Join the Discussion

Comments So Far: 11

• 0%

  stephen-johnson1 year, 1 month ago

  From the article:

  We began with everything we had done as kids, then added things we didn't want to see forgotten. History today is taught as a feeble thing, with all the adventure taken out of it. We wanted stories of courage because boys love those. We wanted stories about men like Royal Air Force fighter pilot Douglas Bader, Scott of the Antarctic, the Wright Brothers -- boys like to read about daring men, always with the question: Would I be as brave or as resourceful? I sometimes wonder why people make fun of boys going to science fiction conventions without realizing that it shows a love of stories. Does every high school offer a class on adventure tales? No -- and then we complain that boys don't read anymore.

  Reply
• 100%

  deathray1 year, 1 month ago

  I saw the author interviewed by Stephen Colbert. I bought the book for my godson; it's a great read!

  Reply

• catstevensComment removed: User banned.
• 100%

  ETproductions1 year, 1 month ago

  One of the news channels (I forget which now) did an extended piece on the book, its writer and his boys. It really does look like what I loved to do as a kid. I think I'll give my grandson a copy.

  Reply
• 0%

  crespi1 year, 1 month ago

  SJ-

  Even though I fight sexual stereotypes, I wholeheartedly agree that boys and girls aren't generally identical.

  And so does the classic rock group the Who in their humorous song "I'm A Boy."-

  "...cut myself and see my blood

  I want to come home all covered in mud

  I'm a boy I'm a boy

  But my Ma won't admit it

  I'm a boy I'm a boy

  But if I say I am I get it."

  Viva la Difference

  Reply
• 0%

  mamasan1 year, 1 month ago

  kids today are so over mommied.

  In my neighborhood there are 16 kids on the block and they rarely even play outside.

  They area all pale and stay inside playing video games all day long.

  All thier activites are monitored. They all take summer camp instead of playing in the hills. Really weird.

  Everything is overly controlled by the parents. They all take piano, and judo and hockey. There is no unsupervised time.

  Reply
• 55%

  RedRiverJ1 year, 1 month ago

  Little quality family time with mom and dad. Everyone is so busy going here, playing sports etc. they forget what kids want most is attention and time from parents. In a fast paced, fast food world sometimes find time is difficult.

  Reply
• 33%

  canadianrancher571 year, 1 month ago

  Excellent artical, My sons did have a nitendo but more time was spent on a old dirt bike or snomobile. Neither of these machines where racing machines but to them they were, I will say that we did have a girl who was babysat at our farm and she was just a exited about risk as the guys were. Today nobody whats to let kids be kids.

  Reply
• 78%

  Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 1 month ago

  Nice piece Stephen, thanks for the heads up!

  The importance of this in early development of children can not be overestimated. This is a much needed book.

  Reply
• 83%

  koranagirl1 year, 1 month ago

  The book sounds like a great start. Too few children play outside all day, and parents drive them everywhere instead of having them ride bikes or walk. I could kill my husband over this! Even I have ridden my bike several times per year to work, downtown chicago, 10 miles, and yet he doesn't think it appropriate for a 16-17 year old boy to do this! I used to do the same when I was just 10-11 years old and loved it!

  Kids have no sense of adventure today, everyone is so scared by the sensationalistic media and over protective parents (dads are just as bad as moms today). The reality is though, crimes against children peaked in the 70's when kids used to get beaten, etc., and ever since then, have declined dramatically. We are now living in one of the safest times ever for children, and yet we treat them as houseplants and we have to pry them away from the TV and video games and indoors.

  Reply
• 33%

  koranagirl1 year, 1 month ago

  I also do girl scouts and you'd be amazed at the number of girls that think they cannot live without video games, ipods and tv's for the weekends. once, i saw a tv at one of the girl scout campgrounds and i could just cringe! i reported the group, but i bet it did no good.

  Reply