Dating and Sex by Andrew P. Smiler

Book Review

An overview of the book

​This American book was published midway through 2016 and is one of the new books that are out there for boys about growing up after puberty. There’s a couple of other books, like this, that have been published for teenage boys too. This one has a lot of content and is pretty thick with 250-260 pages. Inside, it is like a novel ie lots of words, and small print. There is a lot of reading so you wouldn’t want to give to a child who is not a good reader. This book is definitely a book for older teens – the 13 – 16 year old age group.

The idea of books like Dating and Sex by Andrew P. Smiler is that it is almost an encyclopaedia of all the stuff that teen boys want to know about (and need to know about). At the back, it has an index with a lot of topics. Things like the frequency of dating, balancing time with dating, dating relationships, hiding dating relationships from influence on having sex. The index is really big. Plus there are lots of references listed too. This isn’t just a book that’s been written ad-lib. It’s a book that’s actually supported by a whole lot of research. There’s also a really good resource list at the back, as well, of places that you can get more information, as well. It’s like an encyclopaedia.

​​Why would you buy a book like this for your teenage boy?

You buy books like Dating and Sexby Andrew P. Smiler because it is up-to-date, accurate, age-appropriate, and relevant. Which means that your son is going to have everything that he needs to know in one book which means, hopefully, they’ll go to a book like this instead of googling it. Once they start Googling, that’s when they find the content that’s often inaccurate, incorrect and with values that do not match family values.  I have found the strangest sexual advice online, stuff that even I had trouble working out if it was accurate or not. Kids just don’t have the knowledge and skill to be able to work out what is real or not.

As a parent, it’s important to be able to give our kids good sources of information. This book does just that. So, what’s inside this book then:

  • Dating and hooking up
  • Asking someone out
  • Making love last: how to have a long-term relationship
  • Dating and being sexual: private relationships and public knowledge
  • Consent: giving it and receiving it
  • Solo sex: being sexual with yourself
  • Partnered sex: being sexual with someone else
  • Being sexual and being safe: protecting yourself and your partner
  • Realities and stereotypes: gender roles and sexual orientations
  • Puberty: physical and personal

Dating and Sex by Andrew P. Smiler is a really good book, and the actual copy that I have here is a library book. I am so impressed with it that I am going to order my own copy (for myself and my own kids).

Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st century teen boy by Andrew P. Smiler, is the book that all teenage boys need to have. It includes everything that they want to know as well as what they need to know. It is the sort of book that all teenage boys should have by their bedside.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 15 to 18 years.

Buy this book

✅ Buy a copy of Dating and Sex: A Guide for the 21st century teen boy from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription of the book review

Hey there! So, I came across this awesome book called Dating and Sex, a Guide to the 21st Century Teen Boy by Andrew Smiler. It’s a pretty cool American book that came out in 2016. There are a few other books out there for boys too, like one by Joe Langford, but I can’t remember the title right now. My books are right next to me, but I’m too lazy to grab them at the moment.

Anyway, this book is quite thick, around 250-260 pages, so it’s not really meant for younger boys, like ten or eleven-year-olds. It’s more suitable for older teens. The idea behind books like this is that they’re like encyclopedias of all the stuff that teen boys want to know about.

The book has a handy index at the back, which covers a wide range of topics like dating, relationships, sex, and even hiding relationships. It’s not just some random book; it’s actually backed by solid research. Plus, there’s a great list of resources at the end where you can find more information. It’s like having an encyclopedia at your fingertips!

Now, you might be wondering, why would you need a book like this? Well, it’s because it provides up-to-date, accurate, and age-appropriate information. You want your son to have all the knowledge he needs in one place, right? That way, he won’t have to rely on Google, where he might stumble upon some really strange and incorrect stuff. Trust me, I’ve seen some wild things online!

For example, I once came across a website where a supposedly qualified psychologist was saying it’s okay for siblings to have sex with each other. Can you believe that? Obviously, that’s not okay, but imagine if a young teenager read that and thought it was normal. It’s crucial for parents to provide their kids with reliable sources of information.

This book covers a lot of ground, from dating and hooking up to long-term relationships, consent, solo sex, partner sex, and being sexual safely. It even explores gender roles, sexual orientation, body image, and puberty. It’s like a Bible for navigating relationships and understanding what teenagers are going through these days.

I hope this review helps! By the way, I borrowed this book from the library, but I’m definitely going to buy a copy for myself. It’s just that good!

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