Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men
Author: Leonard Sax
Publisher: New York: Basic Books, 2007; 218 pages.
Category: Society, Strength
Synopsis: The gender gap of the early to mid-20th century is quickly becoming inverted. Rather than seeing an equalization of gender opportunity and accomplishment, boys are falling perilously behind in their development and achievement in comparison to girls. Sax’s book seeks not to mourn the improvements of female development, but highlight at least five major reasons why boys are going nowhere with their lives. Upon discovery of these five factors, he also attempts to provide practical solutions for helping boys successfully face the challenges of maturation.
Value: If you are a young man, you can easily see how these factors are alive and well in your own lives. This book can be an encouragement to embrace masculinity and see the cheap façade of manliness that is often sold to you through your peers or entertainment vendors. If you are an older man, this book will help you gain a perspective on what life is like for today’s kids, teens, and young adults. Life has changed and you are responsible for molding these younger boys into men of God. Whether he intended to or not, Sax provided a book that can be just one of many helpful tools in successfully carrying out that vitally important work.