Rating: 
Summary: Just What the Doctor Ordered....
Review: This is a "must-have" book for any parent of any aged son. The book is packed with practical advice for raising a well rounded, secure boy in today's confusing world. Doctor Dobson backs his advice up with solid research and studies which are footnoted throughout. I will be using this a guide while raising my son. I would recommend to anyone with a son, grandson, or stepson.
Rating:
Summary: Much needed insights
Review: Being packed with so much information and meaningful insights made putting this book down almost impossible. Dr. Dobson rightfully distinguishes between the needs of our sons and the needs of our daughters, and there are many differing needs. It was good to see confirmation that you do not raise boys like you raise girls, and that this is not a putdwon to either gender, rather it is an acknowledgement of a creative and loving God.A much needed finger was pointed at the destructiveness of the woman's liberation movement and how the negative effects are now clobbering our sons. The issue of absent and near-absent fathers is also addressed without much emotional cushioning. As a father of 3 daughters and one son I have found this book helpful in seeing a more complete picture of the issues and solutions. Do be aware that because of the nature of the subject parents will feel some guilt, other than that which is expected to occur as result of seeing failures. A good session with a trusted friend or minister might help bring things back into balance. I believe that not only should parents read this book, but also grandparents, relatives and other individuals who have a meaningful part in raising sons.
Rating: 
Summary: A big disappointment
Review: This book threw out alot of statistics, which I didn't care for and was very preachy. It trailed off on unrelated tangents from time to time just like a preacher on a pulpit who gets sidetracked from his original sermon. I was expecting more practical advice on raising my son and instead learned more than I wanted to know about how Nazi soldiers were desensitized to killing and other Nazi attrocities. Another book I read, "Raising Cain: Protecting the emotional life of boys" was so much better than this book, and actually changed my view of all the men in my life. I reccomend you read that book instead.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Overall, I found this to be a great book. The question and answer sections at the end of each chapter were helpful and insightful. I wish there had been more practical advice, especially as a new parent of an active baby boy. I would encourage anyone to read this book but try not to fall into the same trap(s) that some of the other reviewers have. For example... Consider who is writing the book. It is no secret that Dr. Dobson is a Christian and the vast majority of his writings reflect that WORLD VIEW. Dr. Dobson has been a Christian for many years. Did some of these readers think he had suddenly quit being a Christian? So for one reviewer to pop off and say "too evangelical" or "Most all of his lessons were backed by biblical quotes and references. This sort of gives me the creeps." Logically, this would be like reading Voltaire (an avowed atheist) and criticizing his writings for not containing any Scripture references to back up his view points. More than one reviewer said that Dr. Dobson has some " anti-women and homo-phobic issues of his own" and another reviewer stated that "his affronts against homosexuals, girls, and women are dangerous."...No where is Dr. Dobson hateful towards women or girls. Throughout his book he writes of women in a very respectful tone. In fact, in his chapter ( Chapter 7) dealing with the mother/son relationship he spends the first couple of pages praising women for their ability to multi-task and do a great job at it. He also states many times how hard it must be for the single parent trying to be both parents to their children. As an example he tells of a time when he and his wife (whom he praises throughout the book) helped a single mother for a season of time. Even if he only reached out this one time how many of us can say we have done the same? How much better off would our society be if we all reached out for a season of time to a single parent we know and helped them get along? Or do we just look at our tax bill each year and thank God for the ineffective welfare programs? Dr. Dobson also points out how important the relationship between son and mother is using research to show that those with poor maternal relationships have a more difficult time physically and mentally. Is it any wonder then that he encourages women to stay home? If you know that it is better for you and your children to stay home and do without somethings or live in a smaller home then does it not make sense to do so? If you know it is better for you and your children if you don't smoke, what are you going to do? This book is like the warning label on cigarettes, you can head the warnings and have a better quality of life or you can suffer the consequences for you actions/inactions. After reading this book from cover to cover I am convinced that Dr. Dobson has a much higher opinion of mothers than those that think Dr. Dobson is saying mothers are only "hosts". The chapter regarding homosexuality is controversial and "hateful" only because Dr. Dobson does not parrot the liberal media or the gay/lesbian media outlets. Instead, he carefully articulates the downside to homosexuality and lists a couple of organizations who have had success helping those homosexuals who wanted (that is the key) to become heterosexual. No one was vilified and more than once Dr. Dobson simply quoted Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report...I thought the purpose of news magazines was to print the news, which should have at least some basis in reality and facts...Dr. Dobson is not professionally alone in his belief that homosexuals can change. Dr. Robert L. Spitzer (MD) who lead the charge in 1973 to have homosexuality deleted from the diagnostic manual now believes that change is possible for those that desire to change. Dr. Robert Perloff (former president of the APA) condemns the APA for barring research in this area. Who is closed minded now? Who is being hateful now? If someone wants to change, but the majority in control says that you can't even if you want to, who is being repressive now? Who is being unscientific? Was Dr. Spitzer brilliant and kind in 1973 and now is he hateful and just "WRONG WRONG WRONG"? Not once does Dr. Dobson say that all homosexuals must change or that they should be put on a boat and sent away. Instead, he simply points out that there are some downsides and health risks to homosexuality and options are available to those who want to change.
Rating: 
Summary: If you have boys, you need this book!
Review: This book is a fantastic collection of information on what makes boys different from girls (beyond the obvious factors) and suggestions on how to raise boys well. I couldn't believe how many practical suggestions Dobson gives for applying the lessons of each chapter to the life of a family -- this book is chock full of easy-to-understand ideas on how to raise healthy sons. I only refrain from giving it 5 stars because there were a few minor shortcomings. The chapter on homosexuality on the whole is excellent (especially the final Question & Answer section), but I was not sure that he "proved" that (a) Homosexuality is not genetic and (b) that homosexuality is more about other social & emotional factors than about sexual orientation itself. Dobson clearly thinks these two claims are true, but he doesn't actually prove his point all that well. Also, at times Dobson flip-flops on who to listen to for advice. He quotes widely from psychological studies and generally respected scholars to support some of his claims, but at other places (when their findings do not agree with his) he dismisses groups such as the APA because their findings are sponsored by agenda-driven issue-groups. I'm not sure you can have it both ways.(Maybe you can, but Dobson never gives a rationale of "when" you can trust a psychological study and when not). Also, the book contains many footnotes, but sometimes Dobson just cites one or 2 examples and then generalizes from this limited data to what "everyone" is like. I thought the book suffered a bit from overgeneralization. Don't let these (minor) critiqes keep you from reading it, though. If you have sons, you will be helped by the myriad good content in this book that far outweighs the bad. Dobson writes with a humility that makes his suggestions much more palatable, as he tells the reader directly in several spots, "If you don't think this would work for you, you don't have to do it." (This humility makes some of his controversial suggestions more appreciable, such as the notion that teenage boys should not babysit). Included in this book are chapters on how to help boys do well in school, how to raise them in a single-parent family, how to help them develop family intimacy, and an alarming chapter on "Predators" that exist in our society that can hurt boys' development. There is even a short section on being grandparents to boys! And Dobson's advice is always much easier to receive knowing the motivation for which he writes: he is not out to further a political or social cause with this book. He's just concerned about boys in today's culture, and he wants to help parents raise them as well as they can. If any of the above-mentiond critiques make you aprehensive about reading this book, then forget what I wrote and read the book anyway. Glean some of James Dobson's insight for yourself, so that your own sons can grow up to be as healthy as they can be!
Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommend it!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days! I also shared it with friends and relatives rasing boys. I am letting you know now, if you are not a Christian you probably will not agree with it. But if you are it will reaffirm what we stand for. I know it has been an encouragement to me as a mother of a 2 year old.
Rating:
Summary: I'd give it twenty stars if I could!
Review: P>I thank you Dr. Dobson for you taking the time to share what you know about raising boys. I have a twelve year old son who did not have a father until I married when he was six. Your chapters on homosexuality and gender confusion have helped me immensely in the area of understanding my son. He revolted against me at the age of three, and has been a challenge to raise ever since. Don't get me wrong, he's a great kid. I can clearly see now how and why this child had to break away from me and establish his own "manhood." You have "saved" my sanity in the area of understand this kid's enormous will and wanting to NOT be a girl! HA! I had always thought he was simply a difficult child to raise, and all along he wanted to get his male identity clarified by breaking away from me. Whether non-Christians agree with your biblical stands or not, this is a bold and valuable book for ANY parent to own and cherish. My husband is anxious to read it as well, but he can't have it until I read every last word.
Rating:
Summary: Too evangelical
Review: This book was such a disappointment that I returned it after reading half of it. As much as I disapprove of doing that, I objected more to the content of the material inside. I understand that Dr. Dobson has a wealth of experience in his career, and am of the mind set that everyone has a right to their opinion, however,I was so offended by some of what I read, that I couldn't bear the thought of paying money for such "information". I literally could not believe what I was reading in the chapter on "origins of homosexuality". I myself am not a flaming liberal either. However, as a teacher of biology, I am very aware that much of his information about this so called "disorder" is inaccurate. I have a 2 year old son and am always looking for enlightening perspectives on raising him, but much of the information in this book was so common sense that I didn't learn much of anything from it. Most all of his lessons were backed by biblical quotes and references. This sort of gives me the creeps. If you can't be a good decent human being and role model for your child without having to footnote the bible every step of the way, then you need a little help. I have nothing at all against the bible and feel very strongly myself in instillng spirituality in children, but find that too often interpretations are too literal for their own good. If you are looking for scripture notations and references to justify your child rearing philosophy then this is the book for you. I too consider myself a spiritual person, but this was way too narrow minded nature for me.
Rating:
Summary: Thank you, Dr. Dobson
Review: I was wishy washy in my decision to buy this book based on reviews I saw here. It seems this book either gets 5 stars or 1 star! After reading it, I found much of what was written in the 1 star reviews to be misleading. Obviously, I liked it very much. I expected to read this book and like many parenting books, take away some good things and discard others. But instead, I found myself nodding in agreement with Dr. Dobson. His insights seem to be based in common sense to me. The only chapter I wasn't so sure about was the one on the origins of homosexuality. While I understand and appreciate his theories on the development of homosexuality, and even agree with him to a point on his views about whether or not one is born with homosexual tendencies, I'm not ready to totally endorse his views in this area. That being said, its about time that someone had the guts to point out that boys are different from girls (Duh!), and say that its OK. The book sparked great discussions between my husband and I. We're looking forward to raising our son and will no doubt consult Dr. Dobson's book frequently over the next several years.
Rating:
Summary: He dared to write, we dare to read!!!
Review: Look at it from another point of view...I think Dr. Dobson dared to express his own believes. That is great! The only part I have problems with, was the strong Jesus message. I agree that we should bring the best out of both boys and girls and help them strengthen their identities and characters. This should not completely depend on our believe in the Lord. However, the mean to do so could vary. What about people with other religion?? I think this book is useful to parents with critical appraisal ability and are willing to listen to ideas. Anything that makes us stop and think about the future of our next generation should be a good thing during our years as parents for both boys and girls.
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