Between Mothers and Sons: The Making of Vital and Loving Men

Rating:
Summary: Insightful & Engaging!
Review: As the mother of 3 sons, I found this book particularly insightful in exploring the unique role both parents play in their sons' lives. Fascinating interpretation of standard boy's fairy tales/stories -- such as Jack & the Bean Stalk & Bambi -- and the impact such tales have on a boy's coming of age.

Rating:
Summary: slightly old-fashioned psychology
Review: Overall an interesting read, I found Mothers & Sons to have an inordinate number of references to Freudian psychology and Oedipal situations. The book bases it's conclusions on actual psychological case studies and sometimes reads more like a doctoral thesis than a guide to raising a loving child. while definitely insightfull it doesn't contain as much practical advice as I'd hoped beyond the obvious. On the other hand if you want to know what makes your husband tick......

Rating:
Summary: slightly old-fashioned psychology
Review: Overall an interesting read, I found Mothers & Sons to have an inordinate number of references to Freudian psychology and Oedipal situations. The book bases it's conclusions on actual psychological case studies and sometimes reads more like a doctoral thesis than a guide to raising a loving child. While definitely insightful it doesn't contain as much practical advice as I'd hoped beyond the obvious. On the other hand there is some commentary on what makes adult men tick that was very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: compassionate look at an essential relationship
Review: While some might object to the overarching psychoanalytic tone, there is a lot to learn and enjoy here as the author incorporates personal experience, anecdotes, research and mythology into her account of the relationship between mothers and sons. I liked her early statement that having a son had moved her from a rigidly feminist position toward one that is more flexible and humanistic. The first section discusses the traits that are uniquely male, and contains chapters on male energy, male role models, male separation and love & sex. I thought this was particularly informative. The second section deals with various special relationships -- shared parenting, single mothers, stepmothers and gay sons. Final chapters deal with the mature relationship between mothers and sons.

The author writes from experience and with compassion, and this is a worthwhile book for mothers (and sons) to read.