This book takes 2 age old methods of discipline and teaches you how to use them more effectively. The counting down we remember as a child; 1, 2, 3 (and we all know what happens when we get to 3) combined with the practice of time-outs (you know, standing in a corner). It teaches you to use counting like strikes in a baseball game; 1-2-3 your out. Not just counting but keeping that 1 so if your child is asked not to do something, stops as asked but 5 minutes later starts up again that would be 2. This keeps you from asking 300 times to stop because you keep starting the count again because they did stop. It goes over ways to use this alone as well as combined with time outs. This book describes the most effective methods of using a time-out. Letting your child play alone in their room, sticking them in a corner while they scream, or fighting with them to stay is NOT one of these methods.
The book is short because it really only goes over these 2 methods, proper use and combining the two. However the brevity of the book makes it easy to read for a busy parent. It actually does teach you things, my parents used both of these methods and I did on 2 children before reading this book yet the book still gave plenty of useful advice. The method works well for the average child as well. If you have an extremely spirited child or a special needs child this book may not offer much help. I also feel only 2 methods is a pretty small bank of skills to chose from so I would use this with some other methods. But if you are just looking for a quick boost to something you already do or want to try this would be a great book to read.