Bringing Up Boys

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Don't buy if you are a single mum - Rated
After sadly splitting up with my baby son's father, I bought this book with be the best intentions of doing the best by my son and making sure my son didn't suffer any more than he already had. The one chapter that this book has about being a single mum is filled with god squad self righteousness, pity, patronising and judgemental comments and inferences. I have nothing against christianity, but feel it is used here in the most unhelpful way here. The chapter basically describes how the authors good wife met a poor single mum who knocked on her door doing door to door sales. The wife took pity on this poor woman with her fatherless son and when the husband came home they raced round and took her to the supermarket to get some 'proper food'. The chapter then proceeds to tell the reader about a number of statistics saying children from single families are more likely to get in trouble with the police, murder, steal, truant from school etc. Little or no consideration is given to the corresponding social economics that should accompany these statistics (i.e., people living in overcrowded areas, low income, exposed to more crime, with parents associated with crime are more likely to commit crime - not whether or not they have a father or not). Basically the message I was given is that my son is doomed and I should go and find a male role model as soon as possible. This is far from the truth.

Might want to consider other perspectives - Rated
James Dobson has been around for a long time. He certainly has a large body of literature. If you are familiar with his writing I think you will find that " Bringing Up Boys " is more of the same. If you have found his previous work insightful and inspirational this may be the book for you. Be aware, Dr. Dobson presents ideas that are very controversial and outside the boundaries of most parenting experts and authorities - you must ask yourself if you want to limit your ideas to parenting to one resource, one authority. Personally, I find my role as parent to be too important to blindly accept everything Dr. Dobson presents. Rather, I suggest you read Bringing Up Boys as well as other resources to gain a more rounded and insightful understanding of this most important job (parenting). I really liked to work of Mark Gaskill, MFT (family therapist and parenting expert) as a balancing perspective. His book "Systemic Parenting: An Exploration of the Parenting Big Picture" is superb. These two books are worlds apart. If you are attached to Dobson, great " Bringing Up Boys" will be your thing. However, you might want to treat yourself to some newer and fresher ideas by looking elsewhere.

Excellent - Rated
Too bad for the reviewer that gave 1 star. This book is an eye opener and really talks about the stuff we need to know or perhaps are not aware of. Moreover, it is writen by an expert in the field of child psychology. What more could one ask for?

What Dobson Does Best - Rated
In "Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men," James Dobson gets back to what he knows best, child psychology.

While over the years, Dobson has been outspoken for better and for worse about things within and outside of his expertise, many parents agree that what he has to say about families is solid and accurate. In "Bringing Up Boys," he gets his message across.

What is his message? It isn't very complicated: Focus on rearing your son with love and with Christian principles, and you'll do a lot of good for him as he becomes an adult.

Not unlike "Crisis in Masculinity" by Leanne Payne, Dobson effectively asserts masculinity can be encouraged, and should be fostered, and with Christ as the center of your family, things have more hope.

Granted, the book is not for everyone. He says a few bold things that might make a nonChristian cringe. He doesn't shy from or water down his Christian beliefs, but, just like any parenting book, his worldview influences his ideas, whether liberal or conservative. Consider that a caveat, and with Dobson's reputation with Focus on the Family, no reader will likely be suprised as he integrates his faith with his psychology.

While "Bringing Up Boys" is not the last word in parenting boys, it is a place to consider some tough ideas, and react to what Dobson states. He unapologetically refutes and denounces some popular thoughts on modern psychology, and gives plenty of things to consider.

For the reader willing to be challenged, or for those readers who are fans of Dobson, Focus and desire to learn some pragmatic thoughts on parenting boys, I fully recommend "Bringing Up Boys: Practical Advice and Encouragement for Those Shaping the Next Generation of Men" by James Dobson.

Anthony Trendl

Excellent Book - Rated
I loved this book and I have given it twice as a gift. Not for the ultra feminists but not because it is unsound. It is very definate in it's postion that boys and girl ARE different. I definately recommend it.