Who knew that Matthew McConaughey’s foray into romantic comedy–a most dreadful film genre to most critics–would be so sociologically and culturally relevant? In Dr. Leonard Sax’s Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men (2009), he argues that McConaughey’s Failure to Launch is a gem of a movie in that it reflects an American epidemic of men who are underachieving and who seem to be perfectly accepting of that fact.
According to Dr. Sax, the United States has been experiencing a negative trend towards academically disengaged boys. He attributes these changes to five factors (social, cultural, and biological) observed in the last thirty years in his practice as a physician (M.D.) and psychologist (Ph.D.).
In short, Sax argues that boys and girls are different and develop at a distinct physiological pace. These changes become evident when some boys enter school. For a boy who (due to age) is not yet physiologically ready to conform to the expectations of school in order to learn (sit still), a snowball effect occurs: he becomes disengaged and develops a negative mindset about academics–> he is labeled ADD/ADHD by teachers, –> he is then prescribed stimulant medication (that negatively impact motivation) by overeager doctors, –> he then escapes to the world of video games, as that presents quick access to success and sense of control, –> he becomes disconnected from reality, and he ultimately becomes an unmotivated adult who lacks drive and ambition.
Sax develops each of his points, since the causes and effects are not not as superficial and as linear as presented. He also identifies some biological and environmental factors contributing to these changes. As an educator, I find it interesting and accurate that he identifies the nature of schooling in America and the education reforms of the past few years as integral to the challenges boys face in becoming motivated and engaged boys in the classroom and men in society.
Beyond just identifying the problems, Sax also offers recommendations (to parents) to combat some of the factors that he outlines in his text.
In all, Boys Drift is an engrossing, accessible, and quick read that provides great insight into the various factors that have contributed to an epidemic of American men who have been affected by a failure to launch into motivated and productive adults. If you are a parent, teacher, sibling, partner, or simply know a male who is struggling and not fulfilling his potential, or who seems to be ill-equipped to manage his own life independently, READ THIS BOOK! Sax makes a compelling case that will make reading Boys Adrift worth your time.
Read the full(er) review on my site.