are, there are many bad lessons you learned in school that are still affecting the way you live your life today.

The personal anecdotes made this book a page-turner. And the resources and statistics are priceless. My husband and I are definitely exploring education alternatives when we have children.

This is an enlightening and liberating book for all ages!

Dangerous Anarchist Propaganda, July 4, 2003
Reviewer: markxvii from Portland, OR United States
I am disgusted by the book, and the fact that Ms. Llewellyn is preying upon teenagers, feeding them what they want to hear, and profiting from that. The whole book is thinly veiled anarchist propaganda aimed at "society as we know it". Scattered throughout the book you’ll find references to global warming, ozone depletion, and Big Brother government - you name it… All this is offered as well known facts to hardly prepared audience (even by her own admittance!), while even environmental scientists of all argue about it! While I have nothing against her expressing this point of view, I do believe that disguising political agenda as a help for teenagers is misleading and dangerous. She leaves no arguments for the other side, and doesn’t stop before labeling everybody who holds a different point of view as "wage slave", "brain freezed"… Again, no intelligent argument - just a bunch of big name quotations, and prophesizing. It doesn’t give teenagers arguments to explore, it tells them - "you are always right, and the society is always wrong". This brings to memory Luddites movement. Passages inviting to explore "deep things" through use of drugs, with assurances that "once out of school, your body will know its limits"!!! For all the parents whose hearts are broken: Shame on you.

slow down and read every word; it’s that important, March 26, 2003
Reviewer: A reader from East Coast, USA
It is frightening though to hear how bad life is for most high schoolers. I was looking for books on homeschooling in my local library when a teenaged bystander put this book in my hands and said "read it." I did, even though I had to carry it around with me for weeks to sneak in time to read it. I wish that it had been written before I spent 19 years in school, including graduate level. But who knows, maybe it will save some pain for others. Buy it new. You will want to read it over and over. It is only the second book of my life that I read carefully — every word. (the first was Catch-22). Find and read anything by this author. She writes from the heart.

THE COOLEST BOOK!!!, March 10, 2003
Reviewer: An Amazon.com Customer
First of all, the reason I gave this book 4 starz (rather than 5) is because Grace Llewellyn doesn’t seem very open-minded about any type of education besides unschooling. I definently don’t have anything against unschooling, it’s just that different types of school work for different people, so it’s not really fair to pound conventional school. Everything else was absolutely fantastic!!! I am surprised it is not NY Times bestseller by now. I know a lot of people who need to read this book. The Teenage Liberation Handbook is quite a masterpiece in my opinion, because it is written for teenagers without once being condescending!!!!!:) The purpose of the TLH is way more than the what the title professes: it not only tells you how to quit school and start learning, it also inspires you to actually get off your…an DO suff. Unlike school ’survival guides’ (that encourage you to stay IN school) the boost of happiness and confidence the TLH gives you remains mint fresh. Another thing: Has Grace Llewellyn written any novels? She is one of the wittiest and most entertaining writers I have ever read. She makes the TLH just plain fun to read. This book is not fantasy stuff. I totally encourage you to read it!!!!!!!!