We were very pleased with our book. It was in great condition. We got it in quickly as well! Thanks for your service!

This book offers great practical and biblical advices on how to raise a boy. If you are liberal parents, you are not going to like what he says. We are conservative Christian who are determined to raise our children with the right /godly values and appropriate discipline with unconditional love. This book is what I need.

I'm not completely finished reading this book yet, but it has had some good information about boys. I do think Dr. Dobson spends a too much time on the feminist movement of the 70s and how it has impacted boys/men. He seems to go on and on about this rather than focusing on how to best raise our boys. As I said, I'm not done with the book, but got a little disinterested and set it aside because of the above.

How about we all just accept our boys for the beautiful, unique people they are! Don't waste your time or money with this book.

With one little boy already in our family & another on the way I looked into getting this book. I was able to read a few pages online & I didn't want to stop reading once the sample pages ended! The info I read said it was very helpful in understanding boys & possibly helping to understand what makes your husband tick also. They were right! I bought the audio book thinking there was no way I'd be able to just sit around & read, but I could definitely listen while I was driving around town running errands. I'm glad I did...I've already listened to 4 of the cds & they have amazing info in them on the differences between males & females, the importance of both mothers & fathers in a child's life, discipline & so much more! I would highly recommend this book or audiobook/cds to anyone with boys or a husband!!!

This book was given to my wife and I as a baby "gift". I didn't know whether to laugh or run screaming when I read it, quite honestly. I'm sure the people who gave it to us were well-meaning, but now I understand why their family is so screwed up. They buy into stuff like this!

Dobson is a man scared of anything outside of his little white, Christian bubble of existence. From page 203: "Dogging the young like hungry wolves are predators who would exploit them for financial gain, including drug pushers, unprincipled movie and television producers, sex abusers, abortion providers, heavy-metal freaks, and now, those who inhabit the Internet." I think it's hilarious how he chooses to lump them all together. There's a big difference between being a sex abuser and an abortion provider, as common sense would dictate. As for those heavy-metal "freaks" - I'm one of 'em, and I've been in public education for a decade now. Kids love the fact that I like the same music they're into, and they actually work harder in my classes because they relate to me! And don't worry, I'm not filling their impressionable young minds full of smut and Satan. We stick to math and science, thank you very much. Whoever awarded Dobson his Ph.D. in child development ought to reconsider their decision. He's way out of touch.

As for all those sex abusers out there, the only pedophile I've ever personally knew of was associated with the Cub Scouts. Oh, and let's not forget about all those Catholic priests who like little boys...

Dobson also has all kinds of ideas on how to "prevent" your son from becoming "one of those homosexuals that won't go to heaven when they die." It's intolerance like this that makes life so difficult for so many people who don't fit into those neat little boxes that the ultra-religious prescribe for everyone. Why can't you just let people be? There are plenty of gay people who have healthy relationships with their parents. There are plenty of gay parents who have healthy relationships with their kids. If Dobson weren't afraid of his own shadow, maybe he'd learn a few things about reality. He's too "focused on the family", apparently...

Don't even get me started on Dobson's whole God-fearing spiel. His self-righteousness is amazing. Let's not forget how much pain and suffering has occurred on this planet thanks to religion. It's pretty hard to advance as a species when we still rely on fairy-tales to scare people into doing the "right" thing, or when we kill each other because we don't believe in the same myths.

Live and let live, and unless you're hurting someone else, what's the big deal? I'm not too worried about raising my sons. I'm more worried about the sick close-mindedness of the people who produce this propaganda. I'll take my kids to a Judas Priest concert before I ever let them near the Bible-thumpers who knock on our door Sunday morning, trying to "save" us...

My husband and I loved this book. My husband is one of 4 boys who grew up with few boundaries and even less fear! My brother and I were raised by a single mom. This book opened our eyes and set us up to be much better parents to our new son. I for one had no appreciation or understanding for boys being boys and my husband had way too much :-) We both love our son dearly and want him to grow into a mighty man of God - full of confidence and daring balanced with wisdom and knowledge. This book is just awesome and we highly recommend it.

This book was extremely helpful to me in understanding boys in general (even my husband! ha!) He does a great job of explaining how boys and girls are wired differently and why boys are the way that they are. There were a couple chapters that I skipped over because I didn't feel like they really applied to my son or my family at this time, but it is a book that I am sure I will reference many times.

I am so glad a friend recommended this book to me. Being a female, I did not understand the male mind very well. I'll still never understand my son as well as my husband does, but now I feel so much more comfortable with mine and my son's relationship.

It should have been called "Bringing Up Homophobes". I am a Christian and received this from my Christiam MIL upon the birth of my first son. I have never been so disgusted by a book in my life and finally understood the desire to burn a book. I can't even give it away for free because I don't want anyone else to fill their minds with this tripe.

Dr. Dobson has grossly mis-subtitled this volume: It should have been called, "Bringing Up Boys: What's wrong with contemporary American society and how it threatens the well-being of your sons." His book contains chapter after tiresome chapter of him warning and/or inveighing against a parade of societal ills, cherry-picking sound bytes from popular news media up to thirty years old to make his points, and offering very little practical advice or encouragement for parents. An almost worthless read.

Please note that I write this as a conservative, born-again Christian.

How can this man claim to be a doctor? If you want biased information from a homophobic, feminist-hating quack, buy this book.

As a single mother, I was looking for specific information on how to help my son with male only issues, and all I got was a lecture on the importance of the bible and a rant about how traditional family values ought to be followed - WHICH ARE DANGEROUS!!!

Fast-forward to the future "Mr." Dobson, women are tired of domineering, repressing, men. Let's raise our boys with an appreciation of both genders, less violence, appreciation of different religions, and RESPECT FOR WOMEN!

I cannot imagine how many people you have corrupted with this trash.

If anyone out there wants some real information on family, buy a book that focuses on family - not one particular gender.

I have recently become a fan of Dr. Dobson. This was a very eye opening look into a boy's world.

I believe that this book can be summed up with a quote from page 122:

"If a father wants his son to grow up straight, he has to break the mother-son connection that is proper to infancy but not in the boy's interest after the age of three. In this way, the father has to be a model, demonstrating that it is possible for his son to maintain a loving relationship with this woman, his mom, while maintaining his won independence. In this way, the father is a healthy buffer between mother and son."

I found this book both insulting and apalling. As a single mother with a kind, bright son who loves baseball AND theatre, I have no intention of breaking off our relationship, or of jumping through hoops to make sure my son identifies with the male gender, as "Dr." Dobson would suggest.

He is quite clear on his gender, even without a man around.

A much more helpful approach is found in "Real Boys: Rescuing our sons from the Myths of Boyhood" by William Pollack, Ph.D. Pollacks book was written with much more common sense and love.

This is a must read for parents of boys. One section had me laughing so hard that I almost couldn't continue through the laughter. I thought "this was me when I was young". My wife being an only child found this book enlightening. If only more parents read this book and applied it teachings this world would be in better shape. Dr. Dobson hit the nail on the head.

Having read a dozen or more negative reviews my conclusion is that they generally just come down to a disagreement on Dobson's view of certain issues, and not the meat of the book per say. These issues could be summarized in, the breakdown of the traditional family, misunderstanding of gender roles, and the effeminizing of males in our society. The majority of people who will negatively review this book are those who already disagree with it ideologically from the get-go.

The thing about "Bringing up Boys" is that it does not hit solely on the problem of radical feminism and homosexuality as it's main premise (despite what you may be led to believe by reading 1 and/or 2 star reviews), although it does highlight them in some areas as the main instigators of a deeper societal problem. The book actually focuses more on the importance of self-esteem, protecting your children from psychological abuse (i.e. teasing), self-control, the effects of violent media, the importance of positive role models, and highlighting the positive strengths of being male.

What you will get in this book is a world-view for raising boys. Despite what you may have been told, it is not about legalism, sexism, intolerance, "papal" obeisance, or whatever else you equate to religion, but instead a greater awareness of who your son is, through a Christian understanding of love, acceptance, and self-worth.

My advice is:
1. If you detest Christian worldview, then don't buy this book - it will rankle your skin
2. If you think you might disagree with something but can be an honest ideologist then eat the meat and spit out the "bones" - there's plenty of meat.
3. If you've read other Dobson material and/or believe in what Focus on the Family is doing then you will probably like this book - if nothing else, it will push you towards praying for your children and your country.

Lastly, I read several other posts by single parents who felt alienated by the books focus on the "nuclear family" (mom and dad). It's too bad the book felt so condemning for you. I would advise that you go to the Dobson's website and do a search on single parenting, where you will find several articles/books/CD's with help for what you are looking for.

This is a great look into how and why boys and girls SHOULD be treated differently. They are wired differently and should be respected as such. Dr. Dobson hits another one out of the park. It is a very encouraging book in a world that is trying to make our boys more like girls.....the point is balance. If we make our boys react like girls, one of them won't be necessary....BALANCE!

Being a woman and also being raised with only sisters, I did not know much about having or raising a boy. This book helped me to understand my son better.

this book had alot of good insight into raising boys! ill read it again from time to time.

While I don't disagree with Dr. Dobson on a few of his societal observations; however, referring to homosexuality as a "disorder"is not supported by current research. His fear-mongering diatribes are clearly out of place and irrelevant to the subject as defined by the title. I found certain of his views so off-track and polarizing that it distracted me from the premise of the book. If Dr. Dobson wants to rant and rave on his biblical and conservative view that being Christian means being intolerant and inflexible, that's fine, but then he should look in the mirror and start by being honest with the name of his own book and call it: "How the Religious Conservative Raises Sons to Act and Think".

I am so glad to have read this book while my son is still young. What an eye opener on how society is degrading our boys in so many ways. Dr. Dobson doesn't just point out the negative, he offers honest advice on how to bring up our boys to be confident men. The world needs more of them and we need more people like Dr. Dobson who aren't afraid to speak the truth.

Whether you agree with all his idealogy or not it is 100% true that our sons and daughters need a solid foundation starting at home. That means the good old-fashioned nuclear family with a mom and dad in the home.

Having twin toddler boys, I felt the need for additional guidance (or as I later learned, reinforcement of what I had already been doing). This book simply shows you that love, honesty, and good old common sense will raise good boys. Certainly, there are people who will choose to raise their boys in another fashion, and that's their choice, but then again, THOSE are the boys that will make MINE shine!!

I only wish this book had been written sooner. Covers not only differences in raising boys and girls but also specific periods by age / development. It is well-organized, easily read and has been truly helpful to us and several friends we have loaned the book to. If you have specific questions in raising your son, or working with boys as a youth leader / teacher, this book will prove worth every penny spent.

I read 'Bringing Up Boys' in the hopes of finding, as the subtitle promises, "practical advice and encouragement" for raising my son to be a man of purpose and character. While there certainly are nuggets of practical wisdom scattered throughout, 'Bringing Up Boys' seems to be more of a platform for Dr. Dobson to share his views on gender-related issues in society than a means to provide guidance to parents on specific boy-oriented parenting issues.

While I don't necessarily disagree with Dr. Dobson on SOME of his societal observations, many seemed out of place and irrelevant to the subject as defined by the title. I found certain of his views so off-track as to distracted me from the premise of the book.

Still, Dr. Dobson seemed to emphasize clearly throughout that our children need to be a priority during the season of their growing up years, and this is certainly a worthy message.

What knowledge and insight Dr. Dobson shares with us through this book. All moms should read it whether they have been blessed with girls, boys or both!

This is one of the top books ever on raising children! The solid advice, backed up by credible references makes it on of the most inspirational books to read and re-read as a parent. If everyone in the USA read this book it would be a much more solid, strong nation.

This is the most hateful, senseless and just plain silly book I've had the displeasure to skim.

If you are a member of the christian right, agree with anything republican, regularly beat some sense into your kids. Then maybe you'll like this book. Most of it makes baseless senseless statements without a shred of evidence. Its really Dodson's opinion spouted as fact. And most of that is very much in line with the republican, conservative political propaganda.

I'm scared of the people I know who like this book and what they regularly do to their boys.

Unfortunately only the "conservatives" get away with this type of abusive behavior. Look at the priest scandal, Mark Foley, Senator Craig, Ted Haggard.

Dobson does a great job at explaining the inherent differences between boys and girls. I expect the book will be especially helpful for moms who grew up with all sisters and haven't been around little boys at all. The book additionally goes a long way toward dispelling so many PC myths in society about boys and masculinity.

I am about to adopt 2 boys and a neighbor said that I just HAD to read this book. I have been reading a number of books that have given clear and positive advice and opinions, this book was not one of those books. I sat down with my highlighter ready to mark interesting passages and quickly realized that there were none. I feel that this book is more about the author's views on the state of the "traditional" family, feminism and homosexuality than the unique challenges of raising a boy.

I was pleased with the excellent condition of the book and the swiftness of service. This book by James Dobson is a true classic which all parents who have boys should read. The wisdom and experience of Dr. Dobson is unparalleled.

This should be a must when "bringing up boys" so much information that helps to bring a well balance boy... we need to start making time for this new generation

I am a single mother searching ways to become a better one and found essential advice from Dobson on how to "fill in the hole" when I feel what I do is not enough. Dobson talks about every area of parenting and certainly there are many things I was able to get from this book and apply to my life.

Kudos to Dr. Dobson for his courage in saying the things that our whacked-out society does not want to hear: that a nuclear family is STILL God's plan for raising children, that boys and girls are created differently, and that we need to take seriously the priveledge of raising our sons. As a mother of 2 boys, I was pretty convicted about his assertions that what I do as a mother and what my husband does as a father really matter to my boys' development. And as a teacher who was educated in a liberal arts college, I was thrilled to finally hear someone else disagree with the lie that I was saturated with in Education classes: that we as teachers need to spend more time and money on girls' education than on boys'. He also alluded to an assumption with which I have struggled, namely that girls are more highly valued in today's society than are boys. I unfortunately have known many parents who favor their daughters over their sons, and I appreciate Dobson's assertion that boys are an amazing gift.

The one point with which I took issue was Dr. Dobson's chapter on homosexuality; he attributes homosexuality to a disorder rather than a sin, as is stated in the Bible. I am confused about how Dr. Dobson does not believe homosexuality can be a sin, but also does not see it as a genetic trait as claims the World. Other than that, I would recommend this book to any parent of any boy.

Dobson advocates beating children, despite the fact that every single national pediatric, psyhchological and psychiatric in the western world advocates not beating children. That should tell you something about the standard of writing in this book. Anyone who takes his advice without looking at what years of research actually tell us just demonstrate that they aren't interested in learning the truth but just finding excuses for what they wanted to do anyway. It amazes me that people who would not dream of ignoring medical advice when their child has a sore throat suddenly think that the doctors are idiots when they speak up about the effects of corporal punishment.

I wanted to buy this book. After 10 minutes I saw way too many reasons to avoid it like the plague. Dobson's arguments regarding the nuclear family are inaccurately portrayed. He values marriage and biblical meanings over the ability for a parent to love their child and attempt to do the best they can.

He bases his arguments on articles on the family that are a complete disconnect to the historiographical discussion going on about family since Ancient Rome. The nuclear family is nonsense, a family is what it is regardless of how many or combination of sexes.

Dobson is obsessed with homosexuality, and uses the issue as a wedge to gain influence. He is no different than those "Christians" who fought to preserve segregation a generation ago, or slavery 150 years ago. Dobson lies about the Federal hate crimes bill, claiming it is a "thought crimes" bill which will punish preachers from opposing homosexuality. Dobson really just believes that it's quite all right for gay people to be beaten to death, and isn't beyond lying in the name of Christ to achieve his goals.

If you have one or more boys . . . please take the time to read this book. As with all books, use your own judgement and use the information prayerfully. But you will benefit - and so will your boys - from the information and encouragement in this book. Our boys will face quite a battleground in their lives and will be discouraged from being masculine and leaders, both of which God intended for them to be. Get some weapons under your belt with Dr. Dobson's experience.

Although it is a bit dated (only because our world chenges so rapidly), Dr. Dobson outlines some of the most serious dangers facing our children, especially our sons. Although it completely overwhelms me with the task at hand, it gives me hope that others are struggling along with me.

Expecting our first son, my husband and I bought this book on the recommendation of a neighbor. It presents what we felt is a realistic look at the "Feminization" of our current culture fairly well. In fact, I think there is much more yet to be written on that topic. That said, we didn't come away from the book with much in the way of concrete suggestions.

We might add a caveat for the traditional Catholic reader: the author presents a view decidedly against Church teaching when he ventures into sexual topics. To be fair, he himself apologizes for his views, should he offend here.

Parents of boys should read this book to gain insight on raising them. New mothers who grew up around only girls will especially benefit.

Everyone with boys should read this book. My husband especially found it insightful.

This has been one of the most influential books I have read. It put me at ease concerning my boys--they really aren't outside the norm in their level of activity, challenging attitudes, and aggressiveness. It also made me realize the importance of being an active, guiding, restraining force in their lives. Boys learn to be men by watching their fathers. Not an earth-shattering revelation when you think about it---but something so many dads lose sight of. Finally, and most importantly, Bringing up Boys impressed upon me my responsibility to be a spiritual leader in my family. It has been a great blessing in our lives. I have given it as a gift to new parents of boys, and will do so again.

I found this book exceptionally helpful as a woman with a young son. The examples and case studies are of particular interest. The only reason this didn't score higher with me was the decidedly Christian slant. This doesn't bother me personally, but I felt the book could have held as much or more impact without it.

This has been one of the most influential books I have read. It put me at ease concerning my boys--they really aren't outside the norm in their level of activity, challenging attitudes, and aggressiveness. It also made me realize the importance of being an active, guiding, restraining force in their lives. Boys learn to be men by watching their fathers. Not an earth-shattering revelation when you think about it---but something so many dads lose sight of. Finally, and most importantly, Bringing up Boys impressed upon me my responsibility to be a spiritual leader in my family. It has been a great blessing in our lives. I have given it as a gift to new parents of boys, and will do so again.

I found this book exceptionally helpful as a woman with a young son. The examples and case studies are of particular interest. The only reason this didn't score higher with me was the decidedly Christian slant. This doesn't bother me personally, but I felt the book could have held as much or more impact without it.

This book is excellent. For anyone raising a boy, it really is a must to read. I was raised in a family of four girls and had no former experience with little boys. When my son finally came along, I was confused and frustrated at times with how to handle all of the challenges that come with a little boy. It is fun and wonderful but also VERY different from raising girls. One might not think a husband, who used to be a little boy, would struggle with the decisions and frustrations of raising a boy, but he has. We are reading this book together and it is clearing things up as to why young males act the way they do, how to handle it, and what to expect even further down the road.

BE warned. It is a weel known fact among Evangelical circles that items like this get reviewed by follower without them actually buying or reading the book. I have received many requests in the mail asking me to do so for various books, tapes, cds, etc. On to the review from someone who wasted $$$ and bought it.

Save your money and buy a bunch of planks to hit your children and duct tape to make sure they don't hear or see what you don't want them to. Don't parent out of love. Parent with fear. Before buying this book do some research on the author. What his views are on every imaginable topic. What he is a "dr." of. Then make your decision.

Being a christian myself, I can't fathom anyone using this book as a guideline to raising children and STILL expecting to be right with their God.

It only gets 1 star because I could'nt give it zero.

What struck me most powerfully about the book was the devastating effects of divorce on our children. All too often we look around and see acquaintances at work and church who are divorced and they seems to be much happier for it. The children of these divorced couples seem, on the surface, be taking it all in stride with no ill effect. Any man or woman considering giving up on marriage should read this book before calling an attorney. Dr. Dobson highlights that far too much is in jeopardy. Not only does Dr. Dobson provide reasons to save your marriage but practical advice that will help you heal your love relationship. You will want to read this book with a pen in hand to take notes.

I'm a mother of two boys and after reading Dr. Dobson's book I feel I have a better understanding and appreciation of my boys.

Dobson has bravely presented some of the fundamentally observable maleness of boys. In today's politically correct environment that is anathema to the PC thought police. Still Dobson is Dobson - he goes on to address every other matter, in addition to boys, which he also considers important. Missing is the theological basis for the difference between boys and girls, as in what was in God's mind when he originally created the human race in two genders. Still, the book gives much practical insight into boyhood and the parents who want to bring their offspring through it alive along with themselves!