We believe children should be adventurous. If they are not allowed the opportunity to be adventurous  we condemn them to a slow spiritual death ... How else is the adolescent to understand his or her capabilities? Who would gallop an unproven horse at a high fence? Who would enter a race in a car which has not been subjected to rigorous stresses? Who wants to tackle adult life with no sense of his or her powers? We need to know what we can do.'  Children have lost their freedom - to roam  to dare  to fail. Stifled by bureaucracy and helicopter parenting  they have been limited in their opportunities to learn by taking risks.  John Marsden  the bestselling author of the Tomorrow series  has spent his life educating kids and teenagers  and is passionate about the need to best prepare them for the rigours of adulthood. As the founder and principal of two schools  John has put his theories to the test and seen the empowering results of his methods.  Take Risks is the compelling memoir of a respected author and educator  and a forthright discourse on teaching  parenting and society as a whole.