Of course any book about toxic masculinity and the patriarchy was bound to be terrifying and infuriating in equal measure. But this book literally made me feel sick at times. That has nothing to do with Ford's writing - her style is extremely witty and at times even downright funny. It's more that the subject matter and the examples Ford utilizes to enhance her arguments are incredibly disturbing (no big shocker there).

To be honest, I don't have a ton of hope for our future that women will be treated with more care and respect in the future - we still have soooo far to go before violence against women and children is not a regular thing and before other important issues (the wage gap, fairness in the court system, etc.) are solved, but it does give me hope that there are people as genuinely fearless and whip-smart as Ford leading the charge for the call to end some of the most harmful and toxic practices all around the world. I applaud her for speaking her mind even when she's attacked by 'men's right's' groups (yes, that's actually a thing). I hope Ford will encourage even more people to fight like she is.

A fascinating look into the impact that sexism and gender roles have on young boys and a book that I return to again and again.

Despite vehement protestations from various men's movements, "Boys Will Be Boys" by Clementine Ford, is not a man-bashing manifesto, but more an in-depth examination into how our current cultural practices and ideals of manhood are failing our boys (and in turn our girls). The book is well-researched and contains many (scary) real world examples. A must for all.

The author takes a look at how many boys are raised in toxic masculinity and the serious consequences this has, not just for them, but for the girls in their lives too. She argues that it's not enough (or fair) to raise girls to do all the 'gatekeeping' and that we need to be raising our sons right too. From the initial way adults treat boys differently to girls from birth, to the rites of male bonding which seem to involve objectifying and dehumanising girls/women, and through the rise of #MeToo, the author holds a mirror up to the society we currently live in. Please be warned, there are some harrowing descriptions of sexual assault in the book.

It's a good job I didn't take my blood pressure whilst reading this book, especially the last third. It was both infuriating and heartbreaking to read about the many cases where women have been demonised for wanting to hold their attacker(s) to account. One thing that wasn't covered in this book but which has seen a worrying rise lately, is the amount of women who are being killed under the guise of 'rough sex'. Is this an excuse or a consequence of the rise of violent and misogynistic porn genres? Overall, the book was definitely a thought-provoking read, if upsetting in parts.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Oneworld Publications, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

A good overview of the problems caused by toxic masculinity. Very readable and engaging without a lot of off putting language or jargon. I really liked her focus early on towards our treatment of gender in regards to babies. With things like gender reveal parties, I have long since bulked at the immediate push towards violence for boys (guns or glitter, etc). I have also wondered why the push towards gender norms with babies? As Ford addresses, there’s really not a difference in the interests of an infant male and an infant girl. I don’t know that I’ll be using this text immediately, but I would like to use in my classes in the near future as a way to discuss gender with my students.

Boys Will Be Boys is an exploration of the rise of toxic masculinity and Ford's infuriation at the fact that it is not being addressed as an issue in modern society. Her words are literally FIRE and you can see how passionate she feels about this topic. It's incredibly thorough and well researched but can be a little dry in places, so if you don't have a deep interest in the subject it may not be for you. That said, I was engrossed throughout and thought the discussion and points made were solid and credible. Sadly, we see examples of inequality of the sexes everywhere; males often get paid more than women despite doing the same job and societal standards are different based on whether you are male or female. Rape culture, rampant homophobia and the #metoo movement are also part of toxic masculinity.

The author uses case studies from all around the world to back up her words, which I found fascinating, and it's an engaging and very intriguing read. I loved that Ms Ford uses plenty of sarcastic humour to break up the heavy topic, and it worked very well. This is an important book that everyone should read as it approaches toxic masculinity by discussing a broad set of issues and is the best book I've picked up on the subject so far. I also appreciated the glossary at the beginning as it introduces the reader to words that will recur throughout and allows those who have no previous knowledge of the subject to immerse themselves fully within its pages. It's high time boys were brought up to be better and for society to treat men and women as equals. Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.

An imminently disturbing and frightening look at the politics of race and gender in the world today. Ford lays out a blistering critique of the way the expectations of male power are destroying human potential. There are moments that will make you shake your head with the sheer idiocy of the nonsensical way (*not all*) men frame their defense of the war on women (and anyone else they perceive as weaker than they are). This isn't just a disease that attacks women, but one that also drags men down into the depths of a most bizarre sickness. By shining a light on the way western culture sets out to keep women in "their place" Ford gives us a starting place for raising our boys to be better.

This book approaches deep topics which are not always easy to read but they are important topics that need to be recognised and discussed (homophobia, rape, assault). I particularly like how the book starts by explaining some of the terms that will be used within the book as it sets a level playing field for this who are reading it and may not be familiar with them. It enables the reader to feel engaged and welcomed into the discussion which is an incredibly powerful thing. This is a really interesting, powerful which I think it important for everyone to read.

I didn’t finish this book. I love the authors articles and follow her on social media but didn’t find the book very engaging.

A diatribe on toxic masculinity. The tone here didn’t work for me. I’m already enraged by masculine behavior every day as a woman walking in the world. This one just stressed me out.

Clementine Ford's book, Boys Will Be Boys, is a total travesty! Ms. Ford gives "long winded" a whole new meaning. In fact Ford gives the word "gasbag" new essence.
Moreover, I came to believe that Ms. Ford is in desperate need of serious mental health intervention. The woman is a complete loon. Reading her dopey book makes one think that her marriage and family are really just two room mates living together with benefits.
In my opinion, Clementine Ford faces a very sad and unfulfilling life.. I sincerely believe that she has zero concept of love and a deeply shared relationship. This is very rueful.
If I could give it no stars I would do so.

An exploration of how society has different expectations and standards for men and for women and how prevalent toxic masculinity is.

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Very thorough exploration and breakdown of toxic masculinity , inspired by the feminist author's baby boy. Very moving to read as about boy mom myself . I don't worry that my son's will face false accusations- I worry that toxic masculinity will sweep them up and turn them into men that lack empathy for women in pain . We need more books like this. Should be required reading for all parents of boys