Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Messages With Some Good Content
Review: James Garbarino does an excellent job of understanding youth violence and putting it into its historical and social contexts. However, he works so hard to understand the origins of youth violence that he buys everything these sociopaths sell. He struggles to hold on to his objectivity and not be won over to the dark side, but the book ends up being a criminal defense lawyer's dream-come-true. Garbarino explains to the point of excusing the violence, then keeps backtracking to find his own, and society's, values regarding violence. This book is informative and useful, but have plenty of grains of salt on hand, and be careful and critical, while reading it. Despite all my reservations, I do recommend this to professionals who can put it into proper perspective and be (more) objective (than the author), or to anyone who is willing to read this book as part of a package that, overall, will give the reader a more rounded view of the subject matter.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Messages With Some Good Content
Review: James Garbarino does an excellent job of understanding youth violence and putting it into its historical and social contexts. However, he works so hard to understand the origins of youth violence that he buys everything these sociopaths sell. He struggles to hold on to his objectivity and not be won over to the dark side, but the book ends up being a criminal defense lawyer's dream-come-true. Garbarino explains to the point of excusing the violence, then keeps backtracking to find his own, and society's, values regarding violence. This book is informative and useful, but have plenty of grains of salt on hand, and be careful and critical, while reading it. Despite all my reservations, I do recommend this to professionals who can put it into proper perspective and be (more) objective (than the author), or to anyone who is willing to read this book as part of a package that, overall, will give the reader a more rounded view of the subject matter.
Rating: 
Summary: Must reading for policy makers
Review: James Garbarino's book highlights the confusion that we instill in children when we make them responsible for their actions and don't accept our responsibility for their well being. As a former junior high school principal, I wish every legislator would read this book before they pass more laws moving juvenile offenders into our cruel and ineffective adult correctional system.
Rating:
Summary: As long as men have wars, so will boys do violence.
Review: My review is only one line. Why does no one speak out against war any more? Was that the lesson of Vietnam? Of Desert Storm? To not speak out against the killing of innocent people? Oh well, boys will be boys.
Rating: 
Summary: Putting a human face on youth violence is my goal.
Review: My work as a professor at Cornell University and as an invited lecturer at conferences and meetings all over the country means that virtually every single week I have a chance to talk to groups of people about issues affecting children, youth, and families. However, one of the highlights of these situations is the opportunity to talk directly to individuals who come up after the lecture or after class and to hear what they have to say. This is why I am pleased to be able to speak to individuals who have come to Amazon.com for information about my new book Lost Boys. If we were sitting down for a chat this is what I would say to you about the book: For the past 25 years I have been searching for answers to three questions: "why do human beings hurt each other?" "what effect does this hurt have on the development of children and adolescents?" and "how can we transform our lives to heal the hurt?" This work has taken has taken me to war zones around the world to understand the impact of political violence. This work has taken me all over the world, from Yugoslavia to Mozambique, from Cambodia to Nicaragua, from Israel and Palestine to Northern Ireland.For example, in the wake of the Gulf War I was sent to Kuwait and Iraq on behalf of UNICEF to assess the impact of the violence on children there. In my work here at home as a psychologist and a researcher I go to neighborhoods, schools, and prisons all over North America, where I try to understand how violence at home compares with violence abroad and what lessons we can learn from the one to help us deal with the other. For the last four years I have been focusing my work on the problem of lethal youth violence in America: kids who kill. This means that I sit down hour after hour with violent boys and young men to hear their stories. I have learned a great deal from these hours spent listening. I have learned to see beyond the outside toughness so many violent youth project to glimpse their inner sadness and pain. And I have come to see the central importance of spiritual development in understanding and dealing with the issue of youth violence-- preventing it and curing it. This is what Lost Boys is all about. I think it has something to offer to every adult who cares about kids -- as the parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend or neighbor of a particular boy or in some general way as a teacher, a counselor, a coach, a police officer, a lawyer or a therapist. I hope readers will come away from Lost Boys with a renewed sense of hope and sympathy for the difficulties many boys face in growing up in our society and the devestating costs to all of us when boys grow up hurt and sad, costs that take the form of violence directed at self or others. Remember that about the same number of boys kill themselves as kill other people in our society. In many ways Lost Boys is a work of love. It reflects my love for the boys in my life-- my son, my step-son, and my nephews. Learning how to love them has taught me a great deal. And it reflects my love for the girls in my life -- my daughter and my niece-- because the quality of the lives "my girls" will live depends to a great extent upon the relationships they will have with the boys of today who will become the men of tomorrow. Lost Boys is also a work of love in that it reflects the love I have found in my own spiritual life. This recognition of the central importance of spirituality runs through the book as a complement to all the psychology, sociology, biology, and anthropology I use to make sense of violence in the lives of boys. If you find Lost Boys helpful and want to share your experience or if you simply want to be in touch because you have something to say to me you can reach me via e-mail at jg38@cornell.edu
Rating:
Summary: solid research
Review: The ability to get behind the eyes of troubled kids and see the world from their perspective is invaluable for anyone struggling to understand why kids find themselves in such situations. Dr Garbarino's book also validates the social programs created by schools to encourage the inclusion of everyone. I am already seeing a resurgence of school based student assistance programs and support group activities. Thanks for your meticulous effort. "Meticulous" is the right word, as these kids are not easy to reach. They have been socially "walled out" for so long that they have learned not to trust anyone. Anyone (parent, school staff or another student) who tries to connect will find that their communication structure takes alot of "wait time" and patience - just to make sense of what is being said. It is worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: solid research
Review: The ability to get behind the eyes of troubled kids and see the world from their perspective is invaluable for anyone struggling to understand why kids find themselves in such situations. Dr Garbarino's book also validates the social programs created by schools to encourage the inclusion of everyone. I am already seeing a resurgence of school based student assistance programs and support group activities. Thanks for your meticulous effort. "Meticulous" is the right word, as these kids are not easy to reach. They have been socially "walled out" for so long that they have learned not to trust anyone. Anyone (parent, school staff or another student) who tries to connect will find that their communication structure takes alot of "wait time" and patience - just to make sense of what is being said. It is worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: Garbarino erases misconceptions of youth violence and hatred
Review: The book, Lost Boys, by Dr. James Garbarino, provides the reader with a personal perspective on male youth violence. Dr. Garbarino not only establishes a strong theoretical base for youth violence, but he shares personal accounts from boys who have committed violent acts. These personal accounts are what keep the reader enthralled in the subject of youth violence today. This book, disturbing in its description of youth violence, was written even before the Columbine High shooting in Colorado. Dr. Garbarino is successful in reminding his audience that no one is immune from youth violence. The boys who commit these cannot be lumped into one race or one socioeconomic status. The book makes the point that violence is becoming prevalent among White, suburban communities whose inhabitants felt completely safe at one time. Dr. Garbarino discusses the many factors that contribute to the detriment of young boys. The book is an effective resource on why boys turn violent, and what can be done preventatively and through rehabilitation to stop the violence. I found that the initial personal accounts of adolescent murderers significantly served the purpose of bringing the reader to see these boys as humans, not monsters. Dr. Garbarino relates how it is too easy to label these violent youths as monsters, void of any emotion. Most of the youths commit violent acts for a variety of reasons, many which are directly related to problems in child development. Dr. Garbarino stresses that it takes a combination of genetic and environmental factors to cause youths to commit violent crimes. In this discussion of outside factors that influence youth violence, Dr. Garbarino relates the theory of his mentor, Urie Brofenbrenner. Brofenbrenner believes that every child's development is affected by his ecological perspective. The ecological perspective is the theory that a child interacts with his environment while, simultaneously, the environment acts upon the child. This support's Garbarino's view that a child is not simply born evil to commit acts of violence. Whether a child will commit violence is the result of heredity and environment. This view is also concurrent with the famous Nature and Nurture theory of human development; moreover, that behavior is determined as the result of a combination of both. In Lost Boys, Garbarino illustrates the example that a genetically sound boy can be raised in violent surroundings and become violent as a result; consequently, a boy who has severe developmental problems but is raised in a nurturing environment may choose not to commit violence. In Lost Boys, Garbarino discusses the motivations behind what prompts boys in their moral decision-making by referring to Kohlberg's Moral Reasoning theory. Garbarino explains that most violent boys are in Kohlberg's first level, the Preconventional Moral Reasoning stage. At this stage, boys do not focus on what actions are right or wrong; instead, boys contemplate whether they will benefit or not from committing a violent act. In the book, Garbarino gives an example of how family is the most important entity in one boy's life. For someone to come along and insult a member of this family, this could cause the boy to act out in a violent manner. For most boys in Kohlberg's first stage of moral reasoning, morality is colored and complex. Dr. Garbarino introduces the importance of personal relationships in the development of youths. Garbarino incorporates Vygotsky's developmental theory that children's development is primarily social and dependent on language and cultural factors. Garbarino recognizes that a large number of boys committing heinous crimes have either destructive role models or none at all. It is a well-studied conclusion that children model adult behavior. Kids have to have someone to look up to and imitate, and when this someone is a violent adult, the child most likely will exhibit violent behavior. Peers and religious influences are good markers for whether or not boys become destructive. Garbarino sadly points out that one of the boys responsible for a school massacre felt socially outcasted by his peers. Garbarino stresses that rejection by parents or peers from an early age can have serious consequences on a child's development. These boys yearn for a sense of belonging and acceptance. Garbarino says that besides good parental upbringing and strong peer relationships, a strong connection to religion has a very positive impact on child development. In conclusion, Garbarino calls attention to the fact that there are not enough quality rehabilitation programs or facilities for violent boys. Before reading Garbarino's book, I was guilty of wanting to dismiss the violent youths of today as being crazy and obviously raised improperly. After reading Lost Boys, however, I agree with Garbarino that these boys should be given a fair chance to be rehabilitated in good facilities. Garbarino has made a strong and valid case in his book that youth violence in the U.S. today is not limited to warzones in inner cities. No one can claim total immunity from youth violence. Lost Boys offers a realistic and shocking look into why youths kill and what developmental factors influence violence.
Rating:
Summary: A must read in the wake of Littleton
Review: The trajic events this week in Littleton, Colorado underline the urgency for this brilliant, compassionate, wise, and beautifully- written book. I bought this book because my own children had been having some difficulty with local street toughs. I urge parents, teachers, and administators to read it and incorporate its teachings into their everday lives. If you read this book, and do everything you can to get guns off of our streets, you will be doing a big service for your community and the country at large.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely timely and enlightening book about youth violence.
Review: This book by Dr. James Garbarino comes at a time when a lot of Americans wonder: What will happen next with youth violence? How far is this going to go? Are youth becoming monsters? Like many Americans and others from around the world, I have been asking myself these questions. I have been horrified by the incomprehensible crimes committed by such young boys as the ones we all watched in replays of horrifying school shootings. "Lost Boys" is the first book I have read which really helped me understand how kids can commit "senseless" crimes. It also gave me hope that we, as members of society, do not need to be helpless witnesses of this madness. I recommend this book to anyone living in a violent society.
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