Smart Boys tells you almost everything you wanted to know about bright young boys and men, and is a must read for the parent(s) of gifted males. Young, adolescent and adult gifted males are all covered in this tirelessly researched work. The book draws heavily on study after study to bring the reader research over the last several decades on bright boys.

For those that like to skim, each chapter contains a summary of the key points and a conclusion, as well as a long list of references. Yes, boys are different than girls, not only biologically, but because of the way they are brought up in western society. Not only are behavior expectations different: be strong, don’t cry, and be assertive (if not aggressive).

Needless to say, life expectations are still somewhat different, and haven't changed all that much in the history of western culture. Boys are still expected to have successful careers, and be the “main breadwinner” in most cases. The fact is, we haven’t come all that far with our attitudes toward boys: don’t show soft emotions, be strong, work hard, and get ahead. None of this is new and little of it has changed substantially. What this means is that boys are put under constant pressure to succeed and lead. Our society is tough on dreamers, thinkers, and artists. Ironically, it probably takes more inner strength to be yourself and follow your dream than to knuckle down and lead a “normal”, safe, productive life.

The main point of the book, based on years of study by the authors, is that “smart” boys, meaning the intellectually precious, do not fill the ranks of the most successful men in America. The aggressively driven, not the thoughtful, fill most of those roles. Intellectuals are often more caring, more artistic, more abstract than the average boy, and do not charge blindly up the ladder of financial and social success. Perhaps, they do think too much. But without them, art, theory, literature, music, and poetry of the highest order are most certainly dead.

The point is this: just because a boy is smart, doesn’t mean he will take over the leadership of the free world. The authors don’t say it, so I will. He may be too smart to fall for society’s games of office politics and rigid conformity. But encourage his creative thinking, and you may get someone who wrote that play you are going to this weekend, or that concert; he may discover a new star in the heavens. The authors also don’t mention enough that something is even more important than success – happiness. Success is great, but happiness is supreme. Let your son choose happiness if you can. He will grow into a better person, and you may even grow in the process.

David L. Jones, GATE parent