I choose to read this book because I am teaching sunday school to a rowdy group of 8 year old boys. I thought it would help. It didn't. James Dobson writes a lot about his own upbringing and gives personal opinion backed up by quoting people who agree with him. He says that masturbating is normal and should never be discouraged or shamed. He really drives that point home. While I agree it is normal and sexual desires are not shameful, I think we should instruct our boys to practice self-control and bridle their passions. They can't just get off every time they feel the slightest urge. They are children of God, not animals. Also, James Dobson's views on homosexuality are way too narrow. He writes that studies show boys who play with dolls and other gender atypical things become gay. Well, correlation does not equal causation. Maybe the boys are gay to begin with, and gay boys prefer gender atypical things and shaming them away from those things, as he suggests, will cause mental aguish and not make him heterosexual as Dobson suggests. Dobson's suggestions to "prevent" and "cure" homosexuality were revolting to me. Plus, this book is old and one of the dudes he gives as an example of "cured" from homosexuality and married a woman has since left her and returned to being openly gay.

I give this book 2 stars. I also gave 2 stars to Stephanie Myer's Twilight. This book contributes as little to the books about raising children as Twilight contributes to literature.

Started this. It is currently the only book I've ever torn to shreds to prevent anyone else from reading it. It is that bad.

This was awesome. Based not only on sound Biblical principles but on research into child development from varying perspectives and not just on personal experience although that plays a part as well, lending some humor to the work.

This book is written for parents who are attempting to raise their boys with traditional Christian values in a culture that inundates them with violence, sexuality, and moral relativism. If you don't fit that category of parent, you probably shouldn't be reading this book; it is only going to irritate you (as I see it has many people). Now, I do fit that category of parent, and I will say that even I find Dobson to be sometimes over the top. This book makes it sound rather as if there is a pedophile lurking around every corner and every public school hands out condoms in 6th grade and teaches whole math. (Okay, now I'm exaggerating; but he is a little heavy handed on the scare tactics.) I do think he makes some important and valuable points about the way educational system is designed for (and favors) girls and how aggression is often natural and boys and is better appropriately channeled than stifled. I think he makes some poignant points about the necessity of fathers for boys' healthy growth as well. I came across at least one strange error—he credits Governor Mike Huckabee with co-authorship of the book On Killing, but I could find no such evidence in the book itself.

4.5 rounded up

3.5

Overall I like this book, especially the first few chapters. I learned a lot about how boys think and how they are wired which helps me understand all the boys in my life better I think. But I did end up feeling hugely overwhelmed and depressed by the end as he goes on and on about all the horrible things our children will be faced with in this wicked world. Yes, there are parts of this world that are wicked but there are a lot of beautiful and happy things too and instead of feeling hopeful as a parent (which is always nice to feel) I felt the opposite.

Never before have I been disgusted by the fact that I spent money on a book. If I could give it zero stars, I would.

I ordered the book online after just seeing the title on a suggested reading list, and since I'm all for reading up about parenting lately and it had 4 stars, and well, I have a boy, I went ahead and ordered it without knowing anything about it or the author.

In reading the first chapter, I recognized the author and realized that his ideas were likely to be more conservative than my own. But hey, I'm a mom and I'm a Christian, so I kept an open mind.

The first few chapters made me raise a few eyebrows, but almost in a good way. It made me think about my own values and question my ideas about the family and my role as a mother. I figured that even if I didn't wholeheartedly agree with everything Dobson was saying, examining my own ideas is always a good thing. But once I was about 30% into the book, I was getting annoyed. There was nothing helpful or even specific being said about the day to day raising of boys, just generalities about the structure of the family. And I found it poorly written at that, and poorly organized. And he continually did one of my biggest pet peeves - mentioning something, then saying he'll talk about it more fully in another chapter. He also quoted himself from his other books, which I found annoying.

But then I got to the chapter on preventing homosexuality, and it just made me sick. I had to stop reading. I guess I will never know if there was ANYTHING helpful in the book because the I can't give weight or credit to any of his ideas because his views as espoused in that chapter are just a deal breaker for me. He is certainly entitled to his opinions, but I just can't take advice from someone believes what he does.

A challenging and helpful read for parents and teachers—I wish I read it before I started teaching. Dr. Dobson does it again!

I'm reading "Bringing Up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson (founder of Focus on the Family). I LOVE it! It has just affirmed what I know to be true: that my husband is a MAN, a REAL man (who I love to death), and that raising a boy is so important (not that raising a girl is unimportant, but if you read the book, you'll understand that it's just really different).

This is not my point to this post. It is actually about why we feel disconnected to others. I'm sure if we dig deep down, we all know that it is - in part - due to technology. We keep up with people on Facebook, email, MySpace, text messaging, etc, etc.

He says it a lot better than I can. "Are you one of these harried women running in endless circles? Have you found yourself too busy to read a good book or take a long walk with your spouse or hold your three-year-old child on your lap while telling him or her a story? Have you taken time to study God's Word - to commune with Him and listen to His gentle voice? Have you eliminated almost every meaningful activity in order to deal with the tyranny of a never-ending "to do" list? Have you ever asked yourself why in the world you have chosen to live like this?....When was the last time you had friends drop by unexpectedly for a visit?...There was a time when families made a regular habit of packing into the car and driving over to a friend's home for an afternoon of good conversation and a piece of banana-cream pie. It was one of life's special little pleasures...I'll never forget the times as a boy when I would hear a knock on the door...and a familiar voice would echo through the house, "Is anybody home?"...Sadly, that kind of spontaneous camaraderie is difficult to achieve in today's fast-paced world. The pressures and busyness of life have all but destroyed the sense of community that was once common among families and friends We seldom - if ever - drop in on friends unannounced. And even if we did, they would probably have to cancel a string of appointments in order to be with us. Thus, we go about our days, careening through life, glancing at our watches, and wondering why we don't have very many close friendships."

Wow. I remember friends of my parents calling out, "anyone home?" or my parents doing that at my grandparents' homes. I have never done that - well, not since college when I lived in the dorms. We schedule and make appointments with friends. Part of this is that friends live a distance from us. Many of us, I think, probably don't know our neighbors well. Our friends live far enough away that we need to drive to their house, and we know how busy they are so we ask when a good time to call is rather than just calling.

When was the last time you dropped in on a friend? I hope it wasn't long ago and that you'll do it again soon.

I wish this were required reading for parents. I’m glad it was recommended to me. I am sure it is one that I will read and reference several many times throughout the next 15+ years as my boys grow up.

I found this book to be extremely helpful and encouraging. I am a Christian, and if you are not, you will most likely bristle at many suggestions. I also am highly critical of the third wave feminist, so if you consider yourself part of that, the book will be a struggle to read. Boys are struggling to find their way and Dobson encourages manliness and responsible masculinity.