Of Boys and Men

Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do About It

By: Richard V. Reeves

Narrated by: Richard V. Reeves

A positive vision for masculinity in a postfeminist world

Boys and men are struggling. Profound economic and social changes of recent decades have many losing ground in the classroom, the workplace, and in the family. While the lives of women have changed, the lives of many men have remained the same or even worsened.

Our attitudes, our institutions, and our laws have failed to keep up. Conservative and progressive politicians, mired in their own ideological warfare, fail to provide thoughtful solutions.

The father of three sons, a journalist, and a Brookings Institution scholar, Richard V. Reeves has spent twenty-five years worrying about boys both at home and work. His new book, Of Boys and Men, tackles the complex and urgent crisis of boyhood and manhood.

Reeves looks at the structural challenges that face boys and men and offers fresh and innovative solutions that turn the page on the corrosive narrative that plagues this issue. Of Boys and Men argues that helping the other half of society does not mean giving up on the ideal of gender equality.

©2022 the Brookings Institution (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Big problem no one is addressing

It is a big problem that no one is addressing. This book should be required reading for our humanities and for teachers. This problem with boys is not unexpected. Many have been warning about this for decades, and here we are. Time to wake up.

Informative

I liked the first two thirds of the book in which the author described the problems … not so much his solutions

Interesting and Informative

Well presented arguments for boys and men issues - I get it - I will use this information and spread the word.

Surprising insightful

I was skeptical of this book - but was converted even handed analysis of the challenges that impact boys in the rich world.

Enlightening and balanced

This book walks the line between the left and the right politically, and articulately describes the problem facing boys and men in the education sphere, and proposed cogent solutions

He says the unsaid.

The underlying problems Dr. Reeves discusses are things I have beem noticing for many years, and he is correct that speaking these things out loud will brand you as the wrong kind of person in some circles. Doctor Reeves is not short on suggested fixes. However, I remain skeptical as to their economic viability.

Great explicating the problem with research. Note the reviews!

I read this after I read bell hooks The will to change: Men masculinity and love. Prescient how hooks 20-year-old book now has a lot of research backing most but not all of her claims. I think I’ve been changed intellectually and ethically with the problem that O Boys and men is explicating defining and giving research to. I was not fully understanding what is going on boys and men’s mainstream hegemonic culture. I’m a white cisgender heterosexual man 56 PhD licensed marriage therapist and my work has been characterized by feminist, social justice informed theory intervention and praxis. This book dramatically highlights the problem with a lot of research to back it up. It’s begging for research policy critical awareness, cultural awareness to figure out how to address it all effectively. The book is fairly feminist informed, but could be much more so in my opinion. It’s my sense that feminist masculinity as defined by books and other similar approaches to masculinity from a strong justice perspective is the only hope for theory policy praxis and action.
Make sure you read the core critiques of this book from other readers here and on Goodreads.

A must listen

Regardless or not if you have a male child, I highly recommend this listen. As a boy Mom, and a wife, I have a vested interest to ensure that men succeed and for myself to do a part. The book was an easy listen to back to by facts.

Everyone needs to read this

Wow. Incredible book on a topic impacting us all. This book is fair, helpful, and provides practical information about how we can move forward.

Interesting

I’m afraid he is right. Very interesting and thought provoking. I’ve been saying this for years. But ultimately boys and men need to get over it and evolve.