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S. Truett Cathy
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It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men Hardcover – August 1, 2004

by Truett Cathy (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 154 ratings
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Children have plenty of buddies. In an age when kids all around us are growing up without strong, positive guidance from their parents (who are busy, distracted, gone, or choose to be buddies instead of parents), children need someone they can look to with respect to help them build their lives. When he was thirteen years old, Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A, had such a man step into his life: a Sunday school teacher who modeled love, respect, hard work, and discipline. Cathy decided to follow that model, and today he has some 130 foster grandchildren, many of whom have broken their family's generational cycle of neglect through the encouragement of Cathy and other adults who reached out to them. In It's Better to Build Boys Than Mend Men, Truett Cathy lays out a simple model for adults desiring to reach out to youth and challenges readers to allow God to work through them to change the life of a child. His book is filled with stories illustrating the principles of discipline, trust, reputation, generosity, common sense, peer pressure, and family stability. Readers who follow their hearts into children's lives will find that their own lives are enriched as well.
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  1. Print length
    112 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Looking Glass Books, Inc
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.6 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1929619200
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1929619207
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Let God work through you to change the lives of young people. My friend Truett Cathy has been doing it for years, and he wants to show you how. Read his powerful message and let the change begin!"  —John C. Maxwell Founder, This INJOY Group

About the Author

S. TRUETT CATHY, founder and chief executive officer of Chick-fil-A restaurants, is also founder of WinShape Homes, which are home for more than 130 foster children. He and his wife, Jeannette, live in the Atlanta area, where he has taught Sunday school to teenage boys for more than fifty years. The author of Eat Mor Chikin, he and his wife have three grown children and twelve grandchildren.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Looking Glass Books, Inc (August 1, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1929619200
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1929619207
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.6 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 154 ratings

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S. Truett Cathy

S. Truett Cathy

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
154 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and a great reference for parents. They appreciate the principles and fresh ideas for influencing boys in a positive direction. Readers describe the writing as simple, straightforward, and down-to-earth.

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ReadabilityInfluenceEase of reading
29 customers mention "Readability"29 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They say it's a great read for teachers, Sunday school teachers, and people in the church. The advice is sound and useful for parents, grandparents, and friends.

"...This book is great if do not remember or never experienced it.Yp" Read more

"This is a great book for teachers, Sunday School teachers, and people in a position to mentor youth...." Read more

"...in preparation for starting a new Boy Scout troop, but this is great for any father, mother, youth worker, grandparent, or anyone who ever comes..." Read more

"This is a book that one can sit down and read in an evening. It's easy reading from a English language prospective...." Read more

26 customers mention "Influence"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides principles for influencing boys in a positive direction. They say it offers fresh ideas to fatherhood and encourages young people to do the same. The book is described as an important reference for anyone concerned about children's maturity. Readers mention that it challenges their way of thinking and teaches leadership skills in a safe environment.

"...Any male can be a father, but it takes solid work, morals, and ethics to be a Dad...." Read more

"...It is a must read- and will challenge you way of thinking and you raise a son. I loved this book" Read more

"Great reference for anyone concerned about the maturity of children growing up now and improving the world that our children are growing up in...." Read more

"...Scouts teach them how to be a leader. They are taught leadership skills in a safe environment so they can fail without it costing them their..." Read more

13 customers mention "Ease of reading"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and straightforward. They appreciate the common sense and clear ideas presented in a simple, down-to-earth way. Readers mention it's a quick read that can be done in an evening.

"...There is so much good sense within the pages that everyone can afford to be reminded of every so often." Read more

"...It is a must read- and will challenge you way of thinking and you raise a son. I loved this book" Read more

"...It is easy to read and carries a powerful message that we all can make a tremendous influence in the life of a child...." Read more

"...Mr Cathy's prescription are very practical and down to earth." Read more

You Reap what you sow
5 out of 5 stars
You Reap what you sow
Great reference for anyone concerned about the maturity of children growing up now and improving the world that our children are growing up in. Investment in Children creates a better future you may never see because your investment just continues to pay dividends. Good parents raise Good Parents, you reap what sow.The best gift you can give any child is Guidance (The example of how you live your life). It becomes difficult to give what you have never experienced or known. This book is great if do not remember or never experienced it.Yp
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Spinmaster
    5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST read for every Dad!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Every guy that wants to be a great Dad needs to read this. Any male can be a father, but it takes solid work, morals, and ethics to be a Dad. Don't just go over the pages and see the words, but REALLY READ it, absorb it, reflect on it. I've actually read it twice over the last year or so. There is so much good sense within the pages that everyone can afford to be reminded of every so often.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • BatDad609
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you have a son- you need to read this
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Wow !! What a powerful book that is working to mold the heart of your sons. It is a must read- and will challenge you way of thinking and you raise a son. I loved this book
    One person found this helpful
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  • cr
    5.0 out of 5 stars You Reap what you sow
    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great reference for anyone concerned about the maturity of children growing up now and improving the world that our children are growing up in. Investment in Children creates a better future you may never see because your investment just continues to pay dividends. Good parents raise Good Parents, you reap what sow.The best gift you can give any child is Guidance (The example of how you live your life). It becomes difficult to give what you have never experienced or known. This book is great if do not remember or never experienced it.Yp
    Customer image
    cr
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    You Reap what you sow

    Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2017
    Great reference for anyone concerned about the maturity of children growing up now and improving the world that our children are growing up in. Investment in Children creates a better future you may never see because your investment just continues to pay dividends. Good parents raise Good Parents, you reap what sow.The best gift you can give any child is Guidance (The example of how you live your life). It becomes difficult to give what you have never experienced or known. This book is great if do not remember or never experienced it.Yp
    Images in this review
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    7 people found this helpful
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  • T. Hollins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good core analysis of how we need to engage with our boys
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    The feminization of American has caused boys to interact with women all the time instead of men. This book just tells us men some of the things to try in order to engage with boys. Whether they are our boys or the other boys that ours play with. This recollection of stories from when Truett had his foster homes going tell us a lot about why kids are ending up in his foster homes.
    The boys' feedback is sometimes poignant and not what one would expect.
    Its a very short read, but I would recommend it be read by women and men. Women, because they need to step back from situations instead of coddling the boys. Also women need to not interfere with a man raising his boy. I also remind other women when they're about to tell their boy that climbing to the top of a split rail fence is not "too high" for a boy.
    Men need to read this to make sure they are engaging with boys. Be there for your boy, and those boys you come in contact with. When my son has his friends over, I give each of them a hug when they arrive, and several of them give me a big bear hug back. They KNOW they are welcome and safe here. Have "Men's Night Out" where you send the women out, either over night somewhere or away from the house that night. You don't serve the boys, they serve themselves, and eat what they want, when they want. Sometimes boys just need some freedom. Take your boy and enroll them in Boy Scouts. Scouts teach a boy skills they'll never learn elsewhere. Scouts teach them how to interact with adults, and adult men. Scouts teach them how to be a leader. They are taught leadership skills in a safe environment so they can fail without it costing them their job.
    Boys need to be boys. Boys need to take risks, push themselves, and find their limits.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Jill Gomez
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book for teachers
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great book for teachers, Sunday School teachers, and people in a position to mentor youth. It is easy to read and carries a powerful message that we all can make a tremendous influence in the life of a child. It charges us with that responsibility. I bought it for friends who are teachers, grandparents, and a youth director. I plan to buy and distribute more.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • William Touchberry
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Don't let the brevity of this book fool you. Packed in its small package is a ton of inspiration. I purchased this book in preparation for starting a new Boy Scout troop, but this is great for any father, mother, youth worker, grandparent, or anyone who ever comes into contact with children and youth.

    I've passed this on to other scout leaders to read. Its main message? Walk the walk and then encourage the young people who are watching you to do the same.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Gabriel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Have you got kids ? or your friends have kids ? Or you want to know how to model behaviour for the people coming behind us ? Then this is a must read. Written by someone who has been there and done that for over 60 years and is still doing it. Mr Cathy's prescription are very practical and down to earth.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for any man raising sons
    Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book helps us as men to define our roles and correct the areas of deficit in our own lives so that we can build a better group of men for the next generation. As a father of one son and growing up in a less than ideal home I have chosen to do better and books like this help me.
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