Raising Boys in the 21st Century: Completely Updated and Revised

My headline above is quoted from the back of the book. The implicit assumption that 'masculinity is often toxic' will appeal to feminist readers, but the book is otherwise not a good appraisal of reality. I won't be using it to raise a well adjusted son into a man. Think about an author who has immersed themselves in 'men are bad' counseling ideologies and you pretty much have it. Buy this book if you want to batter your boy into submitting to the matriarchy and thinking they are worthless and guilty! I write a light-hearted review, but genuinely don't bother with this book - unless feminism and toxic masculinity are your thing, in which case fill your boots.

Very negative book. Everything about growing boys according to the author is bad, bad, bad. After reading this book I am so scared to let the boys out... awful book. Makes you stress even more without any solution.

This is an easy read but I found the delivery style a bit too 'I know it all and am right, so heed me or expect your little boy to come to a bad end', and the book left me feeling anxious about the future for my child as well as my ability to guide him through the challenges he will inevitability face. As a single mum it was useful to get insight into the different stages of development that boys go through and specific common issues for developing boys, with suggestions on how these can be supported / overcome and redirected, so delivery style aside, it was a useful read.

The first edition was much better, it’s about raising boys, not liberal point-scoring. If you don’t want a side-serving of Biddulph’s woke views on topics such as climate change and transsexualism (he is already out-of-date in his comments on the latter) seek out the first edition.

I recently finished Raising Boys and am now recommending it to any parents/carers/teachers of boys I know. I have a 5 year old boy who has just started primary school and this book has completely put my mind at ease in terms of my sons (and the other boys in his class) progress/experience/behaviour at school. I found myself sharing a lot of quotes with my husband while I was reading it as there are some crucial nuggets of information for fathers/male role models along the way. My husband is now reading the whole book. I also had many lightbulb moments relating to grown men that I know/have known and why they are the way they are! So much so I have just ordered Manhood for a deeper dive into that. I feel like I’m understand boys and men in a way I haven’t before.