For those people who have been through a high-conflict divorce and custody dispute – this book will resonate as a spot-on condemnation of the family court system, how it functions, and who it fleeces in the name of “the best interests of the children.”  It is an accurate portrayal of the experience far too many people have with the family courts, parental alienation, and does so primarily from the point of view of fatherhood.  This book has gotten high praise for its exposure of the truth regarding the pervasive problems and biases within the system.

From Amazon.Com:

“I have been through some of the worst of contentious divorce litigation,” Alec Baldwin declares in A Promise to Ourselves. Using a very personal approach, he offers practical guidance to help others avoid the anguish he has endured.

Baldwin’s personal problems with his ex-wife, Kim Basinger, came to light due to a highly publicized blowout that centered around their daughter, Ireland.  In a moment of high frustration, he left his daughter an unfortunate voice-mail message in which he admonished her, calling her a “thoughtless little pig.” The firestorm of controversy that followed exacted a heavy toll on Baldwin and quite likely Ireland as well.

Baldwin and Basinger separated in 2000 and divorced in 2002.

We appreciate the high-profile attention that Alec Baldwin’s notoriety brings to shining the spotlight on the dysfunctional family court system and those who operate within it.  Baldwin has resources that everyday people can only dream of, but his story is much the same as many – fathers in particular.  His experiences are very much the same as those across all income levels.  Divorce takes a significant toll on families including physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and of course, financially.   His experience with divorce litigation is extensive.  He has been on the front lines to see exactly how noncustodial parents, particularly fathers, are often forced to the fringes of their children’s lives.  It’s no wonder that many give up any hope equitable rights and fair treatment when it comes to their children. Baldwin pulls no punches in his condemnation of the family court system and urges sweeping changes in the way divorce and child custody is decided in this country.   His referring to the players in the process as “The Family Court Industry” is just a tip of the iceberg.

While we read of his experiences with judges, court-appointed therapists, custody evaluators, and lawyers, it was a surprise that we didn’t suffer whiplash for all of the head-nodding we did.  We believe that will be the case with anyone with even a little bit of experience in a high-conflict divorce and custody situation.  It was certainly our own experience and the experiences of many others with whom we’ve worked.  We have little doubt that anyone with Baldwin’s resources and connections could have written a book that would parallel A Promise to Ourselves.

If you’re not knowledgeable regarding the laws, we urge you to familiarize yourselves with Title IV-D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity).  In doing so, you will begin to understand the root of the problems, the financial incentives which drive the madness, and the stark reality that which all taxpayers are funding the nightmare.

We can only hope that the media’s overblown and manufactured portrayal of Alec Baldwin as some “loose-cannon” with a hair-trigger temper is overcome by the truths about which he writes in this book.  Having such a high-profile personality willing to write such an expose’ on the family court industry can only help move the country towards shared parenting initiatives.  They work!

We strongly recommend this book as a must-read.  To read more reviews and purchase it, click below: