Failure to Flourish

A riveting read on how the law tears at the precious bonds that tie families together, even making legal strangers of kin, and what we can do about it. A clarion call for a paradigm shift in how the law ought to intersect with the family." -Dr. Kathryn Edin, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins University
This wonderful book, written by one of the most interesting and thoughtful young scholars working in the field of family law today, moves beyond the stalled polarized debates to advocate for a new approach to the law's role in regulating the family that is both sensible and somewhat radical. Huntington argues that contemporary family law largely fails to even pursue what should be its overriding purposes-to proactively support stable, positive family relationships, and resolve disputes between parents in ways that reduce, rather than exacerbate, the costs of family conflict. This proposed shift from a crisis intervention model of family regulation to one based on prevention and repair offers a critique and a model for reform that is both insightful and thought-provoking. Failure to Flourish is a book that should be read by every academic, policy expert, and informed citizen with an interest in children's welfare." -Elizabeth Scott, Harold R. Medina Professor of Law, Columbia
Failure to Flourish is a sober but ultimately hopeful examination of the legal and political changes needed to help today's diverse families develop and sustain more positive, nurturing relationships. A must-read for policy-makers and family advocates." -Stephanie Coontz, Professor of History and Family Studies, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Clare Huntington's Failure to Flourish is both an insightful critique of how the legal system fails families, and an optimistic roadmap for reform. I highly recommend this book to legal and psychological professionals, students, and to anyone concerned with reforming the legal system to better serve children and their families." -Robert E. Emery, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Director of the Center for Children, Families, and the Law, University of Virginia
Excellent for collections on family law, gender studies, and education...Highly recommended. All readership levels." -D. Schultz, Hamline University, CHOICE
Failure to Flourish is a brave, rigorously produced, carefully researched, and politically astute book. Huntington seeks to persuade a wide swath of the American political landscape, and at every turn she chooses her words carefully to accomplish that end." -Wendy A. Bach, Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law, Michigan Law Review
Huntington persuasively argues that American law contributes to this crisis by generally failing to consider the well-being of families." -Maxine Eichner, Harvard Law Review
2015 PROSE AWARD HONORABLE MENTION FOR LAW AND LEGAL STUDIES