Understanding Guys: A Guide for Teenage Girls (Plugged In) - Softcover

Michael Gurian is a psychotherapist and bestselling author whose books include The Wonder of Boys and The Good Son. His work reflects the diverse cultures (European, Asian, Middle Eastern, and American) in which he lived, worked, and studied. He has taught psychology, religion, mythology, and literature at three American universities and at Ankara University in Turkey. He lives with his wife and two children in Spokane, Washington.

Grade 8-10-Using an engaging and frequently humorous tone, Gurian offers straightforward explanations of what boys experience during puberty and how these changes affect them emotionally and psychologically. Of course, in any work of this kind, there is always the danger of generalization. At times the author's reliance on anecdotal examples leads to overgeneralization, if not stereotyping. Another significant problem is that statistics are sometimes given without citing a source as when Gurian notes, "In over ninety percent of cases of teen pregnancy, the mother is abandoned by the boyfriend." Occasional black-and-white cartoon drawings appear throughout the text, adding a sense of levity to the discussion without trivializing it. There is no index. Despite its flaws, this book is likely to spark great interest and answer some questions.
Edward Sullivan, New York Public Library
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