I do not like Dr. Laura. I think she is mean. I have no idea why I picked up this book, but I am very glad I did.This is such a grounded and compassionate book. I've mostly focused on spiritual books for healing childhood pain, you know Wayne Dyer, Deepak, etc, but I needed this to really help me over the hump. I buy it for people all of the time, and get raves about it. I think what I love about this book is the characteristic Dr. Laura brutal honesty, but it is tempered with understanding and kindness. After reading this book, I am finally able to be completely honest with myself about what I can expect from my parents, (and others too), so that I stop trying to get a response that I'll never ever get. I'm much happier now that I have stopped trying to get "juice from a rock", as Dr. Laura says.I didn't have a "bad childhood", but I very much needed this book. Don't let the title sway you. If you are reading this review, you must need this book too. Get it.