Real Boys : Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood
by William Pollack
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"Based on William Pollack's groundbreaking research at Harvard Medical School for more than two decades, Real Boys explores this generation's "silent crisis": why so many boys are sad, lonely, and confused although they may appear tough, cheerful, and confident. Pollack challenges conventional expectations about manhood and masculinity that encourage parents to treat boys as little men, raising them through a toughening process that drives their true emotions underground. Only when we show more understand what boys are really experiencing, says Pollack, can parents and teachers help them develop more self-confidence and the emotional savvy they need to deal with issues such as depression and violence, drugs and alcohol, sexuality and love. Book jacket."--Jacket. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Must read for anyone raising a son these days or interacting with boys. The complexities of friendships, emotions, social pressure to "hold it all together" is something not talked about as openly as it is re: girls.
Thoughtful but tends just slightly toward too touchy-feely and too much toward the exceptional cases. About half of the content would relate to the average boy in a two-parent family. It's worth reading once if you parent boys. There are some good points about the inequality in the treatment of boys vs. girls -- girls receive a disproportionate share of the attention and much more leniency in certain matters.
A good book about raising boys in ways that don't promote the "macho" culture of violence and fear of showing emotions. I read it when my son was small, and I was very concerned based on what I remember of the way boys were treated (and behaved) when I was growing up. Fortunately, I think society has progressed in this regard, at least in the communities in which I've lived. Still, a good book for parents of young boys.
I was forced to read this over the summer for psychology class. It completley suprised me as to how much I didn't know about boys. I really enjoyed reading it, and I have sent it out to my family and friends. Each chapter was broken down so simply, so if you are having a specific problem it's easy to find a specific answer. After reading this I have asked loads of questions to guys, and now I am extremly more aware of their feelings. I reccomend this to anyone who is working with, loving, or just wanting to know more about boys and men.
Excellent resource for working with and counseling boys.
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Author Information

7+ Works 1,137 Members
William Pollack, Ph.D. (www.williampollack.com), a clinical psychologist, is the codirector of the Center for Men at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School, and a founding member and Fellow of the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity of the American show more Psychological Association. He and his family live in Masschusetts. show less
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Common Knowledge
- First words
- A work of this scope rarely involves the toil or ideas of just one person.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)that we'll love them through and through for being just the boy they really are.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Sexuality and Gender Studies
- DDC/MDS
- 305.23 — Society, Government, and Culture Social sciences, sociology & anthropology Social group - Age, Gender, Ethnicity Age groups Young people up to 20
- LCC
- HQ775 .P65 — Social sciences The family. Marriage, Women and Sexuality The Family. Marriage. Women The family. Marriage. Home Children. Child development
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 909
- Popularity
- 29,379
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English, Finnish, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 4




























































