Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids

An acclaimed economist reveals why good parenting is far less stressful—and far more fun—than you think. “Cheery and intellectually honest …. The bedrock of Caplan’s argument is solid: Modern parenting is insane.” —Wall Street Journal  We’ve needlessly turned parenting into an unpleasant chore. Parents invest more time and money in their kids than ever, but the shocking lesson of recent twin and adoption research is that upbringing is much less important than genetics. The big lesson for parents: Mold your children less and enjoy your life more. Your kids will still turn out fine.    Now updated with a new introduction, Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids asks the big questions: How can parents be happier? What can they change—and what should they just accept? Which worries can parents safely forget? Drawing on economics and scientific research, Caplan answers all these questions and more. Since its initial publication, this modern classic has inspired countless parents to embrace its pro-child, pro-fun philosophy—and even to grow their families. You will never see kids or parenthood the same way again.