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How Not to Be a Boy

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How Not to Be a Boy

By: Robert Webb
Narrated by: Robert Webb
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About this listen

Rules for Being a Man:

  • Don't cry
  • Love sport
  • Play rough
  • Drink beer
  • Don't talk about feelings

But Robert Webb has been wondering for some time now: are those rules actually any use? To anyone?

Looking back over his life, from schoolboy crushes (on girls and boys) to discovering the power of making people laugh (in the Cambridge Footlights with David Mitchell), and from losing his beloved mother to becoming a husband and father, Robert Webb considers the absurd expectations boys and men have thrust upon them at every stage of life. Hilarious and heartbreaking, How Not to Be a Boy explores the relationships that made Robert who he is as a man, the lessons we learn as sons and daughters, and the understanding that sometimes you aren't the Luke Skywalker of your life - you're actually Darth Vader.

©2017 Robert Webb (P)2017 Audible, Ltd Entertainment & Celebrities Funny Celebrity Witty Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

"Quite simply brilliant. I (genuinely) cried. I (genuinely) laughed out loud. It's profound, touching, personal yet universal. I loved it." (JK Rowling)
"Takes us deftly from hilarity to heart-stopping hurt.... A truly great read." (Dawn French)
"A witty and honest coming-of-age story." (Ian Rankin)
"If you have ever loved, liked or known a man, please read this book." (Katy Brand)
"A brilliant, brave book." (Matt Lucas)
All stars
Most relevant  
Listened in one swoop, tbh I had never heard of this "bloke" and now I have a new personal hero (?)

5/5

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An important account of one man's journey & attempt to break out of manbox. An insight & positive reminder that boys/men have rich emotional lives that can be stifled in many ways, which does no-one any good.

A book for right now!

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Wonderful. Sad, funny, insightful, packed with wonderful advice and genuine insight. I don't usually listen to this sort of book, but I'm tremendously grateful I listened to this particular one. I will absolutely listen to it several more times.

Life-changing

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Really easy read - great mix of humour, sadness and analysis of the ducked up world we find ourselves in as men. Highly recommended

Brilliant work - fantastic narrator

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I could not rate this book highly enough. Informative, funny, insightful and very entertaining. Also (as you would expect) beautifully narrated.

Fantastic!

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Funny, raw and moving- Robert Webb speaks about gender issues and gender inequality brilliantly. A must read for everyone.

Do yourself a favour and listen this book!!

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Really engaging and did open up a lot of territory around masculinity for me. Peppered with many elegant moments of humour and beauty. Felt that the memoir was generally somewhat reserved, particularly when addressing adult life and current relationships and falls short of classic memoir. Straddles the line between ‘issue memoir’ and ‘celebrity autobiography’ and as much as I love Webb found the autobiographical story a bit plodding when it deviated too far from the core tension around masculinity. Highly recommend though!

Great but not GREAT

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Well done Robert. You are an inspiration. This book was a joy to listen to from start to finish.

A truly wonderful read

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Equal parts funny and heartbreaking this tender life-telling should be heard by all Robert Webb fans. It made me laugh, cry, and think a lot.

How Not to Be a Boy: two enthusiastic thumbs up

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toxic masculinity has long been the norm for boys and men in Anglo culture. How not to be a boy calls it out and reveals the harm for everyone as we repress feelings, point fingers, and generally don't own our own shit. Very funny. easy to listen too. Awesome read / listen!

toxic masculinity is called out

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