Boys! Shaping Ordinary Boys Into Extraordinary Men

by William Beausay

Author William Beausay believes it is possible to turn normal boys into exceptional adults who are anything but average. Boys! encourages parents to raise sons who are truly winners in life. In this expanded and revised edition, Beausay takes a hard look at some of the issues facing parents today, including raising boys solo, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, smart discipline, handling bullies, and much more. With down-to-earth wisdom and practical suggestions, Beausay equips parents to deal with the tough issues that their sons will encounter on their journey to manhood.

Genres: Parenting, Family

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. He had some good suggestions and insights, but I think what I liked best was his enthusiastic tone. This book was like a pep talk for wanting to engage and appreciate my son, with all of his weird quirks. It also helped me understand the mind of a boy, which in turn helps me understand, at least a little, why his reactions and behaviors sometimes seem totally off the wall. On occasion I felt like he wanted you to change yourself to be more like his kind of parent (silly, goofy, etc.), but with a good intention. Overall it was not very preachy or judgmental.

Favorite line in the book: Your boys are depending on you to maintain a sensible course in life and model temperance, sensibility, and stability because they have little or none.

(this came with a metaphor of watersking -- boys are on skis going every which way to hit bumps, jump off things, and generally not go in a straight line, and we are the boat trying to keep them on a true course)

I would return to this book not necessarily for the content, but for the encouraging, excited attitude about the joy of boys.

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

From my own personal library: Full of practical advice with a few items highlighted throughout after I read it back in the 90's. Raising two boys I needed all the advice I could get even though I failed many times. One tidbit I did take to heart was that your boys need all kinds of time (quantity over quality any day of the week). Each chapter gives you a summary of what the chapter is all about. There are many good questions raised and always an action point or two at the end of each chapter. Also, there are plenty of helpful guides including a list of questions to help the dialogue between you and your son. The last few paragraphs in the book address grandparents of which I am now one. Advice like think of some good things to say and make yourself available for advice if asked or if the situation presents itself of course doing it in love.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very insightful to me and one that I truly enjoyed reading. I stumbled across this book one day while browsing the library shelves. I was so inspired by it, I even made a power point presentation to share with my friends! As I was reading it, I kept thinking of all the useful information I had at my fingertips, I began to take notes which lead me to create the power point. I had so much fun applying my new computer skills!

[Laura LeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband and I have adopted our son and he is currently 5 months old. So, I picked up this book to help me figure out this whole parenting of a son thing. The author outright states that he is addressing parenting of boys, males 5 to 12 years of age. Thus, this book and the ideas in it will be useful for us in the future. The author's writing style was very easy to read and definitely filled with a conversational tone. It was like you were talking to a friend and he was giving you all kinds of ideas to try. While you might not like some of the ideas or they may be out of your comfort zone, he encourages you to try them because, in the end, it will help you and your son. I am encouraged by this book and the topical organization to it. It will be one of my go-to books when needing help and to look up the ideas I've forgotten when my son is in this age range or giving me a particularly difficult time or issue to deal with. I'm definitely encouraging my husband to read it as well.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has helped me understand my 9 year old a bit more. I think if I can understand how different he is it will help me to be a better mom because I can then understand how to deal with him in a different way.

[Kazoobooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on boys!