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Title: Smart Boys: Talent, Manhood, and the Search for Meaning by Barbara A. Kerr, Sanford J. Cohn, Audie Alcorn ISBN: 0-910707-43-X Publisher: Great Potential Pr., Inc. Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.83 (6 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Not as helpful as I hoped for
Comment: As the parent of a gifted child (elementary age) I bought this book to gain some insights into how to help and be a better a parent for my gifted child. This book seemed to be a little thin on specific advice or tips in this area. Instead of really delving into one area with a thorough evaluation, the book provided me with only a "scratch the surface" feel for multiple gifted groups: Gifted Minority Boys, Underachieving Boys, Young Gifted Boys, Adult Gifted Men, etc.
The other book I purchased, Helping Gifted Children Soar, was much more relevant for parents looking for help with their gifted child.
Rating: 2
Summary: Not as helpful as I hoped for
Comment: I am the parent of a gifted child (elementary age) and bought this book to gain some insights into how to help and be a better a parent for a gifted child. This book seemed to be a little thin on specific advice or tips in this area. Instead, it seemed to quickly touch on every area of gifted boys and men: Gifted Minority Boys, Underachieving Boys, Young Gifted Boys, Adult Gifted Men, etc.
Instead of really delving into one area with a thorough evaluation, the book provided me with only a "scratch the surface" feel for multiple gifted groups.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Quality Reference Guide, Even If A Bit Agenda-Driven
Comment: As a Gifted Education student and professional, I have developed strong interests in the gifts, needs and problems unique to gifted males. It's an area that's not terribly well-researched, partly owing to a more PC focus on gifted females (and I don't mean to argue that gifted females are unworthy of research and funding!) As gifted young males grow up and enter high school and college, their representation in academically-oriented classes and universities declines drastically compared to gifted females (and this generally serves for all males and females of college age). It's difficult to pinpoint or put the blame on any one or two specific causes, but it is important to recognize first that boys and girls learn and process information differently, and second, that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with recognizing these differences and attempting to address them at the classroom and familial levels.
This book gives quite detailed accounts of many of the issues specific to gifted males, and it also breaks them down chronologically to address the growing gifted male at different stages of life, including gifted men (yeah!) It serves its purposes well as a quality reference book, and its reviews of the myriad popular books about boys, although too short, are helpful and basically sound.
One caveat: the writers (I assume both of them, since the reader has no way to identify which writer authored which section or article) write from a very PC perspective, which occasionally leads them to accept or reject certain hypotheses or ideas outright. Many of these actually deserve more careful consideration, positive or negative. There is also a strong and somewhat preachy emphasis on the problems of homosexual boys, and it runs as an undercurrent throughout the text. While the unique difficulties of these boys merits attention and tact from teachers and parents, it almost seems to be put on a pedestal in this book. Perhaps the authors have dealt extensively with homosexual boys who have faced many issues, but they are not explicit about this, so these emphases too often come across as agenda driven and prescriptive dictates.
All in all, quite well-written and broad, albeit a bit preachy in places. I would recommend this book for parents, teachers and gifted ed professionals who deal with gifted boys on a regular basis.
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