Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Book Review: "Boys Adrift"

Boys Adrift: Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young MenBoys Adrift: Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men by Leonard Sax

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A must read for anyone with a son or brother, or who is one. The author, a pediatrician and psychologist, describes a pattern of listlessness and dependency among boys and young men that he attributes to five factors: 1) boy-unfriendly changes in schools and teaching methods, 2) video games, 3) overuse of ADHD medications, 4) environmental toxins that adversely affect immature male endocrine systems, 5) decline of strong male role models and nurturing male communities. While a bit preachy and borderline histrionic at the end, the book is sufficiently evidence-based and annotated to be provocative, and frankly sad-making.



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