Boyhood and Beyond

My newly 10 year old son and I greatly appreciate this book! Bob tackles so many crucial topics for being a mature person and in particular a mature, responsible, and respectful man that others will turn to for advice and help. We read one chapter a day. The chapters are short, not preachy at all, and are very relatable. At the end of each chapter he includes a few questions. My son always thoughtfully and willingly answers the questions. We really LOVE this book. It is written from a Christian perspective, though he teaches about qualities that would be good for anyone whether Christian or not, male or female, young or old. Thank you, Bob!

I bought this book on a whim, not something I usually do. I have read a chapter at a time to my three younger boys, ages 6, 9 and 13. But the funny thing is that after I read the chapters, I end up sharing them with my older sons, ages 19 and 17. They are just that good! Each chapter has exhortation or insight about becoming a man that is applicable, challenging, and memorable. I have even caught myself sharing some of these with my own friends at parties, they are that challenging and meaningful. This author has earned my respect over and over. Some of the highlights are the chapter on dirty diaper collecting, Mr. Sloth vs. Mr. Industry, Integrity, Justice, being Shy....and wait, we're only about 2/3 done with the book! I HIGHLY recommend this book. I will say it's best to read for age 9 and above...but little ones can read it again some day. The older the reader, the more applicable it will be. P.S. I'm a mom reading this to her sons...ideally, dad would be doing the reading but I have to say it works with me doing it. I'm the one who is homeschooling during the day and it just fits along with our Bible reading time. Sometimes, my husband will have me read them again at devotionals with all 5 of our sons.

Author Bob Schultz, coming from the background of an outdoor man of the Pacific Northwest, who works with his hands, both for a living and as part of his own service toward God, has managed to craft in BOYHOOD AND BEYOND, a highly useful and relevant work to guide boys into becoming men as God intends, one who protects and provides for his family, yet has enough humility to stoop to help a weaker one in need of a helping hand. I have been using this book for almost a year now with my eleven-year-old homeschooled grandson, who loves these lessons and the time we spend together discussing them. He has recently begun covering the chapters on his own, with me close by as a sounding board for scriptural truths he wishes to discuss further. My grandson was particularly looking forward to the chapter, "Preparing for a Wife," but was a little surprised and disappointed at the author's idea of how to do that. On the first page of that chapter, Schultz says, "God designed perfect classrooms for marriage training. They are called little sisters. Hopefully, you have one or more of these little girls around your home." My grandson has two, but even though I have been telling him essentially the same thing as Schultz, it seemed to sink in better for him, coming from Schultz. The book is organized in thirty-one chapters, so used as a daily devotional, can be covered in about a month. The author has put forth topics relevant for Christian boys, and I have not detected any denominational bias in his writing, yet it is in no manner without backbone. He simply sticks with the essentials. Schultz does not equivocate on important matters. One of the latter chapters is, "A Time to Kill," which he opens with these words, "One challenge of growing into a man is learning when it is time to kill and when it is not. Sometimes people get mixed up and kill when they shouldn't and refuse to kill when they should. How can a boy know when it is right?" He closes that chapter with, "We live in a day when people will kill their own babies yet won't kill a diseased mouse in their pantry. We are in need of men who have eyes to see the value of animals. We need men who have the courage to kill when it is time to kill." Parents concerned about how the insidious subtlety of ungody agendas may be creeping in and and negatively influencing their sons will appreciate such uncompromising words as the foregoing. In writing this book, the author has self-apparently drawn wisdom from God Himself, through His written word, and not from the world, the flesh and the devil, all of which are at enmity with God. We own another book by the author, CREATED FOR WORK, and I plan to start using that one soon with all three of my homeschooled grandchildren, currently 11, 8 and 6, having high hopes that chore time will go more smoothly thereafter! I plan to let you know through another review of that book!

I would highly recommend this book for parents and young boys (ages from 8yrs). Very good source to help grow a boy with Godly purpose in his life. Good discussion questions after each chapter to go deeper. Easy to read for this age. Has very practical and enjoyable stories.

This book should be read by EVERY young man and every young man's father! Any young man who understands the principles in this book and lives them will truly be worth his salt :)

All I can say is "WOW!" This book is fantastic. Today, manhood is something that seems to have been devalued by much of society. As a result, it's become more and more difficult to convey to our sons what being a man means. This book contains several very short stories, each containing a timeless moral, to help you teach your son what it means to be a man. And each story is followed by a few questions that get right to the point. What a valuable resource to help your son become the man that he was created to be!!!