Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Raising Sons
Preeminent child psychologist, Michael Thompson is renowned for his  efforts to educate and assist parents with sons. First withRaising Cain(his response to  Mary Pipher'sReviving  Ophelia) and now withSpeaking of Boys, Thompson encourages  parents to help their sons develop the emotional intelligence necessary to  succeed. The book seeks to answer parents' questions concerning the complexities  of raising a boy in today's society. Every chapter introduces questions from  parents on issues like puberty, underage drinking, and increased violence in  schools, and in every instance the author responds with insightful and  knowledgeable advice. Chapters entitled "Speaking of Social Anger and  Aggression" and "Feelings and Communication--Is Our Sensitive Boy a Sitting Duck  for Bullies?" are particularly in tune with the apprehension parents feel when  sending their sensitive sons off for another grueling day at school.The key to raising a healthy son, says Thompson, is to help your boy attain an  emotional intelligence that will allow him to cope with difficult and  threatening situations. To accomplish this, parents need to nurture compassion  in their sons and try to avoid allowing them to become desensitized by the  teasing and pressure of others. Respecting your son's need to appear strong at  times and offering him a sense of safety when discussing emotionally revealing  subjects are two ways Thompson encourages parents to nurture their son's  emotional development. As anyone who is raising a boy knows, it's a job that is  never quite finished, and with this book, Thompson offers parents an invaluable  tool, regardless of their son's age.--Dal Asher