Hi readers!
Today I am just filled with gratitude. “Talk To Your Boys: 16 Conversations to Help Tweens and Teens Grow into Confident, Caring Young Men” is one year old this week!
Joanna Schroeder and I continue to be blown away by its success, and we are so grateful to all of you who have purchased copies of the book, recommended it to your libraries, invited tus o speak at your schools, conferences, and parent meetings, discussed it in your book groups, interviewed us on your podcasts and in your parenting articles and - especially - reached out to let us know that the book was genuinely useful in your life.
The book hit the bestseller list thanks to you, and it continues to have strong “word-of-mouth” sales as people recommend to their friends. We’ve pulled together a few highlights from the journey here. Thank you so much for your support!
Big Love,
Christopher
A Wonderful Launch
We had a standing-room-only crowd at our book launch at Book Passage in San Francisco, where we were in conversation with the legendary Ashanti Branch.
The book was …
Chosen as one of Greater Good’s Top Parenting Books Of The Year
Recommended on The Ezra Klein Show by Priya Parker, who called it a “brilliant and beautiful book”
Blurbed by an amazing set of writers (read what they said here):
Lisa Damour, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Emotional Lives of Teenagers
Terrance “Terry” Real, bestselling author of Us and founder of Relational Life Institute
Eli Harwood (aka @attachmentnerd), therapist and bestselling author of Raising Securely Attached Kids
Melinda Wenner Moyer, author of How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes and Hello, Cruel World
Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, author of Wired for Love and In Each Other’s Care
Peggy Orenstein, bestselling author of Boys & Sex and Girls & Sex
Featured on the Aspen Ideas: Health 2025 Reading List and Aspen Ideas To-Go Podcast
Recommended by host Sterling K. Brown on the “That Was Us” podcast
Chosen as an Amazon “Best Book” Editor Pick
Featured in Common Sense Media’s “Raising Healthy Boys” Recommendations
Named a “Most Anticipated” Selection from Zibby Owens
Selected as a Kobo Best Book
Named a SlowChatHealth Book Of The Month
Chosen as a Voice Male Book Club Selection
Published in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, and is currently being translated and published for readers in Brazil, Poland, and Croatia.
We’ve Had So Many Great Talks
In many ways, the best part of writing this book is that it has given us the opportunity to talk to parents and educators all across the country. Thank you to everyone who have invited us to join your book groups, speak on your panels, and deliver keynote talks to your staffs, parent organizations, and conference attendees. We love to do these and always learn so much!
Some Terrific Interviews and Media Coverage
Ask Lisa - Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring Young Men
This Is So Awkward - What Happens When Boys Open Up?
CNN - Having difficult talks with your son should happen sooner than you might think, expert says
Priya Parker - A guidebook on how to talk to your boys about everything you’ve been avoiding (with Priya Parker)
New York Times: ‘Bring Back Bullying’? Online Provocateurs Say They’re Done With Sensitivity.
Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper: We Need To Listen To Young Men
Gender (In)equality: New Book Interview with Christopher Pepper (with Kate Mangino)
Upworthy: Award-winning health teacher shares why ‘purpose’ is key in rasing boys tot be successful men
SheKnows: A New Report Warns That Digital Culture Is Defining Boyhood — More Than Parents or Schools
Building Boys Bulletin - Talk to Boys: A Conversation With Christopher Pepper & Joanna Schroeder (with Jennifer L.W. Fink)
To Be A Boy - From Grunts to Growth: Talking Boys with Christopher Pepper
Getting Open - Parents Who Do These 11 Things Keep Their Sons Close, Even Long After They Grow Up featuring Joanna Schroeder
Minimalist Mama - 16 Conversations to Have With Your Boys
Voices of Your Village - Sex, Power and Consent: Raising Caring, Connected Boys with Joanna Schroeder and Christopher Pepper
Well Beyond Medicine - Talking With Teens: Honest Conversations That Build Connection
Parenting in the Screen Age
What Boys Wish Their Moms Knew - What Boys Wish Their Moms Knew
How To Talk To Kids About Anything Podcast - How to Talk to Boys about Tough Topics
Read A Book Excerpt
American Institute for Boys and Men: Talk to your boys: Tips for parents about mental health
Greater Good Magazine: How to Talk With Boys About Masculinity
Sample Our Audiobook
We love the way the Talk To Your Boys audiobook turned out, with excellent narration from Samantha Desz. Check out this chapter and let us know what you think!
Let’s Keep The Momentum Going:
We would love to see more reviews of the book online, especially on Amazon and Goodreads. They don’t have to be long - many reviews are only 1-2 sentences!
If you’d like us to speak to your school or organization about Talk To Your Boys, please email us at ttybbook@gmail.com. We’re open to discussions, panels, presentations, and keynotes!
If you are a journalist, writer, or podcaster who would like to interview us, please email us at ttybbook@gmail.com. We’d love to talk to you.
Please continue recommending the book to people - the strongest endorsements come from word-of-mouth suggestions from actual people!
Recent Teen Health Today Highlights
How To Love And Support Neurodivergent Learners
Real talk about school, autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities
How Amaze.org Can Help You Talk To Teens About AI Nudes, Looksmaxing, And Loneliness
Every parent and educator should know about this site
Let’s Rethink What Success in Sex Education Means
Young people want to know more than how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Schools should help.
A lot of people are worried about adolescent boys right now. Here are some of my best suggestions about how to better connect with them.
What Teens Say About Phones In Schools
How much should students’ ideas influence the discussion?
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Congratulations! Well deserved.
A friend of mine, who's a new dad to a newborn baby girl, had to suddenly adopt his two tween nephews recently. He seemed a bit shellshocked when I visited, so I shared your book with him. He ordered a copy right away, and says it's already been helping him navigate the new circumstances.
Grateful to you and Ms. Schroeder for your work in creating this incredible resource. 🙏🏻