Book excerpt: Over the past decade prominent fundamentalist psychologists and ministers have advised parents to return to authoritarian discipline techniques of parenting that include hitting and spanking. These practices have been challenged in Your Kids, Their Lives: A Parent's Guide to Raising Happy, Competent, Caring Children, by Malinda Jo Muzi. This author proposes that most of the information parents are getting about parenting is inaccurate or silly, and often downright harmful. In relying on the work of the most distinguished researchers in child development over the past 40 years, she directs parents toward techniques that have proven to be most advantageous to parents and children. This "how-to" book helps parents build a solid foundation of trust and respect between themselves and their children. It gives them the information they need to raise contented children who are creative and productive, and concerned about the welfare of others. A special feature of the book includes parenting experiences from the lives of prominent people, including Bill Clinton, Carly Simon, Douglas MacArthur, and Stephen Spielberg.