A Fine Young Man: What Parents, Mentors, and Educators Can Do to Shape Adolescent Boys in Exceptional Men

Rating:
Summary: Accurate Depiction of Boys in a Feminist Hate Culture
Review: As a college student who is writing an honors thesis on the plight of adolescent boys in the feminist hate culture, I found this book very enlightening and powerfully informative. This was very useful to me not only in my paper but also in gaining a better understanding of how adolescent boys are. Well done!

Rating:
Summary: Catchy for its stereotypical simplicity.
Review: As a female in this society, I would like to believe that someday we would view respectful, non-aggressive, non-violent males as common instead of exceptional. Many of the author's ideas may encourage emotional closeness in one form or another, but too many of the author's premises are based more upon continued stereotypes than scientific data with many of the studies used to support his point of view being narrow and self-serving in scope. The most workable ideas presented are as fit for female bonding as for male, and parents could find equal alternatives if only they would look past the outward genitalia, relax, and relate to their children as people -- for there are too many exceptions to purported behaviors, etc. to be ignored in favor of yet another testosterone theory.

Rating:
Summary: Antifeminist ripoff of Reviving Ophelia
Review: As a minister to youth, I sat down with A Fine Young Man ready to be educated in how to understand the young men I work with and communicate back to them a sense of their own self-worth and integrity in a culture that sells all youth out in innumerable dangerous ways. Instead, I got a litany of the author's personal biases about what he perceives is the "feminist agenda" that wants to turn men into women, supported with scanty "scientific" evidence (I was a journalist once; I know how to manipulate poll results, too), compounded with a vague injunction to "do better" as mentors and parents. I was hoping for more case studies. I was hoping for more concrete suggestions about warning signs and counseling techniques. I was hoping for a non-political firsthand understanding of how our boys struggle to become men in a very confused culture. This book truly disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Fine Young Man is a treasure
Review: As a single mom this was a hard book for me to read. I had no problem finding mentors for my daughter - there were always other mothers & teachers. Finding mentors for my son was problematic. At least I did recognize he needed male role models & decent ones at that. In A Fine Young Man, Michael Gurian gives us a swift, fluent & readily digestible version of the Adolescent Male 101. For those of us in the body female - this is fascinating, validating & enlightening. For those of us in the body male I expect it's all of that with the added feature of being familiar! I sure hope so! A must for anyone raising sons or mentoring our young men...

Rating:
Summary: A Fine Young Man is a treasure
Review: As a single mom this was a hard book for me to read. I had no problem finding mentors for my daughter - there were always other mothers & teachers. Finding mentors for my son was problematic. At least I did recognize he needed male role models & decent ones at that. In A Fine Young Man, Michael Gurian gives us a swift, fluent & readily digestible version of the Adolescent Male 101. For those of us in the body female - this is fascinating, validating & enlightening. For those of us in the body male I expect it's all of that with the added feature of being familiar! I sure hope so! A must for anyone raising sons or mentoring our young men...

Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth the time
Review: At a conference for educators, I atttended Gurian's presentation. I had never heard of him, but thought he was one of the most sane and compassionate voices among the many addressing these issues. Having subsequently read all his books except the new one, A Good Son, I found A Fine Young Man to be the most helpful and most interestingly written. I've recommended it and given it as a gift quite a few times. His position is not anti-feminist; it is pro-boy, which is quite different. Until we can make this distinction as educators and as parents we will continue to put our young men and our society at risk.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely worth the time
Review: At a conference for educators, I atttended Gurian's presentation. I had never heard of him, but thought he was one of the most sane and compassionate voices among the many addressing these issues. Having subsequently read all his books except the new one, A Good Son, I found A Fine Young Man to be the most helpful and most interestingly written. I've recommended it and given it as a gift quite a few times. His position is not anti-feminist; it is pro-boy, which is quite different. Until we can make this distinction as educators and as parents we will continue to put our young men and our society at risk.

Rating:
Summary: Makes Boys Sound Like Wreckless Hormone Driven Monsters,
Review: Basically to make a long story short he gives boys <male brains>
*bunk" all the traits of monstes which have to be controlled by
channeling boys even further into this behavior by saying it's
"normal".In REAL life there are plenty of quiet,well mannered
boys and sex crazed rocus girls.This book has nothing to do with
reality,and is based on Gurian's subjective beliefs about
boys or as he puts it "male brains".Brains are brains and they
vary from person to person,once more he doesn't seem to understand their is more to a ^BEING^ than mere biology.
People can teach their children,both boys and girls that they
have self controll and will to succeed.Both girls as well as
boys need information which will lead them toward success in
life,not just boys.Much weight to succeed is put on boys in
his realm.This ideal of 'masculine' *gag* perfection is not good for boys,because it's a ONE SIZE FITS ALL type of
mentality.
What he's doing to kids and also adults is criminal.

Rating:
Summary: A Clinical Psychologist's View
Review: I find Gurian's cross-cultural perspective fascinating, and he does a better job in this book than in "The Wonder of Boys" of suggesting actions that can be taken and changes that can be made to help our young men. As a mentor and a clinical psychologist who works with children and their families, I see far too many boys trying to figure out how to become men with little or no input from men. Growing up just happens as boys grow older, but maturing is another matter; maturing or developing into adulthood requires guidance and/or examples to follow. Mothers do all they can, but boys need men they respect who will teach them how to become men, or at least lead by example. This is highly recommended for mentors, educators, and parents.

Rating:
Summary: Good but left me longing for more
Review: I have 2 boys 12 and 14. I hunger for books on this subject. I liked this book better than others. I chaff at the sterotypes necessary in this sort of book although Gurian handled this issue gracefully. The book is dense on theory and philosophy and more articulate and complete and thought provoking than most. I liked his list of characteristics and attributes of the fine young man. The sections on practical hints, while much more complete than most other books on the subject could certainly bear some fleshing out especially for parents who not are well connected with adequate male models. It made me grateful I have a great husband and a circle of good friends.