Read by the authors Three cassettes, approx. 5 hours In Raising Cain, Dan Kindlon, Ph.D., and Michael Thompson, Ph.D., two of the country's leading child psychologists, share what they have learned in more then thirty-five years of combined experience working with boys and their families. They reveal a nation of boys who are hurting-sad, afraid, angry, and silent. Statistics point to an alarming number of young boys at high risk for suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, violence, and loneliness. Kindlon and Thompson set out to answer this basic, crucial question: What do boys need that they are not getting? They illuminate the forces that threaten our boys, teaching them to believe that "cool" equals macho strength and stoicism. Cutting through outdated theories of "mother blame," "boy biology," and "testosterone," Kindlon and Thompson shed light on the destructive emotional training our boys receive-the emotional miseducation of boys. Through moving case studies and cutting-edge research, Raising Cain paints a portrait of boys systematically steered away from their emotional lives by adults and the peer "culture of cruelty"-boys who receive little encouragement to develop qualities such as compassion, sensitivity, and warmth. The good news is that this doesn't have to happen. There is much we can do to prevent it. Powerfully written and deeply felt, Raising Cain will forever change the way we see our sons and will transform the way we help them to become happy fulfilled young men.
Reviving Ophelia, Mary Pipher's groundbreaking book, exposed the toxic environment faced by adolescent girls in our society. Now, from the same publisher, comes Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson, which does the same for adolescent boys. Boys suffer from a too-narrow definition of masculinity, the authors assert as they expose and discuss the relationship between vulnerability and developing sexuality, the "culture of cruelty" boys live in, the "tyranny of toughness," the disadvantages of being a boy in elementary school, how boys' emotional lives are squelched, and what we, as a society, can do about all this without turning "boys into girls." "Our premise is that boys will be better off if boys are better understood--and if they are encouraged to become more emotionally literate," the authors assert. As a tool for change, Kindlon and Thompsom present the well-developed "What Boys Need," seven points that reach far beyond the ordinary psychobabble checklist and slogan list. Kindlon (researcher and psychology professor at Harvard and practicing psychotherapist specializing in boys) and Thompson (child psychologist, workshop leader, and staff psychologist of an all-boys school) have created a chilling portrait of male adolescence in America. Through personal stories and theoretical discussion, this well-needed book plumbs the well of sadness, anger, and fear in America's teenage sons. --Ericka Lutz
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A must read for parents with boys of any age!:
When it was recommended that I purchase this book, I had no idea of the pandora's box I would be opening when I began to read it. Recently divorced with 12 and 15 year old sons, I wanted to take inventory of their emotional well being after the seperation. This book has completely changed some of the views that I had about the way I should deal with my boys. It also opened my eyes to the effect that everyday life challenges has on young boys and teens. As a single mother, this book is my new "go to", beside... more info
Boys need more than we think they do...:
This book is an excellent insight into what really makes boys tick. Society has spent a lot of time toughening up our boys over the years when what they really need is a lot of love, support, understanding, and most importantly, a safe place to release their emotions. The authors of this book are very experienced and professional; however, they do not come off as preachy. As a mother of two boys who was raised with only sisters, I have felt lost many times as my boys are growing and acting certain... more info
Elaine's "Raising Cain" book review:
Every parent, teacher, youth sports coach, and general public who interact with boys should read this book. After reading it, discuss with others who read it. Women, ask questions with trusted male friends.
A Must Read:
This is an insightful look into the male mind. My homeschool group is reading/discussing it right now and it has been eye opening to say the least. Although it has been painful to the point that most of the men in our group would not read it, it has still been a great tool in trying to understand our boys and men. I recommend this for reading to anyone who has a boy in their life.
