Parents today are overly cautious about the safety of their children, at least according to Gever Tulley. Discussing perceptions of risk and the cultivation of fear, Tulley brings to attention several activities that were once commonplace but are today looked down upon, including playing in the yard unsupervised, walking to bus stops, and riding on merry-go-rounds. He encourages parents to allow their children the freedom to be adventurous, get into scrapes, and learn by making mistakes. For readers who commiserate with his observations, the idea is simple: stop worrying about everyday dangers. Instead, he suggests a handful of activities that you simply have to read to believe. --Shirley Hong
