Leonard Sax MD PhD
Thanks
for visiting my web site. If you want to find out more about me, or about my
three books or anything else I have written, this is the place.
For
more information about my workshop
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For more information about my
workshop
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For
more information about my workshop
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For
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I lead workshops on a wide variety of topics. Here are several more:
o Gender-aware strategies for broadening educational horizons
and boosting academic achievement, so that the same boy who loves football and
video games will love Jane Eyre and Jane Austen; so that the same girl
who loves Twilight will also love computer science and physics;
o The diagnosis and misdiagnosis of ADHD; many students have
deficits of attention, but not all deficits of attention are due to ADHD; other
conditions, such as sleep deprivation, can mimic ADHD – and nowadays lots of
boys are staying up past midnight firing photon torpedoes at the enemy, while
many girls are staying up past midnight Photoshopping their pictures for their
Facebook page;
o The impact of endocrine disruptors on development in girls
and in boys, and what parents can do to minimize this impact
o Discussing with parents the differences between
authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting styles; empowering
parents to be authoritative, to turn off the cell phones and the Internet –
without becoming “helicopter parents”
o Gender issues in the use of, and in the consequences of
using, social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Snapchat, Instagram, and
online video games – with an emphasis on what parents need to know and do
You will find some of this information in my second book Boys Adrift
and in my third book Girls on the Edge. If you would like more
detailed information about my professional development workshops for teachers
and school administrators; my presentations for parents and communities; or my
workshops for counselors, psychologists, and juvenile justice professionals;
please contact me.
Photo at right by Bill Cramer.
Mr. Cramer took this photo during my visit to Boys' Latin,
a public charter school in West Philadelphia.
My
first book, Why Gender Matters: what parents and teachers need to know
about the emerging science of sex differences was published in hardcover
by Doubleday (2005) and in an expanded softcover edition by Random House
(2006). My second book, Boys Adrift:
The five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys, was
published by Basic Books in 2007; an expanded softcover edition was published
in 2009. My third book, Girls
on the Edge, was published by Basic Books in 2010; an
extensively-revised, updated softcover edition was published in 2011.
Supplemental information and additional links for Girls on the Edge is
available by clicking here.
At this website, you can:
Read an excerpt from Why Gender Matters
Read an excerpt from Boys Adrift
Read an excerpt from Girls on the Edge
Get more information about me:
My education and experience
My publications
My events for 2005
My events for 2006
My events for 2007.
My events for 2008.
My events for 2009.
My events for 2010.
My events for 2011.
My events for 2012.
My events through June 2013.
The listing of events for July - December 2013 is not complete. Please contact me if you'd like to know whether I'll be leading a workshop or other event in your area in the next 12 to 18 months.
Comments from people who've heard me speak.
Watch me discuss Why Gender Matters with Al Roker on the TODAY show
Watch me discuss Boys Adrift with Matt Lauer on the TODAY show
Watch me discuss Girls on the Edge with Kiran Chetry on CNN's American Morning
order Why Gender Matters from amazon.com
order Boys Adrift from amazon.com
order Girls on the Edge from amazon.com
Order the GERMAN language edition of Boys Adrift
My books have also been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
order the audio version of Why Gender Matters from audible.com
order the audio version of Boys Adrift from audible.com
order the audio version of Girls on the Edge from audible.com
Get in touch with me, either by phone, e-mail, or snail mail
The four factors driving the new crisis for girls
"The best book about the
current state of girls and young women in America . . . offers astonishing and
troubling new insight . . ."
— The Atlantic magazine,
February 2011
"Packed with advice and
concrete suggestions for parents, Girls
on the Edge is a treasure trove of rarely-seen research on girls,
offering families guidance on some of the most pressing issues facing girls
today. Dr Sax's commitment to girls' success comes through on every page."
— Rachel Simmons,
author of Odd Girl Out
and The Curse of the Good
Girl
"This is essential reading for parents and teachers,
and one of the most thought-provoking books on teen development
available."
— Library Journal,
May 1 2010
"Crucial . . .Parents of tween and teen girls would do
well to check this book." — Professor Mark Bauerlein,
Emory University, April 30 2010, writing for The Chronicle of Higher Education
"In clear, accessible language,
Sax deftly blends anecdotes, clinical research, and even lines of poetry in
persuasive, often fascinating chapters that speak straight to parents . . .
Warning that a 1980s solution won't help solve twenty-first-century problems,
Sax offers a holistic, sobering call to help the current generation of young
women develop the support and sense of self that will allow them to grow into
resilient adults."
— Booklist,
April 15 2010
"Dr. Sax once again combines
years of experience with compelling research and common sense to intelligently
challenge the status quo of what it means to raise a healthy daughter. Girls on the Edge
offers skills parents can incorporate to feel more competent with our girls and
young women."
— Florence Hilliard, Director, Gender Studies Project,
University of Wisconsin - Madison
"Turn off your cell phones and
computers, and read this book! You will connect with your daughter in new ways,
and she will thank you."
— Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, author of In God's Name and God's Paintbrush
"Written through real stories
and supported by strong evidence in the fields of education, psychology, and
the sciences -- a MUST read."
— Margaret Ferrara PhD, University of Nevada - Reno
"Leonard Sax brings together a
rare combination of psychoanalytic training with a deep empathy for girls and
their stories in this important book. His argument that girls are struggling to
find their centers will resonate and his recommendations for how to locate them
will inspire."
— Courtney E. Martin, author of Perfect Girls,
Starving Daughters
The five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys and underachieving
young men
“Boys Adrift is a must-read
for any parent of boys. This is real science, and Dr. Sax thoroughly uncovers
the important health issues that parents of boys need to be tuned into.”
— Dr. Mehmet Oz, Professor and Vice Chairman, New York
Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University; and co-author of the bestseller YOU: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual
for Extending Your Warranty
“Excellent
and informative references and information are provided . . . Powerfully and
persuasively presented.”
— The
Journal of the American Medical Association; click here to
link to the full review
“Startling
. . . like a brick thrown through your window.”
— CBC
(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation); click here
to read the complete post
“Sax,
in his pointed, conversational new book, Boys
Adrift, reports seeing something new in his medical practice, and
hearing something disturbing in the comments after his talks around the nation.
Parents and girlfriends describe boys and young men plastered to the controls
of their video games, hostile to school, disconnected from adult men and
listless on "academic steroids" prescribed to them for attention
deficit disorders. Sax zeroes in on these maladies . . .Boys Adrift is an
important entry into the conversation. This call to reconsider how the boy
becomes the man is worth heeding.”
— The
Cleveland Plain Dealer; click
here to read the full review
“Dr.
Sax is the Al Gore of the gender crisis. He has EDUCATED us about the nature
and scope of the problem. He has WARNED us about the consequences of doing
nothing. And he has INSPIRED us to take action in our schools and in our
communities.”
— Michael Halfin, Huron Heights Secondary School,
Newmarket, Ontario
“Boys Adrift presents a
straightforward argument that incorporates solid research and, thankfully, does
not blame feminism. . . Sax also makes sure to remind us that he doesn't think
girls have it easier. But at a time when it is almost unusual to find a young
man with drive and direction, Sax's work is an important part of a growing
public discussion. ”
— The
Stranger (Seattle's alternative newspaper); click here to link
to the full review -- AND to view a provocative illustration by artist Kris
Chau
“This
book is insightful, engaging, and easy to read. It is essential reading for
parents of girls and boys, and for those who expect to become parents. I have
passed my copy of the book to my daughter. The epidemic of unmotivated boys and
underachieving men is real and demands action; this book provides a carefully
researched analysis of the problem and offers useful advice on how to deal with
it.”
— Professor Craig Anderson, Iowa State University
“This
is the most important
book that I have ever read, and I've read a lot of parenting
books. I have purchased ten copies and am giving them as Christmas and birthday
gifts to all of my friends who have boys. I have kept 3 for myself which I am
loaning out. This is a must read for anyone who has a boy. ”
— Lisa Morgan-Long, Oakville, Ontario; click
here to link to the original comment
Why Gender Matters
What
Parents and Teachers Need to Know about the Emerging Science of Sex Differences
"Until recently, there have been two groups of people: those who argue sex differences are innate and should be embraced and those who insist that they are learned and should be eliminated by changing the environment. Sax is one of the few in the middle -- convinced that boys and girls are innately different and that we must change the environment so differences don't become limitations."
-- TIME Magazine, cover story; click here to read the original story
Praise
for Why
Gender Matters:
". . . a lucid guide to male and female brain differences. . ."
The New York Times
"When I was a college freshman, a male teaching assistant I sought help
from told me matter-of-factly that women were not good at inorganic chemistry.
Had I been armed with Why
Gender Matters, about how biological differences between the sexes
can influence learning and behavior, I could have managed an informed rejoinder
to go along with my shocked expression. . . . Using studies as well as
anecdotes from his practice and visits to classrooms, [Sax] offers advice on
such topics as preventing drug abuse and motivating students. . . . The book is
thought-provoking, and Sax explains well the science behind his assertions. . .
[Why Gender Matters]
is a worthy read for those who care about how best to prepare children for the
challenges they face on the path to adulthood."
Scientific
American Mind
"As the principal of an elementary school, I am constantly on the lookout
for outstanding articles and books about gender-specific learning differences. Why Gender Matters is the
best I've read."
-John Webster, Head of School, the San Antonio Academy
"Why Gender Matters
is an outstanding work of scholarship. I am going to make it our 'faculty read'
this summer."
-Paul Krieger, Headmaster, Christ School (North Carolina)
"In this reader-friendly book, Dr. Sax combines his comprehensive
knowledge of the scientific literature with numerous interesting case studies
to argue for his thesis that single-sex education is advantageous."
Dr. Sandra Witelson, Albert
Einstein/Irving Zucker Chair in Neuroscience, McMaster University
"Extremely interesting . . . Challenged many of my basic assumptions and
helped me to think about gender in a new way."
Joan Ogilvy Holden, Head of School, St. Stephen's School, Alexandria, Virginia
"I simply will never be able to express how eye-opening this book has been
for me. Yes me -- even though I thought I was a boy-raising specialist. After
all, I have produced four healthy and smart athletes. I must know what I'm
doing. But many of my boy-raising days I thought I was going mad. I'd come home
from some sports event trembling because of the way the coach yelled at my kid.
I'd ask my husband and whichever son it happened to be that day how they could
stand being yelled at like that. Almost every time husband and son would look
at me and not have any recollection of being yelled at during the game. Now I
understand!!!!!!!!!"
-Janet Phillips, mother of four boys, Seneca, Maryland
"Why Gender Matters is
an instructive handbook for parents and teachers . . . to create ways to cope
with the differences between boys and girls."
-The Boston Globe
"Fascinating . . . This book is interesting because it takes an 'outside
the box' position on gender. Paradoxically, Sax says, gender-neutral education
favors the learning style of one sex or the other, and so only drives men and
women into the usual stereotyped fields. The best way to raise your son to be a
man who is caring and nurturing, says Sax, is to first of all let him be a boy.
The best way to produce a female mathematician is to first of all let her be a
girl. . . I think Sax is on to something. Mature men and women do draw on
qualities that stereotypically belong to the opposite sex. But the easiest way
to get them to that point is to first make them confident about being a man or
a woman. . . Sax adds that children are less happy and confident nowadays
because no one is teaching them how to be men and women. This is a powerful,
even obvious insight, once you dare think it. . . In quick succession, with
Mary Eberstadt's Home Alone
America and Leonard Sax's Why
Gender Matters, we've seen two important, creative, and politically
incorrect takes on family life and childhood."
-Stanley Kurtz, National
Review Online.
I
attended public schools in Shaker Heights, Ohio, from kindergarten through
grade 12. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in biology, and then went to
the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned both a PhD (in psychology) and
an MD. I went on to do a 3-year residency in family practice at Lancaster
General Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1990, I launched a family medical
practice in suburban Montgomery County, Maryland, about 30 minutes
northwest of the District of Columbia. I practiced in the same location,
serving families in the same small town, for 18 years (1990 - 2008). My wife
and I lived about 300 yards from my office. In June 2008, my family and I moved
to Chester County Pennsylvania. Since then, I have devoted myself to working
with schools, school districts, and communities on issues of child and
adolescent development. I plan to return to medical practice in 2014, although
I will continue to do speaking engagements and lead workshops as time permits.
Take a look at some comments from people who have
heard me speak
I had the
privilege of serving as guest editor for a special issue of Education.com
devoted to gender differences in how children learn. I also contributed to this
special issue, as well as editing it. Regarding my other publications: I have
broken down the following (partial) list into "scholarly" and
"popular." "Scholarly" publications are intended for an
academic audience, professors at universities etc. "Popular"
publications are intended for a general audience.
Selected popular publications
Why not just put ALL the kids on
medication? (two overlooked trends in the data on kids diagnosed with ADHD)
Psychology
Today, April 2013
“Risky,
even used as intended” (long-term risks of stimulant medications for ADHD)
New York Times, June 9 2012
Girls' knees and gender
confusion
Psychology Today,
June 2012.
Child
psychiatry is sick with hidden conflicts of interest,
New York Daily News,
December 14, 2008.
TWILIGHT
sinks its teeth into feminism
Washington Post
August 17, 2008.
My op-ed about Stephenie Meyer's Twilight
series prompted many comments, mostly negative. Many of the
bloggers seem to have read only the headline (written by an editor at the Post), and assumed I was
attacking feminism, which I wasn't. Other bloggers assumed that I didn't like
the Twilight
books, and wrote about how great the books are. Please take a look at my
response to the bloggers at
this link.
What's
happening to boys?
Washington Post,
March 31, 2006.
In this op-ed for the Washington Post March 31 2006, I called attention to the growing phenomenon of the "Failure to Launch" boy/man: a young man in his 20's, or even his 30's, who is still living at home with his parents -- and who doesn't see what the problem is. The Washington Post invited me to host a one-hour on-line chat, which broke all previous records for the Washington Post: they shut the system down after receiving 395 posts in about 35 minutes. You can read the transcript of the online chat session here.
The Promise and the Peril of
Single-Sex PUBLIC Education,
Education Week,
March 2, 2005, pp. 48, 34, 35.
Too Few Women: Figure It Out.
Los Angeles Times,
January 23, 2005, p. M5.
Teens
Will Speed. Let's Watch Them Do It.
The Washington Post, November
28, 2004, p. B8.
Ritalin: Better
living through chemistry?
The World & I,
November 2000, 287-299.
Selected scholarly publications
Sex
differences in hearing: implications for best practice in the classroom.
Advances in Gender and
Education, 2:13-21, 2010. Full text available online at no charge
at Advances in Gender and Education
web site.
Polyethylene
Terephthalate May Yield Endocrine Disruptors.
Environmental Health
Perspectives, 118(4):445-448, 2010. Full text available online by clicking here (full PDF).
My commentary on the possible risks of PET triggered a hostile reply from Ralph Vasami, director of the trade group representing manufacturers of PET. You can read his letter, and my answer to his letter, by clicking here. This is a two-page PDF; my reply to Vasami is on the second page.
The
Diagnosis and Treatment of ADHD in Women.
The Female Patient,
29:29-34, November 2004.
Dietary
Phosphorus Is Toxic for Girls But Not for Boys.
Invited chapter, in: Annual
Reviews in Food & Nutrition (Victor Preedy, editor), Taylor
& Francis Publishers, London, UK, 2003, Chapter 8, pp. 158-168.
Who
First Suggests the Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? A survey of primary-care
pediatricians, family physicians, and child psychiatrists
[with Kathleen J. Kautz RN, BSN]. Annals
of Family Medicine, 2003, 1:171-174. Available online here.
What
Was the Cause of Nietzsche's Dementia?
Journal of Medical Biography,
Royal Medical Society, London, February 2003, 11:47-54. Available online here.
How
Common Is Intersex?
The Journal of Sex Research,
August 2002, 39(3):174-178. Available online here.
Maybe
Men and Women Are Different.
American
Psychologist, July
2002, pp. 444-445.
The
Institute of Medicine's ‘Dietary Reference Intake' for Phosphorus: a critical perspective.
Journal of the American
College of Nutrition, 20(4):271-278, 2001.
Reclaiming
Kindergarten: making kindergarten less harmful to boys.
Psychology of Men and
Masculinity, American Psychological Association, 2(1):3-12, 2001.
Download full text as a PDF by clicking here.
Characteristics
of spatiotemporal integration in the priming and rewarding effects of medial
forebrain bundle stimulation.
Behavioral Neuroscience,
105(6):884-900, 1991. [with C. R. Gallistel]
Are
we training too many subspecialists?
Journal
of the American Medical Association, 259(18):2697-2698, 1988.
Temporal
integration in self-stimulation: a paradox.
Behavioral Neuroscience,
98(3):467-478, 1984.
Contact me
You can reach me by e-mail, snail mail, fax, or telephone:
E-mail:
send e-mail to MCRCAD "at" verizon.net (replace "at"
with "@").
Snail mail:
send regular mail to me (Leonard Sax MD PhD), 64 East Uwchlan Avenue, #259, Exton,
Pennsylvania 19341.
Fax:
send a fax to 610 993 3139.
Telephone:
call us at 610 296 2821 between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Time.
You can visit my Facebook page by clicking
here, but I'm not very skilled with FB as you will quickly discover.