Dump Dobson
Break the cycle, not the children.
📚Find Dobson's books in thrift stores.
♻️Ditch, divert, and decommission.
Stop toxicity before it's trauma.🔢 bit.ly/dumpdobsontracker
💌 [email protected]
🤳🏽#dumpdobson
Our mission.
🔍 RESCUE
Scout the book sections of thrift stores for Dobson's books - they're usually promising "discipline". Usually books are between $.50-$3.00. Do not buy new books from conventional stores.♻️ RECYCLE
Recycle, compost, destroy, or transform them into art. Whatever feels therapeutic for you. The goal is diversion—the rest is up to you. ("Diversion therapy," if you will.)#️⃣ REPORT
Share # of books diverted with #DumpDobson and/or our tracker. Add a picture of your creative method of choice if you'd like! You can share more directly with [email protected]🔁 REPEAT
Support your local thrift store and protect the next generation. This is a hobby that helps everyone and might be healing for you.Need a goal? Do the "dirty dozen" challenges and find 12 books!📦 Don't know what to do with the books? In the tracker, there's an option to send to an ex-fundie resource library.
The Man, The Books
Who is James Dobson?
James Dobson built an evangelical empire by teaching parents to break their children's spirits through physical punishment, shame, fear, and strict authority. As founder of Focus on the Family and author of toxic parenting books like The Strong-Willed Child and Dare to Discipline, he convinced millions of parents that hitting children as young as 15-months was "biblical discipline." His parenting advice often runs counter to developmental psychology, dismissing children at best and dehumanizing them at worse. His books, which pushed rigid gender roles and authoritarian control, fill shelves. Including, noticeably— of local thrift stores and charity shops across America.What did he write?
📚 See the full list here.🔍 A partial list of Dobson's books:
• Dare to Discipline by James Dobson (1970)
• Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson (2002)
• Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson (2010)
• The Strong-Willed Child by James Dobson (1992)
• The New Strong-Willed Child by James Dobson (2007)
• The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson (1996)
• The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide (2000)
• What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women by James Dobson (1975)
• When God Doesn't Make Sense by James Dobson (2001)
* Love Must Be Tough by James Dobson (2007)📝 Read a story of someone who liberated their shelves, critiques, and context.🤞🏻(To come: A printable field guide for easy identification. Looking for a volunteer to assemble!)
Onwards
This is a open project and pilot website. We are looking for hosts to make it better or steward it. Especially if you have a community or audience that would benefit — Let's chat.🤞🏻Feature Wishlist:• DumpDobson tracker (public)
• Printable book list
• Worst quotes in each book
• Embedded map
• Memes or social assets
• ...Other useful information!If you'd like to help us out, give a shout!How did this start? While thrifting in rural areas during the pandemic, I noticed a startling pattern: Dobson books lining the shelves. While I was relieved they had been discarded, it was disturbing to think that they’d recirculate again. So, I bought them. It felt… really good, so I kept doing it. Supporting a local organization and preventing harm— win-win. Thus, diversion therapy and the great decommission began.
💌 [email protected] | 🔢 bit.ly/dumpdobsontracker
#dumpdobson