BOOKS & VIDEOS
YES: Men die younger than women in every nation around the world, a literal interpretation of “toxic.” BUT the impact is different based on the country we’re discussing as well as demographic differences within those countries. For example, British men die an average of 3.5 years younger than British women, while American men die an average of 5 years younger than their female counterparts. Racial differences also factor into these discussions, with Black American men dying approximately 5 years younger than White American men.
YES, masculinity – the cultural dictates of how males should behave – direct men to dominate women. Those dictates also direct men to dominate other groups of men, which contributes to a range of -isms based on race, social class, and sexual orientation (among others). BUT most men demonstrate minimal adherence to those cultural norms, viewing them as not particularly relevant to their daily lives.
This short and highly graphic book – 144 pages with approximately 150 photos & illustrations – provides an introduction to masculinity as it appears in the current day, English speaking world.
Buy it from Thames and Hudson, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound.
In this video program, Dr. Andrew P. Smiler works with an adolescent boy who displays characteristics of attention deficit disorder who has been facing difficulty in school due to disruptive behavioral tendencies.
During the session, Dr. Smiler asks a series of questions designed to increase the client’s comfort talking about his world, including the motives that drive his behavior.
In the introduction to the video, Dr. Smiler discusses how important it is for therapists treating young male clients to adopt an approach that emphasizes decision-making alongside self-reflection, and to recognize the influence of power — and lack of power — on teen boys’ functioning. Dr. Smiler also addresses the importance of risk-taking and therapeutic work based in clients’ anger.
Buy it from the American Psychological Association.
How do men experience their lives? What do we as Americans, and guys within the U.S., mean when they describe something as “a guy thing”? This textbook, designed for an Introduction to Men’s Studies course, is designed to help undergraduates understand the world of men from a male perspective. Grounded in the U.S. and written by psychologists, the book is appropriate for courses in Psychology, Sociology, American Studies, and Gender Studies.
The 6th edition marks the beginning of the book’s first major update since it was introduced. Group level differences between men and women are routinely described and some reasons for these differences discussed. Similarly, differences based on race and ethnicity are also described and discussed routinely, with some attention to intersectionality throughout the text (and more to come in the 7th edition, expected in 2022). A brief instructor’s guide and test bank are also available.
Order it from Sloan Publishing.
There’s a good chance you’ve had the “sex talk” with your parents. Or not. Or learned about human reproduction in health class. Or maybe you’ve heard a lot about dating, sex, and relationships from friends, movies, and the internet. So you are all set, right? Maybe…. But there’s more information that you’ll need to know—and really want to know–inside this book. You’ll read about how to know if someone likes you, the differences between dating and hooking up, and penis size.
Dating and Sex is an awesome, easy-to-read, funny, and insightful book that is chock-full of information and advice to help you get ready for the world of dating, relationships, and sex. This book can be your how-to-guide to become a responsible and mature relational and sexual being. And then, you’ll be ready for just about everything. (more)
Published in 2016, Dating and Sex received a EUREKA! Silver Medal from the California Reading Association, a Bronze Medal from the Foreword Indies awards, and was named one of the year’s 10 bestby Chicago Tribune reviewer Heidi Stevens. It also won 1st place for best Typographic Cover (non-profit publisher) and Best of Show in the Washington Publishers’ Design Awards. You can buy the book atAmazon , Barnes & Noble, IndieBound, and Magination Press, among others.
In Challenging Casanova, Dr. Andrew Smiler debunks the stereotype that teenage boys and young men are barely able to control their sex drives; he argues this belief may lead to destructive hyper-sexuality, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Smiler’s goal is to help us all recognize that boys’ sexual development is multi-faceted and to give us the tools we need to keep the stereotype from becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. The author also shows how this shift in attitude could help create young men who are more mature and have better relationships with partners and friends.
Designed for professionals who work with adolescents, policy makers, and parents, Challenging Casanova dismantles the stereotypes of boys as driven only by an obsession with having intercourse with multiple partners, and calls for deeper growth and understanding of modern masculinity.
Buy it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound.