Stephen biddulph raising boys

[storynanny]

This book has been mentioned in a parenting thread today, just thought I would put it here as well. It's a very interesting read and full of useful tips for anyone with sons, nephews or working with young boys. I read it years again and can can still remember bits of it, particularly the notion that boys need a mentor, and importance of helping them find all consuming hobbies.

[gimmecakeandcandy]

I have this and agree it is a very good read :)

[UptoapointLordCopper]

This is one of the very few books I had to give away. It sat on the shelf annoying me, telling me I can't parent my sons because I haven't got fucking bollocks.

[merlottits]

I thought it was a great book and it certainly helped me understand what my son needed.

[mercury7]

I heard him on womans hour..suspect the book would annoy me, sounded a bit 'men are from mars women are from venus'

[Thewhingingdefective]

Lord Copper - no, it's helping out the dads a bit and showing thm what a key role they play in raising a son. It's not saying mums are not important and cannot raise sons well. It makes a nice cage (for me) to see some parenting literature that actively includes the father.

[valiumredhead]

I listened to his lectures on audio tape - really good, he's a bit of a hippy and thinks ideally everyone should live in a commune iirc but the basic gist of it all is fantastic imo.

[scottishmummy]

Shocking book,stuffed full of anecdotes and bad science,poor methodology,Dubious hypothesis
Full of pejorative term like slammers,and deeply objects to working parents.
It's a book that bangs the hippy work less,hey it's only money,will no one think of the kids drum

[Treagues]

Everyone needs a mentor and everyone needs hobbies and activity and boundaries and everything else in that book.

I read it because I grew up with two somewhat negative masculine influences and no feminine influences, and worried that I would not have a normal view of a son. I found him trite, smarmy and judgemental. I threw it out in the end.

[scottishmummy]

He did a mn webchat was selective in his responses.his acolytes gushed a lot

[Treagues]

Well, good luck to them, he's not exactly advocating that we beat our children and lock them in a cupboard as punishment. He's just wet. And suffers from the usual 'if I can arrange my life like this, with all the privileges, influences and financial stability that I have managed to amass, then obviously everyone can and should do the same as me, and I will find spurious statistics to back up my choices or die trying.'

[scottishmummy]

No,its not just nice man,hippy man.he uses pejorative terms,attacks working parents
Uses poor science,poor methodology to back his ideological belief that pursuit of money is killing childhood
He's not mr socks&sandals scientist.hes made money berating working parents

[LurcioLovesFrankie]

His webchat was shocking - he selectively answered questions from people who agreed with him, and consistently ignored questions about his supposed "facts" asking him for details of his research methodology and references from peer-reviewed literature. He came out of it looking a real plonker.

I can recommend this review: www.thefword.org.uk/reviews/2009/05/raising_boys_he

[Willabywallaby]

I have avoided the book since I heard he says boys shouldn't go to nursery until the age of three. Mine went at 5.5mnths and 10mnths due to work commitments...

[Solo]

I have this book. I haven't read it but for a snippet on conversing with boys which has stood me in good stead!! Talk to boys whilst driving or when they aren't having to look at you. Boys respond better that way, they really do!

[scottishmummy]

I am a slammer kids in nursery ft at6mth. We both work ft
On his mn web chat he was evasive of difficulty questions
Effusive of easy questions,comments

[Treagues]

Wow, that article has made me loathe the man even more. Worth a read, OP!

[Quangle]

I didn't like his book at all. I already know my boy needs cuddles thanks. Other than that, it was from the "boys are like dogs" school of parenting - they need rough housing and lots of outdoor play, unlike girls

I have one of each and they are more similar than they are unlike each other iyswim. I wouldn't ask Steve B's advice on either of them.

[marissab]

I liked his book but then we are hippy, have no money so i can stay home and home educate the kids kinda family. Maybe its really good for people who are hippy sandle wearers but not for everyone. A bit marmite.

[Twirlyhot]

Ha ha ha ha ha.

That is all.

[marissab]

Do you know i just realised the book i read was sue palmer: 21st century boys! The wrong book. I would recommend this book instead. It was very good.