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"The
Purpose of Boys: Helping Our Sons Find Meaning, Significance, and
Direction in Their Lives"
(The Book)
By Michael Gurian
(Jossey-Bass/John Wiley, May 2009).
________
FROM THE BOOK JACKET
THE PURPOSE OF BOYS is the final volume in Michael Gurian's trilogy on
boys development. In this book, Gurian presents a tool kit for
parents who want to discover how to inspire the ultimate fulfillment of
their son’s life. As he explains, “purpose” is vital for the success
and happiness of every boy. Throughout the book, Gurian shows how
parents can help boys build motivation, character, selflessness,
meaningful intimate relationships, a sense of responsibility to family
and community, pride in their own good work, and mental and physical
health.
Based
on the latest scientific research regarding how boys develop
neurologically, THE PURPOSE OF BOYS reveals what it takes to best
support boys and address boys’ unique needs, weaknesses, and strengths.
The book offers an understanding of what is happening inside a boy’s
brain as he grows up, from birth through early adulthood. The author
also includes an exploration of the roles of the nuclear and extended
family, communities, and neighborhoods; the best schools for boys; and
specific rites-of-passage experiences and how they influence a young
man’s personal growth.
THE PURPOSE OF BOYS outlines a map
parents can use to help their own sons wrestle with everyday life
events and growth. And the book serves as a model to help all our sons
seek a successful future, while still boys, adolescents, and young men.
What Others Are Saying About
THE PURPOSE OF BOYS
"There is no one who
understands the development of boys better than Michael Gurian. In this
insightful new book, Gurian offers useful advice about how to help boys
succeed in the key challenge of today's world, finding purpose in life."
— William Damon, Ph.D.
Professor of Education, Stanford University; Author, The Path to
Purpose: Helping our Children find their Calling in Life
¤
"Michael Gurian is America's
most passionate advocate for boys. In The Purpose of Boys,
Gurian creates a rich reading experience and a clear recipe for helping
boys to find purpose in their lives."
— Michael Thompson,
Ph.D., author of It’s a Boy! and coauthor of Raising Cain
¤
Publishers Weekly 3/2/2009
The Purpose of Boys: Helping Our Sons Find Meaning, Significance, and Direction in Their Lives Michael Gurian. Jossey-Bass
"Family
therapist, author and boy advocate Gurian (The Wonder of Boys; The
Minds of Boys) observes that many boys are struggling to find a sense
of purpose, and society has not sufficiently stepped up to the plate to
help. Gurian paints a grim picture of boys who have lost their footing;
many are failing in school; turning to drugs, alcohol or gangs; and
engaging in violent behavior. Gurian attributes this disturbing trend
to a lack of purpose and urges parents to help their male offspring
channel their energies into productive lives. By employing a
three-family system, Gurian argues, parents can join together with
other adults—leaders, mentors, coaches—and such institutions as schools
and churches, to help boys refocus and get back on track. The author
offers practical suggestions for helping parents address boys' needs,
tackling such issues as sexuality, work and overuse of electronic
media. Particularly useful are Gurian's boxed questions for discussion,
which will help parents and educators communicate directly with boys
themselves. He also includes suggestions to help boys succeed in
academic settings, for example, using movement, project-driven
curricula and debate. Gurian's team approach to raising a son gives
parents the tools and encouragement they need to help boys find
direction and fulfillment."
¤
"Upon reading Michael Gurian's
new book, The Purpose of Boys, I asked my 8 year old, Evan, what he
most anticipated about the future. He said, "Being awesome." I then
asked him what he most feared about the future. He said, "Not being
awesome." This book changed the way I think about my son and
his future, and even more importantly -- how he thinks about his
future. This is a great book."
— Tracey J. Shors,
Ph.D. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience,
Rutgers University
¤
"The Purpose of Boys provides
a clear, research-based view on the significance of fully committing
ourselves to the important task of raising our sons. It gives us a
useful, applicable set of tools and strategies to do so."
— Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D.,
Founder and Director, NYU Child Study Center
¤
"The Purpose of Boys offers
insightful solutions to the problems of so many millennial boys who are
'failing to launch' into productive adulthood."
— Judith Kleinfeld,
Ph.D., Director of the Boys Project, and Professor of Psychology,
University of Alaska
¤
"The
Purpose of Boys is a wakeup call for parents, teachers, counselors, and
mentors. This book assembles invaluable insights and resources,
especially mentoring resources that will assist in the transition of
boys to men and eventually propel them to a purpose driven life."
— Robert Haley, former
President, 100 Black Men of Atlanta
_________
 See
Amazon's webpage for the book!
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