One Size Fits None

Before our children are born, we read how a pregnancy "should go." We hear about other people's experiences with breast feeding, we know about what age our infants will acquire each skill. After each child is born, we feel a little mislead. We ask, "How come my baby isn't turning over/talking/walking/writing/knowing her colors, when she is already ___ years old?" Sometimes, an unmet developmental goal can signal a problem in development and other times, it just indicates the reality that this child, is developing at his own pace and according to his own schedule.
Most parents, who have passed the infancy stage, have come to realize that children develop differently. But, each child's emotional development is also unique. Parenting books that supply behavioral interventions and advice, don't always take into account, the individual temperaments and needs of each child.
In my practice and in my parenting, I have come to realize the importance of knowing the child, prior to providing parenting techniques and interventions that will work with that child. A high tempered child, for example, might relish in the "fight" over a timeout and subsequently receive a secondary "gain" from this common behavioral intervention. In contrast, his obedient and eager-to-please brother might respond well to this type of intervention. Changing discipline practices to suit the needs of each of your children is appropriate and important. The crime and punishment model does not often work in changing behavior. Johnny's disrespectful language might earn him a timeout, swifting "nipping in the bud" his back-talk. In contrast, Luke's "habitual" name-calling will be better handled through positive reinforcement for respectful language and kind words. The goal of the behavioral intervention is to change the behavior, assess your child's needs and intervene in a way that will facilitate this change.
You wouldn't necessarily buy the same size outfit for two different 3 year olds so don't always "buy" the same parenting technique either. A child's temperament and emotional make-up contributes to how effective the particular intervention will be. Take stock of what works and try different approaches. You are the expert on your child so, in essence, you can be the author of your own parenting book.