Explores the emotional and psychological problems crippling America's privileged youth, identifying parenting practices that hinder self-development--exemplified by depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and other extreme ailments.

Why kids who have so much can feel empty -- Why we can't afford to trivialize the problems of privileged kids -- The magnitude of the problem -- Don't kids 'grow out of' adolescent angst? -- Don't kids from affluent families get all the help they need? -- The toxic brew of pressure and isolation -- Why parents' good intentions are not enough -- Money doesn't make us happier -- Allison: how affluence can get in the way of emotional development -- Materialism: the dark side of affluence -- The false promises of materialism -- Happiness is an inside job -- Kids with healthy selves are ready and able to 'own' their lives -- Kids with healthy selves can control their impulses: "I'm the boss of me" -- Kids with healthy selves can be generous and loving -- Kids with healthy selves are good architects of their internal 'homes' -- Tyler's story: whose life is it anyway? -- Knowing what really matters and what doesn't -- The magic years: ages 2 to 4 -- Masters of the universe: ages 5 to 7 -- How am I doing?: ages 8 to 11 -- What happened to my kid? ages 12 to 14 -- Working on the 'real me': ages 15 to17 -- Know your parenting style -- Cultivate warmth to protect emotional development -- Avoid the damage inflicted by criticism and rejection -- Firmness: being clear about your authority -- Monitoring: "Do you know where your children are?" -- Containment: letting your kids know when you mean business -- Flexibility: knowing when to skip the showdown -- It's easier when we start early (but it's never too late!) -- The difference between being 'in control' and being 'controlling' -- Bucking the tide: if everyone is doing it, that doesn't make it right -- Holding ourselves accountable -- The poison of perfectionism -- Overcoming myopia about the 'good life' -- Handling the isolation that makes us vulnerable to being bullied -- The threat of divorce and the potential loss of 'wifestyle' -- Samantha's story: dancing in the dark -- Acknowledging how very hard our job is -- Taking our problems seriously -- The fear of vulnerability -- The risks of staying unhappy -- Tend and befriend: the critical importance of friendships -- The distraction of the work debate -- Choosing what we can live with.