The secret life of families - Evan Imber-Black

How Secrets Shape our Relationships and When and How to Tell the Truth

What are the consequences of keeping a family secret? When is it appropriate to tell the truth?

A renowned family therapist explores the compelling power of secrets to shape our lives. Through dozens of dramatic and moving personal stories., Dr. Imber-Black illuminates the dilemmas at the heart of family relationships and offers a fresh-and often surprising critique of our 'tell-all' society. She challenges the pop-psych doctrine that full disclosure is best and shows how new secrets (like artificial insemination) are being created as old taboos are broken, and how thoughtless 'truth-telling' can create years of dangerous fallout.

She offers realistic, compassionate guidance, covering such topics as:
- how family secrets create an ever expanding 'zone of silence'
- the distinction between healthy privacy and toxic secrecy
- what to tell-and not to tell-young children

'A must-read book-daring, compassionate, timely, and eminently useful.' Harriet Lerner