Book Review: Stuttering It’s What You Think
Stuttering It’s What You Think: A Guide on Split-Second Decision Making for Parents and Professionals Who Love and Teach Kids Who Stutter
by Dominique Kennedy, MS, CCC-SLP and Geoffrey Mount Varner, MD
What is This Book About?
According to the description on Amazon, Stuttering It’s What You Think is a “book about people’s stories, their lived experiences and their journey with stuttering and speech.”
There are 10 chapters in this book. Several of the chapters begin with a brief yet poignant story told from the vantage point of a person who stutters.
Hearing stories told by others – especially those who have lived a similar experience – gives us hope, a sense of belonging, and a road map to move and grow.
In the book, Kennedy writes, “It is through these stories that we can thoroughly examine our hearts and minds on this topic as the subject of stuttering is not only a social-emotional journey but also a tangible one. When we can sincerely and unashamedly own our story, we can strategically move forward toward solutions and strategies of success as it relates to stuttering while acknowledging the root issues of speech.”
I wholeheartedly agree!
In addition to the stories, Kennedy and Dr. Geoffrey share their wisdom and knowledge in a fresh perspective.
Survival skills to combat decision and brain fatigue are mentioned and as a professional who treats many individuals who stutter, I found this insight unique and very relevant. They also stress how fundamentally important it is to have parents support the child who stutters. As they state, “It is the parent who creates the climate and culture for how a child views themselves. As a parent of a child who stutters, you must have conversations with your child who stutters about stuttering and their specific speech patterns. Exploring thoughts and feelings with your child about their speech makes what could feel like the big, bad monster appear less scary.”
Yes! Addressing “the elephant in the room” and having honest conversations about stuttering will help nurture the bond and increase trust between parent and child.
There’s a lot more incorporated into this short but impactful book such as the myths vs facts of stuttering, the importance of creating a supportive environment, using positive self-talk, and connecting to a community to have a sense of belonging. A list of organizations and resources are also included at the end.
What I Like Most About This Book:
It’s short and to the point – perfect for the busy reader or worried parent who may want to read something in one sitting. I also greatly enjoyed their positivity and unique perspective. I would LOVE to see them release another book on this topic!
Where Can I Buy The Book?
The paperback version is available for $9.99 on Amazon
The kindle version is FREE with KindleUnlimited
Amazon affiliate links have been included for your convenience and in return I earn a small referral fee that helps me maintain the costs of this website. Thank you!
Who are the Authors?
Dominique Kennedy, MS, CCC-SLP is an experienced and certified Speech Language Pathologist and member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) Fluency & Fluency Disorders and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. She lives in the Altanta Metro area of Georgia with her family. To learn more about Dominique and her services, please visit dominquekennedy.com
Geoffrey Mount Varner, MD, MPH, FACEP is a best-selling author, international speaker, ER physician, and executive. He educates, equips, and empowers executive leaders and first responders to make better decisions, faster using his TLC framework. To learn more about Dr. Geoffrey Mount Varner, please visit, splitsecondecisions.com
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