Leonard Sax

I loved this book's approach, and it explored a lot of interesting areas, but I think it fell short on a lot of stuff as well. I'd love to see an in-depth discussion following this. The language became a bit more inflammatory and incensed towards the end, and some of the information felt cherrypicked.

Adult Nonfiction. A thought-provoking book for parents and educators (and anyone else who knows an unmotivated male--and most likely you do); talks about the problem of unmotivated boys/men and explores possible causes/solutions, including the results of dozens of scientific studies that suggest the negative impact of these causes. Summary: ( 1.) we should reconsider the accelerated format of kindergarten--push that reading and writing stuff back into first grade; reconsider different show more learning environments: more hands-on learning, healthy in-class academic competition (as a motivational tool), and even, in some cases, segregating the boys in their own classrooms. ( 2.) Limit the use of video games (esp. games that reward immoral behavior) to an hour or less a day, and make sure kids understand that family, school, and friends come first. ( 3.) Think twice before prescribing ADHD medication (duh). ( 4.) Try to limit use of PET plastic bottles (the ones we use for bottled water, soda, and baby bottles), esp. when such a bottle has been heated (extra leaching), but in any case when a young child or infant is concerned (male or female, but especially if male). Use glass containers instead. (5.) More responsible male role models.

Even if you don't fully believe all the reasons (though many of the arguments are too strong to really ignore), it's still worth reading all the things that people have written in response to the author's work. show less

Since reading “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” which eventually inspired the movie “Mean Girls,” I have been particularly fascinated with the culture of teen girls, and how it doesn’t really end once the high schoolers go off to college. In this particular book, physician and psychologist Leonard Sax, who previously penned a similar book about boys, examines what he believes are four factors impacting the current society in which girls are growing up. These are sexual identity, the show more cyberbubble, obsessions, and environmental toxins. He dedicates a chapter to each, as well as drawing connections between the various factors. One issue addressed in the sexuality chapter which I have not seen mentioned often in other texts is the increasing “cool” factor of bisexuality and lesbianism. In his chapter on technology, Sax points to sleep deprivation as a factor in the overdiagnosis and medicating of ADHD. In the final chapters, Sax also addresses the importance of feeding the mind, body, and soul of young women, making some interesting points about the differences in physical education, academic education, and religious education for boys and girls.

Though this book does not present a particularly comprehensive look at the adolescence of girls (as evidenced by the title itself), it does make good points about the four titular issues, some of which have yet to be addressed in depth in other materials. An excellent addition to popular literature regarding psychology and development in young women. show less

An excellent book that must be read by everyone that is planning to have children or already have young children under the age of 4-5. I suggest the latter age of 4-5 as it is important that you understand Dr. Sax’s experience and what he has learned about different parenting styles from his pediatric experience and begin following them at those ages or earlier. That is not to say that those with older children would not benefit, however, as your child gets older, if you have not followed show more Dr. Sax’s advice, it gets tougher and tougher to change your child’s behavior. This book is VERY counter cultural to today’s methods of child raising practiced by so many parents – i.e., “I Have to be my child’s friend”, “I have to allow him/her to experience things their friends are doing before they go off to college or else they will immediately do things I prohibited”, etc.) He has many citations to support his commentary. I believe the reason we have so many so-called “snowflakes” in our college students and recent graduates is precisely because parents did not follow his suggested methods. show less