[In the following review, the critic calls The War against Boys a startling, convincing, and thought-provoking book.]

The assertion that girls have been harmed, and in some cases outright scarred, by an environment of neglect and what could be termed an “anti-girl gender bias” in our schools and in society as a whole has long been accepted as true. Christina Hoff Sommers explodes this notion in her latest book. Exposed as myth and a manipulation of facts contained in pseudo-scientific studies conducted by groups she pejoratively and sarcastically calls, “gender equity experts” and the “gender-bias industry,” she contradicts this belief by saying that it is boys and not girls who have been lagging behind girls for some time in nearly every emotional, socio-economic, and educational criterion. If our cultural and educational systems do not change, she contends, most notably in their tendency to perceive of and treat boys as if they were “protosexists, potential harassers, and perpetuators of gender unequity,” we may be faced with a boy-centered crisis of shocking proportions. Although Hoff Sommers' deft, fruitful handling of extant information is astounding, the excessive fervor (accompanied by bravado, in some cases) with which her findings are presented could leave any reader doubting not only the veracity of her own statements, but also the spirit in which they are presented. One is unfortunately left wondering if her bristling distaste for out-of-step researchers is because of vengeance or a sincere refutation of their findings. In any regard, The War against Boys is nothing if not thought-provoking and startling. Furthermore, it convincingly suggests that our nation's boys are in fact perched at catastrophe's edge. Additionally, it appears that outspoken child advocates—not girl- or boy advocates—like Christina Hoff Sommers are part of the solution to our youth's—and especially our boys'—apparent emotional and educational cul-de-sac.