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Quick answer: If you read Of Boys and Men, try Boys Adrift, Why Boys Fail, Raising Cain and The Boy Crisis. All examine why boys and men are struggling in school and work and what might help.
Richard Reeves argues that boys and men are falling behind in education, jobs and family life and that society should pay attention. The books below cover similar ground, from parenting boys to economics and social change. All are nonfiction, and all are real, in-print books. They reflect different views, so read them with an open mind.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boys Adrift | Leonard Sax | Adult | parents of boys |
| Why Boys Fail | Richard Whitmire | Adult | education focus |
| Raising Cain | Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson | Adult | emotional development |
| The Boy Crisis | Warren Farrell and John Gray | Adult | big-picture view |
| Stiffed | Susan Faludi | Adult | masculinity studies |
| The War Against Boys | Christina Hoff Sommers | Adult | critics' view |
| Men Without Work | Nicholas Eberstadt | Adult | economic view |
| The Anxious Generation | Jonathan Haidt | Adult | screen time |
| Our Kids | Robert D. Putnam | Adult | class and opportunity |
| Bowling Alone | Robert D. Putnam | Adult | social ties |
| Boys & Sex | Peggy Orenstein | Adult | teen guidance |
| The Descent of Man | Grayson Perry | Adult | light and witty |
| Hillbilly Elegy | J.D. Vance | Adult | class and family |
| The End of Men | Hanna Rosin | Adult | opposing view |
| The Coddling of the American Mind | Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt | Adult | campus and culture |
1. Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax
A physician argues that boys are losing motivation and describes five factors. Practical but opinionated.
Best for: parents of boys.
2. Why Boys Fail by Richard Whitmire
A journalist examines why boys lag behind girls in school. Includes ideas for teachers.
Best for: education focus.
3. Raising Cain by Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson
Two psychologists explore boys' emotional lives and how to raise them. A classic parenting book.
Best for: emotional development.
4. The Boy Crisis by Warren Farrell and John Gray
Argues that boys face growing issues, from fatherlessness to tech. Controversial and wide-ranging.
Best for: big-picture view.
5. Stiffed by Susan Faludi
A feminist author interviews men about betrayal and lost purpose. Empathetic and detailed.
Best for: masculinity studies.
6. The War Against Boys by Christina Hoff Sommers
Claims that schools and culture have turned against boys. Polemical and widely discussed.
Best for: critics' view.
7. Men Without Work by Nicholas Eberstadt
An economist examines men leaving the labor force in America. Data-driven and sobering.
Best for: economic view.
8. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
Argues that smartphones and social media have damaged childhood. Relevant to boys and girls alike.
Best for: screen time.
9. Our Kids by Robert D. Putnam
A study of how class affects children's chances in America. Stories and data.
Best for: class and opportunity.
10. Bowling Alone by Robert D. Putnam
Explores the decline of community life in America. A classic on loneliness.
Best for: social ties.
11. Boys & Sex by Peggy Orenstein
Interviews with young men about sex and masculinity. Candid and thoughtful.
Best for: teen guidance.
12. The Descent of Man by Grayson Perry
An artist reflects on masculinity in a friendly, funny voice. Short and readable.
Best for: light and witty.
13. Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
A memoir of growing up in Appalachia and Ohio. Debated, but widely read.
Best for: class and family.
14. The End of Men by Hanna Rosin
Argues that women are rising in the modern economy. A counterpoint to Reeves.
Best for: opposing view.
15. The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
Looks at how overprotection and campus culture affect young people. Discussion starter.
Best for: campus and culture.
How to Choose
For practical parenting advice, begin with Raising Cain or Boys Adrift. For education, Why Boys Fail. For economics, Men Without Work and Our Kids. For a different view, The End of Men. These books disagree with each other, so reading two with opposing views gives the fullest picture. Whatever your view, check each author's background and evidence. Some of these books are research-based, while others are opinion. Read both kinds to understand where the data ends and the argument begins. Share what you learn with friends or in a book group for a fuller discussion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Of Boys and Men about?
Reeves argues that boys and men are falling behind in school, work and family roles, and he proposes policy changes.
Who is Richard Reeves?
He is a British-American scholar who has worked at the Brookings Institution and founded the American Institute for Boys and Men.
Is the book political?
It addresses public policy, but Reeves presents it as non-partisan and supportive of gender equality.
Does it blame women or feminism?
No. Reeves says progress for women is good and that boys' needs should also be met.
Which book is best for parents?
Raising Cain and Boys Adrift offer practical advice on raising boys.
Is Of Boys and Men a recent book?
Yes. Richard Reeves published it in 2022.
Does the book offer solutions?
Yes. Reeves suggests starting boys in school a year later, hiring more male teachers in some fields and encouraging men into health care and education jobs.
Is this a book for parents?
It is useful for parents, but it is written mainly for policymakers and general readers.
Are there books for boys themselves?
Yes. Books like Boys & Sex and The Descent of Man address young men directly.