The Demise of Guys: Why Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It [Kindle Edition]

Philip Zimbardo (Author), Nikita Duncan (Author)

Book Description

Young men are struggling socially, sexually, and in school. Why?

In their provocative ebook 'The Demise of Guys: Why Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It,' celebrated psychologist Philip G. Zimbardo and Nikita Duncan say that an addiction to video games and online porn have created a generation of shy, socially awkward, emotionally removed, and risk-adverse young men who are unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school, and employment. Taking a critical look at a problem which is tearing at families and societies everywhere, 'The Demise of Guys' suggests that our young men are suffering from a new form of “arousal addiction,” and introduce a bold new plan for getting them back on track. The book is based on a popular TED Talk which Zimbardo did in 2011, and includes extensive research as well as a TED-exclusive survey that drew responses from more than 20,000 men.

Product Details

• File Size: 1142 KB
• Print Length: 109 pages
• Publisher: TED Conferences (May 23, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00850HTHO
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,743 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #19 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Emotions
  • #67 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Children's Health
  • #87 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Emotions

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting thesis, if not entirely convincing June 25, 2012

By David Whittinghill

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The book is an entertaining enough read, but I am not entirely convinced as to the authors' characterization of the problem and their recommended solution. I do however think they are on to something with their idea that pornography and video games can be regarded by some as preferable to real experiences with real people. I think they have identified a real phenomena. I take issue though with the notion that it is pornography and video games, per se, that are the only things at issue. My own sense is that their gripe is similar to Nicholas Carr's observations in his book, The Shallows, in that people when presented with too much digital titillation and distraction are intellectually and emotionally blunted (a valid observation, I would say). My suspicion then is that video games and pornography are simply two examples of the titillation and distraction endemic to digital culture identified by Carr (i.e., others include social media, partisan news, cat falling off the table videos, etc). Zumbardo and Duncan's thesis, by focusing their criticism too narrowly miss an opportunity to slay a larger dragon.

One other criticism. The introductory pages with the data from the TED survey was less than useless. Beyond the fact that the selection bias when sampling from TED survey respondents would make the results almost idiosynchratic, the questions asked of the respondents were just silly. Why do I care what a TED user's beliefs are about why such and such phenomena is happening? Am I to assume the average TED user is a trained sociologist and her or his insights have some sort of added heft? If they were asked to what extent they themselves played games, viewed porn, etc., that would be different. But their opinion on the causes of these things provides so little to the substantive arguments presented later in the book, I'm baffled at their inclusion at all, let alone their being chosen to lead the book. Honestly, it was enough that if there were even a single page more of it, I would have been too annoyed to have bothered reading the rest of the book.

Nonetheless, I found their book an interesting and speedy read. Critics who disparage it because it "doesn't get" games or gamers clearly didn't read the book. It is obvious the authors understand that not all game experiences are created equal and that games are a perfectly valid form of entertainment and artistic expression. They simply point out how games and pornography, when overused, can keep us in the shallows of not only our intellects but of human experience. That's not such a bad message.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a worthwhile book November 19, 2012

By Rowsdower

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm sure everyone reading this would admit that too much porn and video games can be a bad thing, but a lot of well adjusted people will take the things stated by this book as an assault on their favorite hobby and vicariously an assault on them. The goal of this book is not to condemn all video games and those who play them, but merely bring to light how overexposure to these things can be bad. If you drink too much, chances are you're an alcoholic, if you eat too much, you'll become obese. Not everyone who drinks a lot is an alcoholic nor is everyone who eats a lot obese, but there is an observed trend. I just hope that people who would otherwise be offended at the mere thought that they may be overdoing it in the porn or video game department could get over any assumed personal attack and use this book to critically evaluate their life.

Also, since there is a good chance that no one will read this

duck scrotum taco fart

The end.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Buy August 25, 2012

By Christian Smitherman

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As someone going into sexual addiction therapy, this book does an amazing job of addressing most of the issues facing those that are prone to become addicts. Highly recommend.