But Seriously, Do Less

A practical and empowering blueprint for raising more resilient kids by urging parents to give up on the idea of a failure-free childhood and letting kids make their own mistakes—from an adolescent psychiatrist who's seen it all.

Parents today are really good at advocating for their children. The flip side of this well-meaning flex, however, is seriously problematic. Because as Dr. Amy Funkenstein explains, having to do hard things for yourself is one of the primary ways humans mature. When we deny our kids the opportunity to figure things out on their own, we have only ourselves to blame when they are twenty-something and still living in the basement!

Drawing on Dr. Funkenstein’s long experience working with families, her patient stories, and a handful of unforgettable anecdotes from her eccentric Jewish mother, But Seriously, Do Less will:

• give parents the foundational knowledge, scripts, and tips to confidently intervene less and watch the natural consequences teach a lesson better than we ever could on our own
• teach readers the unsung skill of being spectacularly unhelpful when asked to help solve problems
• guide us to model imperfection so that our kids don’t get the wrong idea about us as role models.

Grounded in trustworthy developmental science but with an irreverence that helps the medicine go down, But Seriously, Do Less gives parents the permission to stop helicoptering, hovering, and lawnmowing a failure-free path to adulthood and yet still raise more independent, resilient, confident children.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs