Six Awesome Books for Raising Teen Boys in Today's Chaotic World

Raising teens is tough for everyone, but adolescent boys can bring a new set of challenges we may not be prepared to handle.

During puberty, boys face tremendous developmental changes, both physically and emotionally. They also navigate more complex relationships, deal with external pressures, and need to make big decisions about their futures.

Parents are often left trying to figure out what to do to reach their teen sons.

Some teenagers retreat to their bedrooms with a wall of silence that can feel crushing, while others push boundaries at every opportunity. Some young boys seem to turn into men overnight with a surge of testosterone that is almost frightening, while others are late bloomers who you fear may never catch up to the pack. There are adolescent boys who go through this phase comfortable in their skin and still others who face debilitating issues such as social anxiety, loneliness, and other issues.

They need to know that they can come to us, as parents, to talk about these issues and questions without fear or shame. As parents, we need to be their safe space.

It is a lot. Acknowledging and remembering the challenges of these years goes a long way.

Raising teens can feel lonely

Sometimes, we need a little help and perspective to get through this challenging time. The teenage years are when parents pull back from each other when in actuality it’s when we need each other the most.

Learning from experts or those who have been in our shoes before can be reassuring and help get you through a tough time with your teen son.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our six favorite books for raising teen boys to help guide our teen boys and ourselves through this season. While these books may not make raising a teen boy easy, they can certainly provide some insights to make the stage less mysterious. Watching your little boy become a man is breathtaking and we hope these boys help you to enjoy this transition.

The best books for raising teen boys (boy-mom approved)

Helping you break the silence of your teen son: Decoding Boys

Boys especially are known for a shift in communication during these teen years. By shift I mean they go from jabbering about every little thing in their world to not telling you a darn thing. One-word answers are commonplace and they can be heartbreaking and frustrating.

It is also a completely normal phase in development. Their body is flooded with hormones. Their brain is trying to develop the skills to manage what life is throwing at them. And in all this complexity, they are faced with managing peer pressure, school stress, complicated friendships, and finding their place in this challenging world.

The result is heightened moodiness, edgy behavior, and irritability. Just a lot more attitude in general. And sometimes, it brings out the worst in us too. Fortunately, the book Decoding Boys will help you navigate this season. Written by a pediatrician and mother for well-rounded advice that combines real-life practicality and science.

The book provides actionable advice on guidelines and suggestions for connection that is needed and in ways it will be accepted because as parents we can misread their signals and stop doing things that they still want and need.

Helping boys get in touch with their emotions: How to Raise a Boy

Society tends to do boys a disservice by over-simplifying their emotional capacity. We don’t do a great job of teaching boys how to get in touch with and regulate their emotions. Too often, we have been taught and continue to teach that girls are more emotional than boys. This limits boys to only a few “acceptable” emotions, which is unfair and unrealistic.

In How to Raise a Boy, psychologist Michael Reichert draws on his decades of research to challenge age-old conventions about how boys become men. It is one of the most powerful books for raising teen boys in our complicated culture.

Helping to get teen boys motivated: Boys Adrift

American boys from kindergarten to college seem to be falling behind, evidenced by a gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates that have grown substantially. Boys are, on average, less ambitious than they were a couple of decades ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically.

In Boys Adrift, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than 20 years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are disengaged at school and home. He shows how social, cultural, and biological factors have created an environment that is toxic to boys.

This great book for raising teen boys provides parents with strategies to help with everything from homework to video games.

Your son isn’t lazy: He’s Not Lazy

Teen boys can appear to be lazy. Child psychologist and author Adam Price in He’s Not Lazy, reveals that it may be a confidence issue. Boys who want to do well in middle and high school but are afraid to fail, and so do not try. This book helps parents build their son’s confidence.

This book has a companion activity-oriented workbook, He’s Not Lazy Guide to Better Grades and a Great Life: A Workbook for Teens & Parents with short chapters and action items for teen boys to help discover why they procrastinate.

If you think confidence or fear of failure are holding your son back this and the next book are ones to read.

Helping your son develop resiliency: Chasing Failure

It can be hard to try new things and risk failure. Let’s encourage our boys (and girls) to always be willing to be new at something, to try new things, and take healthy chances. In Ryan Leak’s book Chasing Failure, he shows us all how failure is crucial to success. This book will empower teens to look at failure differently. That shift in perspective will relieve some of the pressure to get everything right the first time.

If your son doesn’t like to read, he may enjoy Leak’s 15-minute video with the same message, especially if you get some of his favorite snacks to eat while he watches.

The video documents Leak’s tryout for the NBA and what he learned from the experience. The engaging video may generate interest in the book! This is an empowering message for girls too!

Parenting your teen son from a Christian perspective: Boy Mom

If you’re interested in a book with a Christian perspective, Monica Swanson’s Boy Mom is filled with practical advice. It is written with a combination of research, experience, and biblical truth. Each chapter ends with action items to give moms the tools to help their sons with everything from relationships to finances.