Customer Reviews
a must-have book 
2008-02-25
my girlfriend who has 5 and 2 years old sons suggested that I should get this book in order to understand a nature of boyhood. I also have 2.5 year old son and 7 months old baby. My eldest son is now in a "terrible two" stage. This book helps me understand why he does what he does, why he does the opposite of what I say, etc.
I told my husband to read it too, so he can be more patience and understanding.
A help indeed! 
2008-01-27
WOW.... was referred to this book by a friend. Can definately say it was worth the purchase. After having a girl when our son came along I was getting so frustrated. He was so different to her. Raising boys brought a lot of insight into why they are different but more importantly the stages that boys go through. It all made sense as I read. It has provided vital information for the future and how best to try to keep him out of "trouble".
Waist of time 
2008-01-07
The sections on toddler boys were good, but it deteriorated from there into Biddulph suggesting that parents shop for "good" porn for their 14 year old boys! Thanks, Steve! Good advice. I guess you never heard how Prince's (the artist formerly known as Prince) mother did that. Look how good he turned out, right?
Great insight on the dynamics of boys. 2007-07-05
This book was funny and easy to ready. More importantly it was extremely insightful. I loved it. As a single mom, I need really appreciated the candor and no-nonsense approach the author took.
This is a great book for understanding boys 2007-02-26
I bought this book because it became clear to me that I do not understand my 3 year old son and I realized it would only become worse as he grew older if I didn't at least try to figure out what is going on from his perspective.
I think that this book really tells it like it is. He doesn't sugar coat it. I also think the person who took offense to his saying boys should stay out of daycare until 3 years old did not read the book very carefully. He does not say that mothers should not work, he says boys should not be put in institutionalized day care settings but that good home based day care or staying with a family member is acceptable. I've read this in other books as well that boys just don't do well in daycare they really need one on one close time with a single, consistent care-giver be it mom, dad, grandma or a home day care.
This book also says many times how it is not trying to put women down or trying to set back the women's movement, it is just trying to show how boys are different. I have already noticed this with my children. I have two girls and a boy and I quickly picked up that my son is 6 months to 12 months behind his older sister in his speaking, reasoning and his ABCs. I talked to his preschool teacher about it and was relieved to find out it is normal for boys to be behind girls and the teacher said exactly what this author says, boys catch up somewhere in middle school but until then they are 6-12 months behind girls emotionally and academically. My son has a September birthday and I will be holding him out a year to start kindergarten at 6 instead of 5. I have already seen it in his preschool class how boys are treated, unwillingly as defective girls. Girls take to things like circle time and learning while boys would rather vroom cars and build block towers. I agree whole heartedly with the author that boys acting out in preschool is because they are anxious or stressed out. Girls withdraw when stressed, boys act out, often aggressively.
If you are ready to hear what this author says then buy the book. He is very strong on dad being a big part of a boys life and goes as far to say if dad is working 55 to 65 hours a week he won't cut it as a dad. This is hard stuff to hear, but if you want your son to grow up to be a good man it will take sacrifice on everyone's part. If we want our daughters to marry good men we need to make sure that we are raising good sons.
not recommended as very one sided 
2007-02-25
From award-winning psychologist Steve Biddulph comes an expanded and updated edition of RAISING BOYS, his international best seller published in 14 countries. His complete guide for parents, educators, and relatives includes chapters on testosterone, sports, and how boys' and girls' brains differ. With gentle humor and proven wisdom, RAISING BOYS focuses on boys' unique developmental needs to help them be happy and healthy at every stage of life.
Not quite up to the press. . .. 
2006-11-09
I much prefered "Raising Cain" over this book. There was no real new information, and little advice worth noting.
we've been Doing It Wrong for decades ~ and EveryOne is 2006-08-20
paying a terrible price...
since when did the feminist yada get turned into Girls Are Better? It's all about girls having equal opportunities blah blah blah...
i never knew WHAT they were talking about -
it's GREAT to be a girl if you're a girl; it's great to be a guy if you're a guy!
why neuter everyone out???
no one seemed to be noticing the father problems running rampant in the life histories of the strident feminists...
unless you cure cancer or win the oscar, all this Women Can Work Too just lead to an insane rise in the cost of buying a house so that women HAD to work if they wanted a nicer home in a better school district...
Way To Go... that's what can happen when women charge ahead without consulting the men...
which just turned the tables, and didn't improve a Thing...
it seemed stupid... but in the last 10-15 years, it's clearly been destructive to be anti-boy, anti-male...
so now the books of single women are titled "Are Men Necessary?"
No... no one is necessary... but if we're gonna be in this thing at all, we might as well be in it Together...
Not worth the money 2006-07-04
I bought this book after having my son and because I am an elementary school teacher. I do agree it is easy to read however much of it IS common sense and quite frankly some of the statements turned me off a bit. I almost quit reading the book after the first few pages. For example, the author says boys should NOT be in daycare for the first three years of their lives. I think many working parents, like myself, would find that remark a bit preachy and generalized. I think I know kids pretty well having taught for many years and some of what the author writes had me going, "Whaaaat? That's crazy?!" I should have just saved the money and checked it out at the library instead.
Feminism aside: Boys and Girls have distinct needs during particular developmental stages 2006-05-30
Boys are often overlooked as the "touchy feeling" pop psychology movement caters to the self-esteem demands of little girls. The old patriarchal style of treating a little boy like a little man is not much emotional help either. When most mothers dream of a daughter despite having a son, it is no wonder why generations of men have grown up with mother issues that spill over into the gender war. So .... gender politics aside ... here is one way to meet the needs at the heart of boy.
