John Bradshaw (author) facts for kids
John Elliot Bradshaw (June 29, 1933 – May 8, 2016) was an American educator, counselor, and motivational speaker. He was also a successful author. Bradshaw hosted many TV shows on PBS. He was a big part of the self-help movement. He helped make ideas like the "wounded inner child" and the "dysfunctional family" well-known. People often called him a theologian because of his deep thinking.
Bradshaw wrote six books. Several of them became top sellers on New York Times lists. His book Homecoming even reached the number one spot. In the 1980s and 1990s, he hosted many PBS TV shows. These shows were based on his popular books. He also led the John Bradshaw Center at Ingleside Hospital in Los Angeles, California.
Early Life and Education
John Bradshaw was born in Houston, Texas. He grew up in a difficult family. His father left him, and his father had also been left by his own father. Bradshaw won scholarships to study to become a Roman Catholic priest.
He earned a B.A. degree in Sacred Theology. He also got an M.A. degree in philosophy from the University of Toronto in Canada. He finished these studies in 1963. Six years later, he went back to school. He studied psychology and religion at Rice University in Houston, Texas for three years.
Bradshaw's Career and Impact
During the 1970s, John Bradshaw worked as a management consultant. He helped companies like Drillco Manufacturing Company. He also trained leaders at Denka Chemical Company. He was in charge of human resources and was on the board of directors for Texas General Oil Company. Bradshaw created and led workshops for many big companies. He also worked with thousands of non-profit and for-profit groups.
Bradshaw wrote six books. Three of these books became New York Times Best Sellers. His books sold over 10 million copies around the world. They were published in 42 different languages. His last book, Post-Romantic Stress Disorder, came out in 2014. In 1999, other experts nominated him. They called him "One Of The 100 Most Influential Writers On Emotional Health in the 20th Century."
In 1991, Bradshaw won a Daytime Emmy Award. He won for Outstanding Talk Show Host for his series Bradshaw On: Homecoming. He also appeared on many famous TV shows. These included Oprah, Geraldo, Sally, Dr. Ruth, Tom Snyder, and Donahue. He also appeared on Politically Incorrect, CNN's Talk Back Live, and Sirius Radio.
He gave lectures and workshops to different groups starting in 1964. He held important roles in various organizations. He was the national director of Life-Plus Co-Dependency Treatment Center from 1987 to 1990. He founded and led the John Bradshaw Center at Ingleside Hospital in Los Angeles from 1991 to 1997. He was also a member of the national board of directors for The International Montessori Society. He was an honorary lifetime board member of the Council on Alcohol and Drugs in Houston. From 1999, Bradshaw was a senior fellow at The Meadows Institute.
Personal Life
John Bradshaw lived in the Shadyside area of Houston, Texas. He lived there with his wife, Karen.
Death
John Bradshaw passed away on May 8, 2016. He was 82 years old. He died from heart failure. He left behind his wife and partner of 20 years, Karen Ann Bradshaw. He also had two children, John Bradshaw, Jr. and Ariel Harper Bradshaw.
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