The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life

by Michael Gurian, Kathy Stevens (Primary Contributor)

Michael Gurian's blockbuster bestseller The Wonder of Boys is the bible for mothers, fathers, and educators on how to understand and raise boys. It has sold over 400,000 copies, been translated into 17 languages, and sells over 25,000 every year, which is more than any other book on boys in history. To follow up on this first book, which launched the boy's movement, he has now written this revolutionary new book which confronts what he and a lot of other parents and teachers in this country truly believe to be a "boy's crisis".

Here are the So what can we do? Gurian has the answer in this enormously fascinating and practical book which shows parents and teachers how to help boys overcome their current classroom obstacles by helping to create the proper learning environment, understand how to help boys work with their unique natural gifts, nurture and expand every bit of their potential, and enabling them to succeed in life the way they ought to. Gurian presents a whole new way of solving the problem based on the success of his program in schools across the country, the latest research and application of neuro-biological research on how boys' brains actually work and how they can learn very well if they're properly taught. Anyone who cares about the future of our boys must read this book.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education, Self Help, Audiobook, Psychology, Teaching

368 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2007

About the author

Michael Gurian is an American author and social philosopher. He works as a marriage and family counselor and corporate consultant. He has published twenty-eight books, several of which were New York Times bestseller list bestsellers. He is considered, along with Leonard Sax, as one of the major proponents of the post-modern "single-sex academic classes" movement.
Gurian taught at Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, and Ankara University. His work tends to focus on sex differences and how they contribute to learning.
He is also a co-founder of the Gurian Institute, which trains professionals who deal with the developmental aspects of childhood. The Gurian Institute has trained more than 60,000 teachers from over 2,000 different schools. Some of these schools become "GI Model Schools" and aim to leverage the role gender plays in learning styles.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst kind of pseudoscience parading itself around as well researched fact. While Gurian paints a compelling picture when you scratch the surface you realize that there is only the thinnest veneer of evidence behind his claims. A book that is going to make claims about the differences in the brains and cognitive processes of boys and girls should have some pretty well substantiated research behind it. This book fails miserably on that account. While it bandies about scientific terms like cerebellum, MRI, and blood-brain barrier when looking at the references section for these claims it quickly becomes clear that there is no quality support. Gurian is not citing peer-reviewed articles from scientific journals, he is citing personal interviews and internet sources. Much of what he claims is in direct opposition to current research in psychology and cognitive neuroscience, whose research has gone through the scientific gauntlet of peer-reviewed publication.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at everything I've done wrong and right in raising my boys. I think the things I've done right out weigh any mistakes I've made--like using the T.V. as a babysitter while I was working at home--bad mommy. I've been lucky though because I have three very intelligent boys with pretty good attention spans. They are well behaved at school and most of the time at home. But there is always room for improvement and this book definitely gave me some good insights into their minds and their father's. I kind of skimmed over the ADD and ADHD sections but I think that he had some really important ideas about how boys are being over medicated and what can be done in the classroom and at home for them. Boys need good nutrition, less TV, computer, and video games, and more time spent with them. That was the most important thing that I already knew--they need their parent's time and attention the most.

[Brandi D'Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is older (2005,) I found it informative and helpful for parents of boys. Increasing numbers of boys are being diagnosed with ADD, getting into trouble at school, have learning disabilities, lag behind girls in the same age group, and are unmotivated at school. Many (most) of these same boys are intelligent, capable of learning, and gifted in one or more areas. However, the manner in which they are taught, and sometimes combined with problems at home, makes their education fraught with obstacles. The Minds of Boys sheds light on the challenges facing boys and offers many solutions, for both parents and teachers. It is hopeful and encouraging. Some quick tips you can start using today are to make sure your boy is eating protein and Omega 3’s, give him a Nerf football or squeeze toy to fidget with during learning, let him walk around while talking or brainstorming (ever notice how your son can’t sit down?,) limit screen time, and support him by reviewing homework and also enlisting the help of your “tribe,” anyone in your family or community that can serve as a mentor to him. Help him to feel competent in some area and he will start to gain back his confidence and motivation. This book is a great resource!

[Kathryn Bashaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because my grandson was having a hard time behaving in school and I was trying to help my daughter figure out why. It is a very general overview, so not all of it was relevant for us. Some it was aimed at teachers or at parents of older boys. But it was helpful in helping to understand why Ben is not a good fit at the school he's currently attending. I think it's true that lots of boys have trouble conforming to school rules that require a lot of sitting and listening. I also think it's hard for schools to teach in any other way. So school is hard for active little boys. I hope that Meg will be able to get Ben into a school that is at least a little more understanding and tolerant of active little boys, and a little kinder. If I had one piece of advice for parents of little boys like Ben it would be to not even think about having them start kindergarten until they're 6.

[Audrey L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to help parents realize what "normal" boy behavior looks like at every stage of their growing up years. Boys and girls do learn differently. Because of the strong focus our education system has on making sure girls are doing well the authors investigate the "male learning style" that is so often at odds with current educational practices, leaving the mistaken impression that boys are difficult to manage and teach.

It breaks learning down into subjects and stages. The authors give tips on how to teach boys math, language arts, science, and history when they are preschool age, elementary age, middle and high school age.

I highly recommend this book.

[Amy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It has great information about what boys need to succeed in school and talks about learning difference between girls and boys. I found the information on television and its negative impact on brain development in boys to be interesting and it helped me make a case to reduce screen time in our home. Comprehensive with a nice balance between anecdote and fact.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have said what it needed to say in about half the pages. The information was interesting and some of the educational ideas I will be implementing.

[Carrie]

Not fiction at all! A friend told me it was a must-read as a parent of a boy.

[CTEP]

For June Book Club, I read The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life, by Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens. The crux of the book is that boys are underachieving in schools (as indicated by low graduation rates, high disciplinary rates, etc. compared to girls) and thus steps need to be taken to help boys perform better. Fortunately, this book spends the majority of its time describing those steps.

The book is divided into four sections: one which presents the problem, one which talks about promoting learning in the home, one which provides strategies for effectively teaching school curricula, and one for providing additional assistance to boys who need them (not only for reasons such as learning disabilities, but also gifted boys who are bored in school). A persistent theme throughout this is the need for parents to get involved with their sons' education (without becoming overinvolved) and for paying attention to the natural differences between boys and girls.

The main reason that I read this book was because the majority of the teens in my classes are boys and so it seemed wise to learn what I could do to better educate them during the brief time I am teaching them. Many of the suggestions, such as relating learning curricula to subjects that they are interested in (e.g. relating the technology components to real life), are ones that I can certainly implement.

However, the book is aimed at parents and school teachers, rather than periphery educators like me, and so many of the suggestions I unfortunately cannot implement in order to help the boys I serve. I would recommend this book to any CTEP members who deal with boys on a consistent basis and are closer in role to school teachers, but other CTEP members who deal with boys less frequently (e.g. at a library setting) can probably find more relevant books.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have taught in the public and/or the private school for more than thirty years. This book relates in book form much of what I have observed over the years. When I started in the education field the goal was to change the trend of male domination. It worked as stated in the book and much of what is put forth in the text of this book is accurate in my opinion. I was amazed at how accurately the authors were in describing the last several decades in the schools. Now we to do exactly the same thing for boys as we keep on helping girls. I found myself many times feeling deja vu, because what was being described in the chapters of this book was so similiar to what I have expeirenced over my career. I also attended the Gurian Summer Institute and have practiced much of what I learned there in 2013. I have to say it has inhanced my classroom practice considerably. I can say without a doubt, this book will help both teachers and parents. It absolutely has my indorsement and belief that they are on the right tract. Again, my experience as a teacher has done nothing but confirm pretty much everything they say in this book. In short my thirty years of teaching and observation support the main points of this book. I highly recommend it.

[Kaitlin Jundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was required to read this as a part of my school's professional development. The book also had videos that went along with the chapters, which explained the research and statistics nicely. Throughout the book I found myself agreeing with everything Gurian and Stevens said. Being a teacher in the ever changing education world has shown many challenges dealing with male students. The book suggests going back to somewhat older ways of education, less drill and kill and more incorporation of nature, play, movement, music, and project-based learning. The book also suggests allowing for more recess time. I whole heartily agree with this! My students, especially the boys, need outdoor play time. If I give them extra opportunities to get outside and just play they learn and listen a lot better than if I drill and kill curriculum all day. Acts of violence and aggression appear far less when more recess occurs. Something must change within the education system and fast. To past educators I'm sure this concept isn't rocket science!

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Minds of Boys had some interesting points; however, there was not enough cited research to thoroughly convince me. His ideas for smaller class sizes and more arts and mentor programs in school sound wonderful and also impossible to achieve in our cash-strapped public schools. An updated version would be useful, including research on virtual school, magnet programs with varying focuses and their results for each gender, autism, and transgender students (gay students are briefly mentioned in a few chapters).

[Christine Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for teachers and parents searching for answers regarding their young boys. I have done much study on this subject, including my own classroom work with boys. I hope you don't mind me including a blog I wrote on this subject. I discovered something very interesting about boys and learning to read. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/boys-b...

Get this book and study it. It will help you understand your beautiful boys.

[Pascale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this years ago, now simply skimming to give it a review.

I think this book is a mix of very good information on how to help children with certain traits, along with potentially damaging information (sexier ideas, strong judgement against ADHD, etc)

To be read, for sure, but taken with a grain of salt.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is all obvious stuff: Promote attachment, verbal development, and fine motor skills. Boys learn by doing. Drink more water, eat more protein. Build a team of parents, teachers, coaches, family for success.

[Gwen Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bit of a slog but the information on the "different" way boys brains work and learn is mind boggling. A MUST READ for anyone with boys who are struggling in school. Lots of "try this" suggestions within the book.

[Pete Macchiarolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boys are in trouble in the US. They are worse off than girls at this point. If nothing else this is evidence.

[Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent but focused too narrowly on traditional education rather than the broader culture that really drives educational policy & practices.

[Linnea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Nothing really new

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed at just the right time in my sons life. Definitely read it if your boy is having ANY trouble in school.

[Amy Wass · Rating 4 out of 5]

So helpful for those who have boys, care about the success of boys and want to grow in understanding boys. I read this about 5 years ago and it was a really great refresh.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* The book is definitley dated and I don't agree with all of it. However, there are some good points to think about as well as strategies to support boys in education.

[J.Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were interesting things to consider... I do wonder how outdated the research/information is. I am curious to read more current texts on this topic.

[Natasha Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who wants to get into the field of public policy & education, I found this book very interesting. Initially, it was hard for me to grasp the idea of males as victims in any aspect of our society since I'm a woman and so, I live the life of a minority. Not to mention, there are still large discrepancies between men and women such as the wage gap. However, this book shined a whole new light on boys in our education system. The whole book was based on the idea that boys and girls learn differently. This was a concept I had only accepted in terms of girls and their struggling subjects but now I see it is the same with boys in subjects like English and Social Studies. All in all this was a very enlightening book and I would recommend it to any education professional. However, like everything it has its low points.

1) The book discusses the taboo topic of single gender schools or classrooms. The author cites several pros of single-gender learning including the fact that many schools report decreases in sexual harassment. Using this as a pro for single-gender learning bothered me deeply. Sexual harassment is something women (and many men, too) have to face in their daily lives. Advocating the separation of sexes as a way to "six" this problem is both unrealistic and offensive. Perhaps, instead of trying to separate the kids to lower sexual harassment, we need to teach them to respect each other's body and privacy.

2) There's a section in the book that is heavily paraphrased. This section discusses how boys' bodies are seen as less valuable in our society than girls'. The author discusses how boys' bodies were seen as dispensable weapons shipped off to war, while girls' bodies were precious gifts that needed to be kept at home and guarded. He goes on to say that girls' bodies are the protected, while boys bodies are the protector. Now, he does acknowledge issues like rape but those few lines were overshadowed by several heavy layers of male victimization. I found this offensive, as well, because when the author described women's bodies as "precious" and "protected", it read to me more as "objectified" and "controlled." Though I do not believe he meant to do so purposefully, the author, in a few paragraphs, lessened the physical struggle of women through the centuries. The domestic violence, the sexual slavery, and the objectification by men and the overall society is not something he can neatly put away in a box, while tossing the issues of men all across the room.

Still, aside from the above two points, this was a good read.

[أسماء ربيع · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A teacher's review

More informative than Boys and Girls Learn Differently , The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life is a fascinating look into the specific reasons why boys are doing so poorly in school nowadays. Very, very awful if you did not know - Boys are the overwhelming majority of special education students, are more likely to drop out, and are much less likely to attend college.

Gurian's strategies to help come off as a bit vague - few concrete solutions are offered. As a teacher, I want to know what a 'boy-friendly' classroom looks like. Precious few good examples are provided. But, enough information is provided to at least alert the teacher that there is a problem and that he or she needs to be on the lookout for struggling boys. I would imagine, like most things in education, the answer is not simple and it requires quite a bit of individualization, which is difficult if, like me, you see upwards of 200 kids in the course of a day.

Lacks the hard edge, though - read as a companion to Christina Hoff Sommers The War Against Boys .

http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

[Nicole Skidmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting to read, but left a little unsatisfied in the end. The case is strongly made that a male brain functions/learns differently than the female brain. Evidence is provided as to why America should be concerned about the male education process: higher percentage of males diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, higher percentage of males in resource classes, higher percentage of discipline issues are males, lower performance in key educational areas, and a lower percentage of males continuing on to college and advanced degrees. It is enough to make the most confident mother, fear for her son(s).

The authors provide strategies to help "bridge" this gap, or better enable male learning, for both parents and teachers. My perception is most likely skewed as I am a stay at home mom, and former elementary school teacher. However, I found a lot of the suggestions obvious, and also redundant.

I did walk away with a new perception of how my son learns, some new strategies for teaching, and a calm reassurance that I am doing some things right already.

[Elizabeth Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting research on how boys and girls learn differently. I liked that each chapter highlighted ways that parents, educators, and administrators can each implement the research findings into their individual situations. This book really helped me understand just how my son's brain is working now, and how it will be developing in the future. Of course, the research is generalized, but the book openly acknowledges the short-comings and limitations while still giving a good framework with which to look at boys and learning. As someone who enjoyed and thrived in our education system, it was especially important for me to prepare myself for the reality that the majority of our schools/education scheduling is not designed in a way that is necessarily friendly to all children and their learning styles. I already struggle with how to teach my 2 1/2 year old son because I am so comfortable with a more mellow verbal/written system of teaching/learning. Hopefully I'll be able to apply some of the things I learned about boys minds to my own household!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I'm finding this book to be informative and interesting. I like the way there are practical tips embedded in the chapters, and statistics cited to support specific claims.I have already found myslef subtly changing the way I group students (allowing more opportunties for all-boy and all-girl groups) and I have become more attuned to how the boys work differently depending on whether they are grouped with girls or boys. Two of my boys (out of 5 boys total) are from very conservative Muslim cultures, and their discomfort with girls is obvious. While I still strongly believe that they need to learn to work with girls effectively,I can also see that their learning and participation improves when they are paired with boys. This book has given me the research to support single-sex groupings for much of the academic work in class. Furthermore, as a mother of a boy, this book has helped explain some of the "annoying" boy behaviors that crop up and has even provided insight into the very different relationship my son and husband enjoy.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is research based on the difference in brain structure between boys and girls, and how to help boys succeed in school. It is comprised of four parts: Protecting the minds of boys, Starting boys out in boy-friendly learning environments, Teaching school in boy-friendly ways, and Helping boys who need extra help. Some sections were more relevant than others for me, such as in part two as it talked about effective preschool and early learning environments.

As a result of reading, I've found myself thinking a lot about making my home learning environment more boy friendly (for my 3 wild ones). Also about diet influences and absolute need for physical movement.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has a boy struggling in school, though I haven't read any others with this subject, so I'm not sure it is the best one out there. It does have useful information.