Boys Will Be Human: A Get-Real Gut-Check Guide to Becoming the Strongest, Kindest, Bravest Person You Can Be

by Justin Baldoni

Overview

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!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063067189
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	7,792
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	11 - 14 Years

About the Author

Justin Baldoni is a devoted husband, father of two, and Bahá’í. He is an actor, director, producer, and the co-founder and co-chair of both Wayfarer Studios and the Wayfarer Foundation. Over the last ten years, Justin has been on a journey to explore masculinity and reimagine what it means to be a man—what it means to be a human—in the world today. He has spoken about his journey with masculinity in his wildly popular TED talk, and his digital series “Man Enough”, as well as on college campuses across America.

Editorial Reviews

[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 bestselling author of Untamed, Founder of Together Rising

“Man Enough takes us on an intensely personal yet universal journey as Justin Baldoni explores how the messages of masculinity have shaped him individually and us collectively. His brave reflections invite us into our own stories with more empathy, compassion, and freedom for ourselves and for the men in our lives. This book shines a needed light on our inherent self-worth and what it truly means to be man enough.”  — Jay Shetty, New York Times bestselling author of Think Like A Monk

“This is the most important addition to the conversation around masculinity in a decade because it is solution based and allows everyone access to this conversation in a safe way. Justin is masterful in encouraging and guiding men in consciously examining their own masculinity and how it's affecting their lives and the world around them by being transparent and vulnerable about his own growth.”  — Karamo Brown, TV Host & star of Netflix’s Queer Eye 

From the Publisher

This is the most important addition to the conversation around masculinity in a decade because it is solution based and allows everyone access to this conversation in a safe way. Justin is masterful in encouraging and guiding men in consciously examining their own masculinity and how it's affecting their lives and the world around them by being transparent and vulnerable about his own growth.” 

Karamo Brown

“Man Enough takes us on an intensely personal yet universal journey as Justin Baldoni explores how the messages of masculinity have shaped him individually and us collectively. His brave reflections invite us into our own stories with more empathy, compassion, and freedom for ourselves and for the men in our lives. This book shines a needed light on our inherent self-worth and what it truly means to be man enough.” 

Jay Shetty

"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

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

08/01/2022

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 Crandall

School Library Journal

2022-07-27
What does it mean to be a man?

In actor and filmmaker Baldoni’s energetic introduction, he positions himself as a flawed but funny and earnest student of the nature of masculinity. He has written an adult nonfiction title about it, Man Enough (2021), and hosts The Man Enough Podcast. The eight chapters include quotes, relevant research, personal anecdotes, and advice—all presented in an accessible, conversational tone. Each chapter ends with a breakdown of key points that can guide further action. Occasional text boxes labeled “Gut Check” offer prompts that can lead to greater self-knowledge. The opening chapter, “Boys Will Be Brave,” ties bravery to the concept of doing what’s right, uncouples it from a pervasive ideal of brash masculinity, and traces one’s sense of justice and bravery to family dynamics and upbringing. Being brave isn’t easy; readers are encouraged to be true to themselves and ask for help when they need it. “Boys Will Be Bigger” tackles body image and its pitfalls; Baldoni assures readers that there is no such thing as the perfect male body and that we are not defined by our bodies. Puberty is different for everyone and can be complicated. “Boys Will Be Knights” focuses a realistic lens on love and romance. The book thoughtfully explores consent, sexual assault, homophobia, race and White privilege, and other themes that are inextricably entwined with notions of masculinity.

Helpful advice and humorous myth-busting; will draw readers in and encourage reflection. (sources, further reading) (Nonfiction. 11-16)

Kirkus Reviews