Book Review: The Hour that Matters Most (plus giveaway!)

When was the last time you had a peaceful dinner with your family? I’m not talking about gobbling KFC before a soccer game or while watching TV, either. Does it seem like fiction? Just not possible with your schedule/the kids’ activities/the teens’ reluctance to have anything at all to do with the family?

I was recently provided a review copy of The Hour that Matters Most: The Surprising Power of the Family Meal. This book can help you with both gathering everyone together for a meal (breakfast counts, too!) and with the meal itself. The authors, who are relationship experts, teamed up with the founders of Dream Dinners to show how to overcome mealtime obstacles and make the most of this important family time.

The Hour that Matters Most explains why family meals are important and then delves into some deeper topics—how to listen to your kids and curbing table conflict, for example. It is a cross between a relationship book and a recipe book, and sometimes the segues from relationship to recipe is a little strained.

We’re big fans of family dinner, so the first few chapters that explain its importance were unnecessary to me. New families or those who are doubtful of the value of a shared meal will find it helpful. There are even footnotes to the articles and studies that prove the authors’ points.

I enjoyed the little sidebar tips they give throughout the book:

If you’re having trouble getting everyone to the table on time, set up a known consequence for the dawdlers. Whoever is last to the table is the server, pouring the drinks, fetching anything that’s needed, and so on.

Your bread plate goes on your left, and your drink goes on the right. A good way to remember this rule is to remember that the word drink starts with the letters D and R for “drinks right.”

The book covers a lot of ground in 170 pages, and it doesn’t delve too deeply into any one topic. Some chapters will be more helpful than others, depending on your experience. I enjoyed it but felt that the Dream Dinners connection and recipes were an afterthought.

Want to read it for yourself? One lucky BrownThumbMama reader will win a copy of The Hour that Matters Most.

To enter:
•   Comment below and tell us your favorite dish to serve at a family meal. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

For bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each one):
•   “Like” BrownThumbMama on Facebook. (Let me know if you already do.)
•   Subscribe to BrownThumbMama for free by email. (If you already subscribe, let me know.)
•   Post about this giveaway on your Facebook wall or blog.

U.S. entries only, please. Contest is open until 7pm PST on Wednesday, September 14, and I’ll announce the winner on Thursday. Good luck!

Disclosure: I was provided a review copy of the book at no charge. My opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way.