Rating: 
Summary: Probably a good first book for teenagers.
Review: Andrew Tobias may have been the best little boy in the world, but he is certainly not the best writer in the world. This book is, however, humorously written, and is not sexually explicit, so that it would make a good "primer" on gay life. (At least I am supposing this, as I am not gay myself.) I believe there are far better books describing gay life, but this book does not intimidate as others might.
Rating: 
Summary: A must for anyone coming out... I read it cover to cover.
Review: At a time while I was trying to come to terms with my own sexuality, this book was a GODsend. I read it cover to cover one day huddled in a public library and almost cried throughout the book knowing that there were others out there like myself. Reid was and still is the best author I have ever read that made me feel like i possibly did not have to hide, that there were others like me. I felt as if I were reading my own autobiography, though I had not yet made the progress that he had. While at times it almost did (or did) bring me to tears, afterwords, I was uplifted for a period (looking back) of days during a very rough time in my life. I strongly recomend this book to anyone who feels like they are the ONLY "boy" in the world out there that feel the way they do. I would like to shake Reid's hand and say thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS, BEST FRIENDS, ETC. ARE GAY!
Review: BLBITW is a gift. Thank you "John Reid" aka Andrew Tobias. Just when you think you are the only one, a book like this comes along and provides comfort. It's OK to be gay and, most often, it is NOT a personal choice as the heterosexual MASS MEDIA would have us beleive. The narrative is at once compassionate and roaringly funny. You are not alone.
Rating:
Summary: The life some wish they could have
Review: I finally read this book after being out of the closet for five years and I found it to be a very interesting look into ones man struggle with his sexuality and coming out. At times it mimicked mine and at others I was like "I wish".. It is interesting that Mr. Tobias chose to write this book during a time when it was not safe for your life or your career to come out of the closet.. For that I will give him kudos!! On the other hand this book shows the "lighter" side of the coming out process.. (not to belittle the personal horror we all go through).. Andrew is a lucky man to be surrounded by people who are supportive.. Alot of us do not have that suport.. I wish he would have followed this book up with one on another man's life.. maybe one of those that did not have such a charmed life?
Rating:
Summary: A wonderfully contemporary novel
Review: I found this book to be one of the most insightful and helpful books I have ever read. Although Mr. Tobias (aka John Reid) came out in the 70's, when it was far less safe or politically correct to do so, many of his emotions and internal struggles remain true to young people who are today struggling with their identies. Although at times Mr. Tobias has a tendancy to ramble in his writing, this only adds to the book's charm. It is a must read for gay and straight people alike. For the former it teaches that they are not alone in their sturggles, for the latter it teaches acceptance and understanding. It is truly a modern classic about a subject much too rarely discussed.
Rating:
Summary: Yeah, It was Okay
Review: I had heard so much about the book that I perhaps expected more than it was able to deliver. Nice book, but don't expect miracles of enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: It's still true.
Review: I picked this book up last night and couldn't stop reading. I thought mine was a unique journey, but it's not. Mr. Tobias has already been there - about twenty five years ago. If you have a similar background - WASP, upper middle class upbringing, sports oriented - you'll likely find yourself in this book. Sure, he disparages other types of gay men, but that's what's so honest - he's telling you how he really feels, whether it's p.c. or not. Too many books about coming out tell you some perfect version of how you should feel. My story is very much like this one, a long struggle within myself, a lot of dodging (the story about faking hookups with girls in college hit so close that my hands started shaking, as did the sinking feeling after college when everyone starts pairing up and getting married). Sure some things have changed since the 1970s, but a whole lot has not. The emotions and coping mechanisms for someone like myself are all still the same. Coming out (recently) has been a struggle, mostly within myself. This book, since I relate to the author's socioeconomic background, carried a charge of recognition like nothing I've ever read before. This book has given me the hope to keep moving forward.
Rating:
Summary: A very helpful book for the average teen coming out.
Review: I read the TBLBITW and it was so helpful for me, because it showed me I was not the only one that thought I was "weird." I totally enjoy the book, and HIGHLY recommen it to any person having questions about their sexuality, or having troubles understanding their sexuality. I help me realize that yes I am GAY, and that am not the only person who has trouble coming out of the 'closet.'
Rating:
Summary: Dated, but still relevant
Review: I read this book about 10 years ago while struggling with my own sexual identity and found it helpful to see others going through the same thing. I re-read it recently and found how much more I could relate to it now, then I could then. Some of the story is a bit dated now, showing gay life and the closet in the late 60's and early 70's when society had a different view of homosexuality and it's openness. Also, I found the author to be a bit more self-critical than I would like - maybe it's the liberal use of the pejorative "faggot" which today can be used within the gay community much like the "n-word" in the black community, but at the time of writing was still the major insult and put down. That said, much of his struggles, both internal and external, are still very relevant. It gives a good view into the head of someone who has to go through realization, and acceptance of who they are, and their role in relation to those they love. It's a very real and truthful account, not full of reminiscent rosiness, but of reality. While the author never suffered major setbacks due to his seuxal identity, he always planned for the worst, and that is good to see and lends relevance to today, where despite best wishes, setbacks and more do happen as we all come out. The book is even more interesting when followd up by the sequel "The Best Little Boy In The World Grows Up" where in the first chapters, Tobias returns to his book 15 years later, removes a lot of the veils of secrecy (he described Harvard, not Yale as in the book, etc.) and where he has gone in the years since. The pair of books make a very good 'Then and Now' pair.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece for those in search of themselves
Review: i read this book at 16, it was wonderful, nothing could ever deture me from recomending this.
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