Steve Biddulph, by Raising Boys

Comments from other Mumsnetters:

""Sensibly written with excellently researched advice on what makes boys boys and how to encourage and nurture them as they grow into young men." "Very comprehensive and thought provoking with compassionate and insightful explanations of challenging' behaviour." "I didn't like the comments about mothers "needing" to be at home until the child was three but I was happy to pick and choose what worked for me." "Fascinating insights into what makes boys tick." "You many not agree with all of it, but there are enough gems of wisdom to make up for that." "Essential reading if you have a boy."

When I told my mother-in-law that I was reading abook about raising boys, she said is it any different to raising girls? Having now had one of each, I would say it definately is and this book explains why some of those differences occur.
It was good to read as a new Mum of a little boy, and over the last few years I've found myself dipping in to relevant pages when we've reached a new stage with my Son. It offers helpful suggestions as to why boys behave the way they do and how to nurture them.

i read this when my laddie was 3

now hes 6

i would say the book helped us be friends aswell as me being his dad

and we dont live together

excellent book

This book has been my guide, helping me with two very different boys, knowing about testosterone surges has helped me to understand my exuberant child.
I would recommend this book to all who have married modern men, it is easy to forget how important the little boy's maleness is to his personality.

I found this book very helpful and interesting as I am expecting a boy. I have always believed there are differences in the way boys and girls need to be brought up so it reinforced these ideas. If you don't believe this then this might not be the book for you. Steve Biddulph is not afraid to be controversial and his ideas are put across in a straightforward and non-patronising way. It's also great that the book can be read in a day without being over-simplified.

Great book, my sister gave it to me after she had read it after having her 2 boys, it has proved invaluable for my husband - and he hates to read!!!

Great book, easy to read, gently humorous, and, for me, the most sensible book I read in a sea of advice about parenting .

I liked this book a lot although some of it I might take with a pinch of salt.
Yes boys can be more vulnerable and need a mum at home in early years. I have seen evidence of insecure boys in my son's class who have parents working full time and they are very needy and attention seeking. I have also seen in my own boys how much energy they need to use up - I feel as though I am training a racehorse sometimes ! INteresting in the book how mum is No.1 until they are 7 when Dad is then the important person until they are 14 and after that other adult role models are very important and if at any stage the boys dont get these things they can go off the rails. Anyway a very interesting book although as another reviewer mentioned it maybe doesnt go into specific problems where you might need a more detailed positive parenting book or one about How to talk to your kids - I keep meaning to read one of those !

A really interesting book, easy to dip into and very readable. It should be read by all primary school teachers who have ever moaned about boys!

A good start to addressing the needs of boys.
They need to be physically challenged in positive activities
Football and play stations are not the answer
Boys play outside using there own imagination

There are a few gems in this much hyped book (such as an insight into the amount of testosterone small boys have in their bodies, which can lead to them being very active - a great insight) - but my copy was soon donated to a charity shop. I just did not like the prose. I read the book from cover to cover, but it was hard going. Wanted a few more helpful facts. Boys can be difficult and I didn't find this book helped to point the way to solve my own problems.

i read this before i had my baby, but after i found out i was having a boy. i don't believe in strict gender divisions, and was a little disappointed to find this book adhered to the easy and lazy idea of boys being different to girls per se. i guess it sells books! saying that, i have a lot of respect for Steve Biddulph and now i find myself with such a boysy boy, maybe i will read it again!