Table Of Content
Praise forBoys Adrift and Dr. Leonard Sax
“Excellent and informative references and information are provided. . . .
Powerfully and persuasively presented.”
—Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA)
“Until recently, there have been two groups of people: those who argue
sex differences are innate and should be embraced and those who insist
that they are learned and should be eliminated by changing the envi-
ronment. Sax is one of the few in the middle—convinced that boys and
girls are innately different and that we must change the environment so
differences don’t become limitations.” —Time
“A must-read for any parent of boys. This is real science, and Dr. Sax
thoroughly uncovers the important health issues that parents of boys
need to be tuned into.”
—Dr. Mehmet Oz, Professor and Vice Chairman,
New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University
“Startling . . . like a brick thrown through your window.”
—Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
“Sax, in his pointed, conversational new book, Boys Adrift, reports
seeing something new in his medical practice, and hearing something
disturbing in the comments after his talks around the nation. . . . Boys
Adriftis an important entry into the conversation. This call to recon-
sider how the boy becomes the man is worth heeding.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Sax’s documentation is thorough and impressive. This is an important
book, especially for parents and educators, but for anyone who is con-
cerned with the well-being of our society and its young people.”
—Daily Herald
“Dr. Sax has performed an outstanding service in identifying and ex-
ploring a disturbing and overlooked trend: the vast number of boys who
seem to be disengaging from school and from their own potential. His
analysis of this problem, as well as his engaging insights and advice for
parents, make this a must-read for anyone who is frustrated with what is
happening to boys in our culture—or to anyone who is struggling to
raise a healthy, happy, and successful son.”
—Ron Henry, Men’s Health Network,
sponsor of the Boys and Schools Project
“If you’re the parent of a boy, Dr. Sax’s book Boys Adrift is required
reading. . . . Fortunately, Dr. Sax offers a program for change. His impor-
tant book gives a wholly original perspective on American boys in decline,
and thankfully offers information to help reverse this trend.” —Book Page
“Boys Adriftis one of the most important books of the twenty-first cen-
tury. It’s a life-transforming book which should be required reading for
educators and parents, as well as teenage boys. Spreading the message in
Boys Adriftis both a moral and a community imperative.”
—Richard A. Rowe, President,
African American Male Leadership Institute
“Leonard Sax brings good science and gifted writing to his analysis of
our biggest social problem in Boys Adrift. I know something of the liter-
ature on unmotivated boys and was surprised by how much I learned.
Expect to be newly interested in plastic bottles and much else besides.”
—Steven E. Rhoads, author of Taking Sex Differences Seriously,
Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia
“Dr. Sax has the amazing talent of pulling together complicated scientific
and cultural data from multiple sources to provide a stunning and com-
pelling argument regarding this growing problem familiar to parents as
well as to professionals who work with underachieving boys and young
men. Thankfully, he also presents concrete solutions and resources for
helping our young men avoid these pitfalls.”
—Flo Hilliard, Gender Studies Project,
University of Wisconsin–Madison
“Boys Adriftis a compelling and thought-provoking examination of the
male crisis in contemporary American society. True to form, Dr. Sax bal-
ances research with narrative to produce a readable text that explores
social, environmental, and cultural factors contributing to this crisis and
offers us sensible suggestions that will help right the course for our boys
and men. A must read for all of us!”
—Doug MacIsaac, Department of
Teacher Education, Stetson University
“Boys Adrift is . . . a cry to all of us to notice what’s happening to our
sons. . . . Sax doesn’t just sound the alarm bell; he offers solutions. . . .
[He is] a modern Paul Revere.” —Psychotherapy Networker
“Interesting, helpful and very insightful. An important book.”
—Dr. Bill Bennett, former U.S. Secretary of Education,
former Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities
“Boys Adriftpresents a straightforward argument that incorporates solid
research and, thankfully, does not blame feminism. . . . Sax also makes
sure to remind us that he doesn’t think girls have it easier. But at a time
when it is almost unusual to find a young man with drive and direction,
Sax’s work is an important part of a growing public discussion.”
—The Stranger
“This book is insightful, engaging, and easy to read. It is essential reading
for parents of girls and boys, and for those who expect to become parents.
I have passed my copy of the book to my daughter. The epidemic of un-
motivated boys and underachieving men is real and demands action; this
book provides a carefully researched analysis of the problem and offers
useful advice on how to deal with it.”
—Professor Craig Anderson, Iowa State University
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BOYS ADRIFT
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BOYS
AD R I F T
The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of
Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men
LEONARD SAX, M.D., Ph.D.
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
New York
Copyright © 2007 by Leonard Sax
Hardcover first published in 2007 by Basic Books,
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
Paperback first published in 2009 by Basic Books
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this
book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written
permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles
and reviews. For information, address Basic Books, 387 Park Avenue South,
New York, NY 10016-8810.
Basic Books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United
States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more
information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus
Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call
(800) 810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected].
Designed by Timm Bryson
“(What A) Wonderful World” written by Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and Lou Adler
©1959 Renewed ABKO Music, Inc., www.abko.com
All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
The Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover as follows:
Sax, Leonard.
Boys adrift : five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys
and underachieving young men / Leonard Sax.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-0-465-07209-5
ISBN-10: 0-465-07209-7
1. Boys—Education. 2. Young men—Education. 3. Motivation in education.
4. Sex differences in education. I. Title.
LC1390.S29 2007
371.823—dc22
2007012761
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-0-465-07210-1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For my daughter,
Sarah Emma
