Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys

This is possibly the BEST book EVER about raising boys and I have ready soooo many! I will read this every single year. It's amazing. Can't say enough good about it! Finally, a REAL book about raising boys, it is full of truth and our whole family has learned from this and taken what we've learned and are practicing it.

A must read for any parent of boys! I have learned so much from this book, and my boys make so much more sense after reading it. I love how it breaks down and describes each stage boys go through. I plan on having my husband read it next!

Bought as a gift for first time parents of a boy--still reading it myself even though mine are 23 and 21!! Fascinating, funny and incredibly helpful. Should be required reading for all parents of boys--preferably before they're in their 20's!

This is a must-read for anyone raising a boy. It breaks down the "stages" of a boy from a toddler to adulthood and what we as parents need to be aware of and providing for them during each stage. The back has a great section on specific issues such as intimacy, sensitive boys, masturbation, pornography, money, etc. All critical issues that many of us are not comfortable talking to our children about and if you're like me, aren't even sure what the right thing is to say. I read this book in a week; couldn't put it down.

I bought this book when my son was three. I really like that it blocks out different maturity levels in boys and describes behavioral and physical changes for each age level. We have found this to be a wonderful read for parents looking to raise Christian boys from a constructive and loving perspective. Invaluable book.

This is an excellent book as it tells you what is "normal" for a boy. It helps to know that their behavior isn't aggressive, or mean they are just developing into the men they will become. When you know what is normal behavior for boys, its easier to deal with them.

I haven't finished it yet, but I love what I have read! It is very engaging for a book of its kind. It has been very helpful even though my son hasn't quite hit the first age group yet. Can't wait to finish!!

I have two younger boys and though the stages they're going to have to go through scare the bejeebees out of me, I found this book to be full of funny anecdotes and tips to help me and my husband weather the storm. I am looking forward to the sweet spots and the calm that comes after the storms of adolescence.

Love this book- very practical ideas on the topic of parenting boys. The authors share their wisdom through stories and relevant examples. I will continue to refer back to this book as my boy matures.

This is it. The best. O.K. I know there are other good ones out there and I have read them. What I LOVE about this book is that it's real. It's practical. It's doesn't just focus on a physical, emotional or spiritual level, it weaves them together as a whole. Which is how it should be. It doesn't stop at explanation like most books, but gives you suggestions and then inspires you to find some of your own ideas. I have two boys and this book is my boy bible. I have suggested it to many friends who agree it is great!

We love this book so much, and in fact, this purchase actually replaced the third copy we've given away. It truly is a must read for all parents of boys. I found myself thinking, "Gosh, I didn't know *that*!" over and over again.

Wow! Yet another incredible quick read by Stephen James and David THomas! However, you will definetly find yourself rereading passages over and over astounded by their examples of how boys really act in certain settings. This is a book that every teacher and parent needs to have in their collection. You become taken in by Stephen and David's grasp on the rites of passage that boys take and truly learn how to value, love and nurture our boys so that we can help them become a valued loving kind person in this universe. As an educator and a mother of one "wild thing" , it is such a blessing to understand just how and why our boys think and do the "unthinkable" at times. This book should be your reference guide to finding out these reasons. Buy this book and enjoy every moment crying, laughing, and loving boys. Thank you to David and STephen for giving us this hidden insight-"what a blessing you two are-keep writing!"

Interesting book about raising boys without breaking their spirit. It says that parents should encourage boys to boys in their exploring, dirty, rambunctious way but teaches parents to direct their energy in positive ways.

My only regret is that I didnt find/read this book earlier. Having two boys, I've been looking for a book that explains what is going on with their lives now and what will be happening soon. This books provides really good information on the different stages and some general suggestions on dealing with the experiences they go through. Highly recommended for anyone who has boys.

I loved this book. Very balanced and insightful with specific tools and suggestions on understanding, relating and raising sons. It's the type of book where you read a few pages, reflect and read some more. I am buying this for my friends' with boys for the holidays!

Amazing book! This book should be read by every parent that has boys. Great ideas on how to help raise boys who are just being boys in a world where they are expected to be calm and still when that is not in their chemical make up!

Highly recommend this book to parents with boys. An easy read with great advice, information, examples, and references. I will most likely reread it as my son grows and goes through different stages of life.

This is a wonderful, touching book about boys growing up. I raised three sons, myself, and everything in the book is true, so wise. Whether you are a young mother, a grandmother, or a wife, this book will help you understand what guys are made of.

I am about to be a stepfather and heard of this book on the local Christian radio station. I love this book. It gives so much insight and good healthy advise. And even as a grown man, it mad me look back at myself and my childhood opened my eyes to many things.

I think this is my ever review of a book on the store.com. This book is worthy of my praise. The authors are practical and wise in their knowledge of boys and how parents can relate to boys. The insights are amazing and God-given. Next to the Bible, this is the best book that I have ever read. I thought I was just going to learn about parenting my sons, which I did. But I also discovered things about me as an adult boy who is still incomplete in many areas. Men of all ages, in the midst of parenting or not started or just finished, need to read this book. Very well done.

This book was very disappointing to me. While the authors claim to be Christians, they rarely referenced God or used the Bible to back up what they were saying. It was all based on modern psychology. I found the majority of what they wrote to be generalizations and they assumed that every boy will do certain things. After sharing different sections with my husband, he agreed with me that boys and men do NOT all go through experimentation phases or rebellion phases or insecure phases, etc. All in all, I was disappointed with the content and would not recommend the book.

A word to the wise - this is a book written with a specific religious agenda. In particular, the views on masturbation and sexuality are straight out of the 1950s. For example, direct quote from the book: "[S]ex was designed for mutual pleasure between two consenting adults in the context of marriage. It was never intended for solo gratification." Just this alone made me question everything else. Be careful whose advice you take.

I am always interested in books about raising children and this one sounded good. I didn't notice that the book offers a "Christian perspective" on raising boys. This may or may not interest a reader, but the potential reader should be aware of this before purchasing.

For me, this is not what I wanted and I returned the book without reading it so I can't comment on the actual contents.

I gave it only two stars because I have no interest in a religious perspective on raising children. For someone who does, the book might be wonderful and I would not hesitate to purchase it as the authors seem to have a lot to offer someone interested in that point of view.

I have read many parenting books and this has been my least favorite so far. If you want a parenting approach that doesn't involve God, this isn't it. You can't skip over the spiritual references as another reviewer noted because the insights are reliant on that assumption. I plan to read some more books on parenting boys and I'll update this with a recommendation if I find one I'm partial to. Many of the attachment parenting books (not gender specific) have covered giving child space to be themselves, supporting their individual self and nurture children without being that helicopter parent, all without a emphasis on a God. This isn't to say that other authors are not religious, just that it's not usually so prevalent in the parenting advice. One of my favorites so far is Adventures in Gentle Discipline by Hilary Flower.

Note: I didn't say I hated the book because there was a story about young boys that was fantastic for any parent of a boy. Read p. 137-139, if nothing else, to help understand that it isn't just your own son who can't ever seem to follow simple directions.

There is no indication on the cover or description that this is a religious book, but in fact it is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The title is purposefully deceptive and the fact that this book belongs on the religion aisle is offensive to me as a secular reader. The author's religious commentary is not welcome, particularly the information about when your child will be most receptive to the lies of Christian religion.

Teaching children about religion is child abuse -- who would knowingly lie and deceive their children?

Not me. One star.