I wanted to be turned off by this book by a very conservative author, but Dobson raised so many important points about raising a strong, confident, secure, creative little dude that I reluctantly learned a lot. However, stereotypes abound.

I had a tough time deciding how many stars to give this book. I didn't agree with everything he wrote (he's a bit extreme) but he has me curious enough that I want to read his book on discipline; I figured I'd better go with the higher rating if I am going to keep reading his works.

This book is packed full of statistics (circa 2000) that made my blood run cold. But he also offers helpful insights for child rearing. The first half focuses on the vital role of involved fathers, and the second about how the culture has vilified men and how we are in a different era with parents trying to raise their kids counter to what popular culture is teaching them (16 and pregnant anyone?) instead of enforcing what parents are teaching.

Overall I think I will be referring back to parts of this book over the years along with "The Wonder of Boys" as I try to raise a happy, well adjusted, hardworking, gentleman.

This is the gold standard of Christian parenting books written by THE expert. Not everyone will agree with everything in this book, but it's hard to argue with godly advice and years of experience in this field. I particularly like the conservative and very biblical approach, compared to some other popular yet secular parenting books. This book shares my morals, values and convictions. I particularly liked the insights in Chapter 9 on homosexuality and have recommended it to several friends. I have yet to see this information published elsewhere. I also liked Dobson's observations in Chapter 12 on the ridicule of men in society- I believe it's become much worse since this book has been published. And Chapter 13 opened my eyes to the benefits of homeschooling boys, and several years later we are now officially going down that road. This is a MUST for every Christian parent (of boys) library.

Four stars for the parts of the book that were especially helpful.
Unfortunately, this book is mostly a polemic on what our culture has come to. Going into it, I was expecting a bit more on the dos of being a parent to my boys, what I came across, for much of the text was, be afraid, be afraid. Protect and be afraid.
Going into some of the chapters, I was apprehensive about the content. I feel this has a lot to do with the inundation of culture in my life. I am a Christian, and fairly conservative, but I still read the chapter on homosexuality with a bit of “yikes, what is he going to say.” I didn't agree with everything, but, in large part I did agree with the things he said.
Unfortunately, it felt like a political book, rather than a parenting boys book. Some of the things within, in the light of his endorsement of Trump for president, feel quite hypocritical. I understand he has his reasons for supporting Trump, you can look those up online, however, it made many cautionary statements in this book ring false.
Again, I agreed with most of the things in this book, and it was certainly encouraging to me as I raise my boys, and gave me some good ideas of things to implement now, I just wish more of the book had been like that.

Excellent defense of everything boy. Opens with great examples of ways in which boys and girls differ and why that is and why it matters.

Dobson understands the problems boys face in school, particularly, and why the institution is inherently feminized, not because so many teachers are female, but because schools cater to female strengths, like sitting still and working with fingers, rather than larger movements and more active pursuits. And Dobson does not argue that any of that is wrong--it's just the way it is. Parents of boys will simply need to understand it and try to help their sons through it.

I especially enjoyed his discussions of manhood and how a boy gets there.

VERY old school. VERY conservative.

I’d love to hear a book from him about this topic in 2022- because everything he was talking about was around 2000 & he was SHOCKED at MTV then. I’d love to hear what he has to say now

This book has been sitting in my to-read stack for so long, I am not 100% sure of its origins. I suspect, but hope that I am wrong, that I picked it up at a book swap I hosted a few years back. If so, that means ONE OF MY FRIENDS (ACK!!!) read this, and apparently liked it enough to highlight things.

I didn't read much of it at all, or else I'd give it one lousy star. I didn't need to read much to determine the author is all about Jesus, and making sure your sons don't turn out gay (the horror!).

I am mildly horrified to see that the previous owner highlighted this: "In 15 years, I have spoken with hundreds of homosexual men. I have never met one who said he had a loving, respectful relationship with his father."

o.O

Normally after I read something in print that I own, I eventually stick it in my Little Free Library, so that someone else may enjoy it. I won't be doing that with this one; it goes in the recycling!

Throughly anti-culture. Encouraging. Motivating. Stay the course my friends. Raise those Godly strong manly men.

I am not the intended audience of this book.
Sort of.
I suppose I am sort of the product of this book.
Sort of.
I know my parents read this book. I know they took a lot from it. And I certainly know it impacted many of the adults around me growing up. Heck, I now work for a homeschool organization which traces its roots to the very radio broadcast Dr. Dobson mentions. It felt familiar.
I think it contains lots of good content, for its audience. There is a reason many of the top reviews of this book are one-star. If you aren't a conservative Christian, it will certainly take...more grace to read this one. And if you are a conservative Christian, well...maybe also approach with grace.
I don't love everything this book said. I often cringed. Sometimes I just plain disagreed with him. He definitely wears rose-tinted glasses when he talks about the past. And his reference to sexual identity feels dated in the face of what can be found today. Some of his moral absolutes made me arch an eyebrow.
But...I'm glad I read it. And I did write down a thought or two. I can see why many conservative Christians found it impactful.
The thing is, it already feels somewhat dated. And while it doesn't take much to sift through to find the good advice, the longer time passes, the more sifting required.
Curious (and trepidatious) to try Bringing Up Girls: Practical Advice And Encouragement For Those Shaping The Next Generation Of Women since my parents did not read that one.

I am raising three boys. I received this as a gift and was appalled at the anti-feminist, homophobic, religious morality rhetoric contained within this book. It is a dangerous misrepresentation of imperical psychological data to formulate correlations that are not only incorrect but also insulting. The level of chauvinism and bigotry are astounding. The author includes amusing antecdotes and a few remedial suggestions for raising boys. However, this only hides the fact that he wants you to raise homophobic, masogonistic children that will be more confused about themselves and the world that they live in.
If you are wanting advise on raising boys in modern society you are better served reading Raising Cain, by Dan Kindlon.

This was given to me as a gift when my son was a toddler, and while Dr Dobson and I agree that boys face many challenges unique to them, we clearly come to very different conclusions.
As an example, in one of his many anecdotes he recounts the time his four year old son was running through the back yard and fell onto a decorative metal plant. One of the steel rods exposed the bone above the boy's eyebrow, and he had to be taken to hospital.
Dr Dobson uses this story to demonstrate how boys have a 'tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason.'
I would think the lesson here should be: don't keep metal spikes in the same garden as your small children.
It is an interesting read, but only because it is such a very odd book. I certainly wouldn't take any parenting advice from it.

Practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of men :-)

With a little lad right under my nose, I can't help but read some of these Christian guided books on how to raise him to be a gentleman...

Good read...