Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

According to statistics, young men between 25 and 31 are more likely than their female counterparts to still be living with their parents, and amid a culture of Harvey Weinsteins, Bill Cosbys, and other fallen role models, many boys today are feeling shamed by their gender. Other shocking findings include the rapid increase of suicide among males, at a rate of nearly four times that of women, and a 700 percent increase in prison population (93%). Additional challenges include bigorexia (the pressure to build muscle), outsourced jobs in areas such as computer technology and manufacturing, and educational difficulties in the key disciplines of math and reading. After exploring the whys, Farrell (National Organization for Women; Why Men Are the Way They Are) and Gray (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus) offer strategies to renew our sons' sense of purpose. Verdict A must-read for parents and teachers, this comprehensive study presents a helpful guidebook to navigating the unique struggles faced by males today.-Julia M. Reffner, North Chesterfield, VA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Choice
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

How does a boy become a man? Internationally acclaimed authors Farrell (The Myth of Male Power, 1993) and Gray (Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, 1992) unpack a decade of research to expose a toxic "dad-deprived" culture. The boy crisis has been created by the abdication of dads in the lives of their sons--and the result, the authors contend, is a rudderless millennial generation. The text is stark in its commentary on what the authors view as a dangerous cultural trajectory that has emerged from devaluing the contributions of paternal bonding. To change the trajectory and reverse the trends that alienate boys from their fathers, the authors offer ideas to help reclaim this powerful connection--ideas such as "five essentials of family dinner night," found in the appendixes. The benefits of fully involved dads are celebrated as outcomes of engaging the moral authority of fathers. This text presents compelling solutions and strategies for shaping purpose-driven boys who can grow and thrive in a culture that honors and values fatherhood. Empirical evidence is substantiated in the bibliography, and endnotes are included. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Susan Durr, Middle Georgia State University