About the Book

If you’re trying to stop your son from competitive behavior, Michael Gurian, whose national bestseller The Wonder of Girls presented a radical new paradigm for parenting girls, says you’re making a big mistake. In his book, he advises parents not to stifle boys' natural propensities for competition and aggression, but rather, provides parents with effective and practical guidelines for channeling them.

He argues that because of the presence of testosterone in the male body, "aggression and physical risk-taking are programmed into boys." If this biological imperative is ignored or attempts are made to sidestep it, boys find other outlets to express their aggression, usually negative ones including gang activity, sexual misconduct, and crime. He also cautions that this behavior may continue into adulthood.

Gurian's explains what boys really need—primary and extended family relationships with parents and mentors including intense school and community support—all of these together creating an environment of "healthy discipline," incorporating a commitment to teaching boys moral and social values.