Being A Boy - James Dawson

It's harder to be a girl because
they have to push enormous babies
out of a very small hole and also
because we live in a pretty sexist
world run almost exclusively
by rich men.

Rated 10/10

Being a boy is hard. How can you possibly act cool and even think about pulling potential partners when your face is sprouting spots and you're hairy in places you didn't even know could be hairy? Luckily, 'Being a Boy' provides an uncensored look at puberty, from the social food chain to sex, being a boyfriend and everything guys need to know to survive - brutal honesty included.

My thoughts: A really quick and easy read that speaks to teen boys on their own level. I was sent this as a proof and read it in a day, it's very difficult to put down!

James Dawson writes with wit and understanding - almost like having an older brother/friend on call to answer those questions that are difficult to ask. As a 26 year old woman, I still found it highly entertaining and would recommend that anyone could read and be amused and informed in some way.

I particularly loved Dawson's stance on sexuality - refraining completely from labels and recognising that sexual preference is never as black & white as people suggest. Similarly, the ideas put forward on sexism and gender are equally as valid, and I would trust in putting this book in any boy's hands without worrying that they might be baffled or overwhelmed by the differences between men and women. There is none of that here...

Which puts forth another major positive that I got from this book - it doesn't bombard the lads with all of the biological physical explanations that they will have heard in sex ed classes. Ie: it's nothing at all like sitting down in a Science Biology lesson and being bored senseless for an hour. None of that. Just the stuff that is relevant, and written in a way that is easily digested.

There was only one little sentence that I personally completely disagreed with.

Other than that, an absolute winner!