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Summary: Raising Cain
Review: I photocopied the chapter "Romancing the Stone" about boys' developing sexuality and plan to give it to my daughter to read when she becomes interested in boys. It tells so clearly how boys will do and say anything to have sex and how they know what girls want desperately to hear. That chapter was the most interesting to me, not having grown up male.
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Summary: I wish I'd read this 17 years ago...
Review: I bought this book because of the troubles I have with my 17 year old son. None of the counseling I have received could even compare with the information I gathered from this book! I have 3 sons, my youngest is 22 months. This book will change the way I raise all of them, and gave me much greater insight into my oldest's life. I only wish I had realized many of the things this book clearly points out many years back. I could have avoided the confrontational situation I am in today with my teenager. I could not put this book down. So much of my boys lives came clearly into view after reading the stories of so many boys, and their many situations. Many will hit home with you. I wish EVERYONE had to read this book, it would change the way society treats our boys. Many of the problems we see today with boys we bring on ourselves, by our lack of understanding of the differences between boys and girls. Reading this book will change the perception of "it's a man's world". I am enlightened and saddened at the knowledge this book provides.
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Summary: Best boy guide ever
Review: I don't know what I did without this book. It is the best insight into why boys do what they do and the real feelings and emotions we don't see. I have recommended it to all my friends with boys and would recommend that if you have a boy, this is a must read.
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Summary: A must read for those with and without children!
Review: My sister is a licensed day-care provider. This year she is doing something a little different. She only has little boys.... seven little boys! When I told this to a friend, a child psychologist, he became quite animated and excited about this book and that my sister should read it. I watched him as he explained different issues of how we are given our "life" lessons and how different the boys lessons were in comparison to the girls. Having no children myself, yet believing we all stay children, but get more experiences as we grow, the books sounded great. Wow... my eyes are opened... ! Yes, boys and girls are different, but the majority of the difference is not put there by nature, it is placed there by the messages we get as little girls and little boys. This book will tell you about yourself.. will help you with your children, boy and girl children.. It is extremely well written. It is written in the form of short stories. Very similar to the way we learn as really young children. This book is a must for all, and especially our educators.
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Summary: Best of Recent Years
Review: I have been a teacher, psychologist, and counselor in an academically selective private high school for boys -- a Catholic school run by the Jesuits -- for almost 40 years. This is one of the finest books that I have read in a long, long time. If I could afford to do so, I would by a copy for every parent of every student in our school.
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Summary: Eye opening
Review: I found that this book really went into the depths of boys and really tried to explain why boys feel and do what they do. I would recommend this book to anyone that is a boy or is raising one.
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Summary: Excellent, Well Researched and Insightful! SIGNIFICANT!
Review: This book goes into the value of both the mother and the father in raising a son. It further explains the need for boys to maintain a group of peer friends. This title should be read by parents, granparents and any adult educator involved with young boys. Using case studies the author shares his insight and years of experience as to what works and what does not work. You will also read about what historic tradition values have done to boys in the past and alternate ways of caring for our sons emotional needs. I found the writing to be both interesting and informative. A must have title for parents with a son.
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Summary: A must read for all grade school teachers
Review: This book should be required reading for all grade school teachers, especially those who have no boys of their own. After witnessing the impatience and lack of understanding some teachers have shown to my son and his friends, I can definitely see the difference between those who have raised their own boys and those who have not This book could really help to open their eyes and, hopefully, touch their hearts to be a little bit more understanding .
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Summary: You might not need this book...
Review: It's a pretty good book, but nothing new is said. If you already knowthat ALL children (not just boys and not just girls) are at risk intoday's classrooms and schools; that physical punishment only inspires more bad behavior and, eventually, breeds violence; and that gender differences need only be respected not rigidly adhered to (i.e., respect a young man's tendency to "hold back" a little but don't adminish him for crying over the death of his goldfish, the frustration of learning a new subject, his failure to make the team, etc.), then you don't really "need" Raising Cain. If, on the other hand, your sons, nephews, male students, etc. seem indecipherable to you, strike you as requiring a "good spanking" to "shape them up," or appear to be "little crybabies," you need more than Raising Cain or any other book can give you. Do you see where I'm going with this? Parents on the "right course" with their kids already instinctively know much of what is presented in this book. They know because they've lived it. Anyone leading an examined life can see the potential "hot issues" in their parenting styles and will adapt them based on the individual needs of their children -- boys or girls. In short, savvy parents (teachers, relatives, etc.) will find a few gems in this book. They will be validated in methods they are already employing in their interactions with the kids they know. They will be reminded that all children are influenced by the adults in their lives. So, if you need gems, validation, or reminders, read Raising Cain. It is cleanly written, heartfelt, and laden with "cases." If you're feeling pretty confident, though, pick up a good children's book -- like Holes, A Long Way from Chicago, or The Phantom Tollbooth -- and go read to the kids. They'll love it.
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Summary: Moving and thoughtful
Review: When I got engaged last year I became an uncle to two small boys, now ages 4 1/2 and 2. I thought this book would be useful to better understand them as they grow older. Raising Cain presents thoughtful, often moving, guidance (anecdotal and theoretical) on a dozen or so topics that I think can help caregivers on a number of levels. Many of the somewhat negative reviews here compare this book to similar ones. This was my first book on the topic and I thought it a great overview, both educational and entertaining. The stories about boys in Raising Cain often end abruptly, leaving you wondering if or how a particular situation was resolved. At first this annoyed me, but I came to think it was a good approach since the challenges of raising a boy are rarely solved with a quick fix. The authors suggest that the effort to raise a boy is ongoing, frought with uncertainty and requiring ongoing love and persistence. Finally, many of the anecdotes in Raising Cain reminded me of some of the challenges of my own boyhood, which gave me many useful starting points for reflection.
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