Product Description
A New York Times bestseller!
From filmmaker, actor, and author Justin Baldoni comes a real-talk, self-esteem-building guidebook that helps boys ages 11 and up embrace their feelings and fears instead of repress them.
Highly designed and filled with activities, sidebars, and inspirational quotes, this book is the perfect social-emotional learning tool for parents and educators to jump-start conversations about masculinity with the boys in their lives.
WARNING: THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST HONEST BOOK YOU’VE EVER READ
Have you ever noticed that there are unwritten rules that tell boys how to act, think, and feel? Nobody knows where they came from, but one day—BAM!—you suddenly feel these invisible forces, pushing you to follow the rules of masculinity, even if they don’t make you happy.
This book isn’t about learning the rules of the boys’ club, it’s about UNLEARNING them. It’s a get-real guidebook that will show you how to be: Brave enough to reveal who you really are Smart enough to ask questions Cool enough to feel all your emotions Confident enough to know your worth Strong enough to speak your truth
—and much, much more.
Be prepared: This book is raw and surprising. There is no subject off-limits or lies detected. Sometimes things might get a little uncomfortable, but that’s an important part of getting to know—and believe in—yourself.
Don’t worry, you're not on this journey alone, so let’s jump in together to become the smartest, bravest, strongest HUMANS we can be!
From School Library Journal
Gr 5 Up-Baldoni, well-followed actor, social media figure, and man-club buster, has adjusted his straight talk about redefining masculinity to boyhood level. For the most part, it works. This book tackles emotional, social, physical, and psychological aspects of how boys can approach growing into men. He wants to eliminate the "boys will be boys" excuse of bad behavior. Baldoni begins by discussing what it means to belong to the stereotypical "boys' club"-doing things because of peer pressure and fear of rejection. This can mean how to think about and treat girls, being a fake person because of outside expectations, becoming sexually active prematurely, and other issues. He wants his readers to think about why this peer pressure exists and who actually makes the rules of this "boys' club." By asking questions, he encourages boys to stop, think, and feel about how they may be reacting to peer pressures. Baldoni is incredibly honest, telling several intimate personal stories about how he reacted to certain events as a boy and teenager. He is up front about being a heterosexual, cisgender man strongly influenced by his Baha'i faith. However, he is not condescending or dismissive of other viewpoints or experiences; he just cannot write from what he does not know. VERDICT The book is a worthy addition to help boys become beautiful humans. The main detractor is the book's length; at almost 300 pages, it seems overly long.-Lisa Crandallα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review
“[Baldoni] positions himself as a flawed but funny and earnest student of the nature of masculinity… Helpful advice and humorous myth-busting; will draw readers in and encourage reflection.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Baldoni is incredibly honest…[His] book is a worthy addition to help boys become beautiful humans.” — School Library Journal
Praise for Man Enough: “Man Enough filled my heart with courage to do and be better. Oozing truth and love this book was absolutely necessary for me to read. If you’re like me and searching for a push in the right direction… you’ve found it.” — Shawn Mendes
"In a world drowning in harmful ideas about masculinity, Man Enough is the life raft we desperately need. Wise, vulnerable, trustworthy, and hilarious, this book will liberate lives, redeem relationships, and help carry us all to higher ground." — Glennon Doyle, New York Times bestsell
