“The way of the warrior kid” by jocko willinck.
I am a self-driven adult, but I even found value in how simply it explains the concept of self discipline. Have you ever had someone explain to you the difference between motivation and self-discipline? I was nodding along because I knew these concepts, but hadn't seen them explained in a way that was just perfectly crystal clear.
Spoilers (funny to write this for a kids book):
In one chapter, the kid learns how to learn, and learns that some people are naturally quick at certain things but others have to work much harder. That it doesn't mean you are dumb if you don't learn something really quick, that there are techniques you can learn that help if you just try.
It also has a bunch of good stuff on humility, working well with others even if they have bullied you in the past, respecting yourself, etc. For example, the kid is getting bullied (amongst other things going wrong with his life). He trains all summer so he can defend himself, stands up to the kid in a way that isn't physical (it doesn't glorify that in any way) and then befriends him. He then invites him to come play with the other kids. The way he becomes friends with him after being bullied by him for an entire year takes an incredible amount of humility and kindness, and made me feel like I could improve in how I relate to other people I have had conflict with.
It is not about exposing them to ideas, it is about making them certain way, because it sounds cool.
---------
But also with exposure of ideas, pretty much no one exposes jids to all ideas equally with no framing. Approving or disapproving framing is there, whether direct or subtle.
With all things parenting, there are many correct ways to go about raising kids. Whatever you want to call it, I’m trying to raise mine to be resilient, recognize self imposed limitations, to be humble and to recognize the value of hard work and self discipline.
Feel free to disregard the suggestion of those things aren’t interesting to you as a parent raising a child.
Finally, there’s a huge amount of warrior worship these days (I have my own theory why but I’ll hold that back), so I understand skepticism of the book based off its title.
It was snarky comment about book title. Which is super clearly about sounding cool. Unless it has stuff about how to indoctrinate kids into beheading enemies without feeling of guilt or some such. Nothing to do with your motivation.
People who identify with "fighter" will join any army, but especially attacking army. It projects strength and aggression. Pretty much all conquerors to be including genocide first taught young men to have "warrior" values.
I don't specifically want to raise kids to be soldiers either, tho they may join. In that case, army is quite capable of shaping recruits into the mold they need. And it is different mold then civilian life requires.