Almost all parents dream about the "magic formula" to parenthood, one that turns babies into happy, well-behaved kids, then later into high-achieving, respectful adolescents, and then finally into kind-hearted, confident young adults. However, for many parents, parenthood can often seem more like a NIGHTMARE than a pleasant dream. In this book, the author shares his views on parenting principles based on his and his wife's own experiences raising their two children, whom are often seen by relatives and friends as "successful" children because they both graduated from Harvard and are leading happy and productive lives. While recognizing that academic achievement is only one parameter of successful child-rearing, the author provides a refreshingly straightforward assessment of what worked and didn't work for his family, and complements his thoughts with his children's own reflections. Throughout his book, the author highlights not only the sacrifices and discipline that parents must abide by for the benefit of their children, but also the joys that effective parenting can bring about, something that no diploma can ever replace: the love, respect, and gratefulness between parent and child.