From Boys to Men

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The book by an American transpersonal psychologist focuses on a crucial turning point in a man's life—the transition from childhood to adulthood. The author begins by describing the situation of at-risk urban youth in the U.S. and explores the causes of rebellion and nonconformity among adolescent boys. He highlights the connections between the absence of traditional rites of passage and risky behavior in youth, emphasizing how society deprives children of the opportunity for a ritualized transition into adulthood. He reconstructs rites and ceremonies of male adulthood to align with modern times. Stephenson offers a practical approach that various cultures have applied for centuries. Rites of passage have been essential for the healthy psychological growth of young men and effectively address this critical developmental period. Central to his therapeutic approach are rituals that facilitate the transition from childhood to adulthood. Bret draws inspiration from indigenous traditions and seeks to compensate for the missing rituals in (post)modern society with specific techniques such as storytelling, artistic methods, sweat lodges, vision quests, and fire work.