Since I have agreed with most of the books I've read I was beginning to wonder if I have a mind of my own or if I just believe everything I read. Well, this book gave me my answer.

I don't agree with the majority of the author's stances on what is appropriate boy behavior and how parents should interact with them. He claims it is okay and actually good for parents to "diss" their sons into behaving correctly. And there were so many other things that I was baffled by that I had to ask my husband's opinion of what he thought to see if maybe I was just being an woman. But, my husband agreed with me. He said that many of the things that the author taught are the norm with boys right now, but that it doesn't make it right. Especially if we are raising men and not "guys".

The author also seemed to constantly talk about all the learning that he has done about boys, but then would only state a couple sentences on what it was and how we, as parents, can help them. For instant ~ When he says what a boy needs from a mother it is basically the feeding and cuddling that is done when they are babies and that we (mothers) should let them go at kindergarten age. Then he skips from kindergarten to early adolescence and again states that we need to let them be. Gee ~ that was a lot of help (can you understand my sarcastic tone? ;) )

So basically ~ I DO NOT recommend this book! ;) If you want to know a little more about how boys work and what makes them tick, year by year, read "So You Want to Raise a Boy?" by W. Cleon Skousen. It pegs my son exactly and has helped me to understand him so much better.

Even though I didn't learn anything new from this book to help me with my son, I learned that I do have opinions separate from authors! :)

Notes for myself:
- both theoretical and practical
- a good read

For fathers and sons alike this is an essential read. This book seems to be getting bashed a lot in the comments, this book rings true to me as male. It gives insight into the differences between males and females, and the affect that society is having on boys growing up now. It doesn't matter how old it is, the basics are the same. This book is a no brainer for me and it will definitely help me in raising my son to become a MAN, because in the end that what it is all about.

I loved it. Without going into too much detail, I did disagree with his definition of religion and how to teach it to boys. He also went a bit overboard on the whole "it takes a village to raise a child" theme, but I found that the more I read, the more I began to realized the church and its programs seem to fit the "village" needs. I highly recommend it to anyone who raises or works with boys. Thanks Michelle-

I am so happy to be done with this book. I can’t bring myself to read the other reviews, Because they looked to be positive when I picked it up and that terrifies me.

The only redeeming piece of this was talking about the importance of sex education and importance of teaching HUMANS (not just boys, but folks of all gender identities, in my opinion) the strength and power within their own body and sexuality.

A great parenting book that expanded my understanding of boys. Gurian has detailed research to back up his points, including specific brain research on when certain parts of the brain develop in boys and girls comparing the timing and size of sections that control certain developmental skills. I found it fascinating and helpful to guide my sons development.

This book, and it's author, changed the way I understand the genders. The book is organized in a way that explains the science and the anecdotes side-by-side for the reader, as well as offering valuable insight into the male brain. As I read it, I realized that my own brain functions much the same way and it explained a lot, not only with the way I interact with my son, but also in understanding why I think the WAY I think. Great book. I have since read several other books by Michael Gurian and others about structural brain differences between genders.

I recommend this book for those folks looking for a clinical or scientific approach to understanding your boys.

A good book. I only gave it 4 stars out of 5 because I wished for more real life examples.

Michael Gurian provides a comprehensive, helpful guide to assist parents and mentors in guiding the next generation of men to strong identities and individual spirituality.

Nevertheless, some of his advice within, for instance, "Teach boys and male culture that a boy does not need a girl to make him whole" tends toward excessive individualism (which I caution against in n  Humbling and Humilityn) and may therefore not lend comprehension of complementarity and unity.

A thorough book for information on bringing up boys compiled by an American family therapist and consultant.

I thought this book had some great ideas for raising boys. It didn't give much hands-on practical advice but more of a context in which the way the male mind thinks. It was definitely thought provoking and definitely takes the modern feminist movement to task for pushing women's rights to the exclusion of men's place in society. That was very refreshing.

Read it if you are raising boys or in a relationship with one. Male brains are different from female brains. Did you know that males tend to have one ear that hears well and one side that doesn't hear so well? Which ear are you talking to?

Key takeaways:

1. Boys are naturally:
-generally more aggressive than girls (due to a significantly lower amount of serotonin and higher amount of testosterone)
-caretakers
-more visual-spatial than verbal
-slower to speak and read than girls. The average boy will begin reading a year later than the average girl
-designed to complete a task before addressing the effects of the task
-designed to desire physical sexuality towards many mates but desire emotional devotion and romantic fulfillment with only one

2. Boys need:
-intimate nurturing from their mother during their first two years
-intimate friendship with their father from early childhood onward
-space to move
-a way to materialize their frustration (time spent in nature, exercise, competitive sports, punching bags). Verbalizing frustrations usually isn’t enough for boys, as it is for girls
-to be told many stories that promote heroism and good values
-parents who actively participate in the boy’s interests during childhood
-ways to funnel their natural aggression into productivity (competitive sports, work, natural competition with other boys)
-to be taught and even scared into good sexual conduct during their teenage years
-parents who are open and honest about normal sexuality
-parents with a stable marriage
-a network of good family friends, relatives, and spiritual leaders whose values align with their parents’ and who live in close proximity to the boy
-a filtered media whose values align with their parents’
-responsibility to fulfill specific male roles
-spiritual ritual