Boys & Sex (Orenstein) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
Orenstein’s Boys & Sex is a natural follow-up to her 2016 best seller Girls & Sex. The young men we meet here tend to be hyperarticulate—to the extent that I was initially skeptical of their eloquence…. However unexpected it is, though, the boys’ willingness and ability to share is also decidedly eye-opening ... Every few pages, the boy world cracks open a little bit like that…. To her credit, Orenstein acknowledges her biases. And, through story after story, she forced me to see mine: I was wrong to presume that young men couldn’t be beautifully well spoken and lucid about issues of love and sex. In fact, that assumption is so common, it’s at the root of our problems.
Lauren Smith Brody - New York Times Book Review


A sobering look at the landscape in which young men are growing up—and an invitation for the grown-ups in their lives to offer a lot more support and direction.
Chicago Tribune


To be clear, none of these subjects are new, and men who read this book might not learn anything revolutionary. What Orenstein does excellently, however, is condense, clarify, and draw out the perspectives of the boys and men that she interviewed—their voices, interspersed with her own, lift the book up, hopefully showing readers that they are not alone in their experiences…. The book’s strength lies in Orenstein’s ability to summarize biting, salient points that, even if they don’t come as a shock to some readers, are nonetheless reemphasized clearly…. [A] valuable addition to the litany of books out there discussing what, exactly, is happening with the youth these days.
Harvard Crimson


Through a combination of extensive interviews with young men and sociological research, the book seeks to move beyond the space of think pieces written by men and actually include them in the conversation. It gives readers a digestible overview of the problem…. In between introducing terms like "feminist fuckboy" and "Golden Dick Syndrome," the book also tells stories of boys that are largely neglected in society’s sex conversations…. Most moving are the stories of young men who are victims of abuse, how it often comes as a result of their fears of straying from gender expectations…. These narratives further complicate Orenstein’s problem and make the book a more interesting read…. What I came away understanding is that regardless of how a boy identifies, he is probably confused…. I believe people of all ages can benefit from reading Orenstein’s book and that it can inspire change for the better for all.
Columbia Journal


[Orenstein] trains her expert eye on the world of adolescent boys, and the unique set of challenges that young men are facing today. Boys & Sex is not just a candid and often devastating view into the lives of real high school and college boys right now; it's an affirmation of hope, and an exercise in the power of listening.
Salon


(Starred review) [C]candid and fascinating portrait of young American masculinity.… Expertly written and sometimes disturbing, but always informative, Orenstein’s latest is a valuable reference for parents of teenage boys and young men.
Publishers Weekly


By interviewing young men and collecting data for two years, Orenstein developed insights into her subjects' ideas of masculinity and how society can steer young men away from misogynistic patterns.… A thought-provoking read for all interested in gender studies. —Emily Bowles, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
Library Journal


(Starred review) [A] welcome forum for exploring "a hunger for more guidance about growing up, hooking up, and finding love in a new era." A highly constructive analysis that provides many topics for exploration and discussion by parents and others who interact with boys.
Kirkus Reviews