The Boldness of Boys: Famous Men Talk About Growing Up [Hardcover]

Susan Strong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

In 2001, author Susan Strong published her first book, The Greatness of Girls. Since that time, she has given extensive readings across the country. More often than not, audiences have asked the same question, "When are you going to do a book like this for boys?" In The Boldness of Boys, Strong takes the same winning approach to encouraging and empowering young people - that is, she solicits essays and anecdotes from famous men who share their own personal insights about growing up. The list of contributors is varied and impressive - all are trailblazers who have won success on their own terms. Among the 40 men included are Colin Powell, Jay Leno, Tony Hawk (skateboard champion), Ansel Adams, Christopher Reeve, Paul Orfalea (founder of Kinko's), Lance Armstrong, Dave Barry, Nelson Mandela, and Senator John McCain. Chapters focus on relevant issues such as school, parents, adversity, challenges, mentors, and perseverance. Each entry includes a brief biography and is followed by a one-to two-page first-person essay. While the stories cover a broad range, the underlying message is the same: We all face challenges in life, but with persistence and courage, we can achieve our greatest dreams.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Susan Strong has worked as an MTV writer and producer, editor of Z Magazine, and series producer of Champlin on Film. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and two daughters.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740738585
• ISBN-13: 978-0740738586
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,403,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging stories for young boys, August 31, 2010

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Coco "LaMadre" (Chesapeake Bay) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Boldness of Boys: Famous Men Talk About Growing Up (Hardcover)

We purchased this for our 12 yr old son. He has read all the stories many times. The book should be on school reading lists around the country because these are written by well-known male figures detailing their stories of how they became successful and overcame challenges. One reviewer said this was good for "tough" kids but I think it is a great tool to help build self esteem in all boys. The chapter authors are diverse enough to capture almost any child's interests and he can find several personal heroes throughout these pages. Would love to see more books like this.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Boldness of Boys, June 24, 2008

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Neeley Conrad - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Boldness of Boys: Famous Men Talk About Growing Up (Hardcover)

Great for those tough kids. I can't wait to use it in my classroom. Found one cuss word in the front of the book in a poem, may ruffle some feathers, but it is just one cuss word, one that I hate, but not the worst. "full of piss and vinegar"

4.0 out of 5 stars Talent Management, December 22, 2005

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Allende Fan "Carmen" (Sunnyvale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boldness of Boys: Famous Men Talk About Growing Up (Hardcover)

This is a fun and inspirational read! I love to use this book as a way to talk about role models and how ordinary people find their talents and run with them!