Book Review : Growing Up - Know Yourself and The World

Growing Up - Know Yourself and The World by Fahmi Merchant is a nonfiction book crafted with the purpose of providing young boys with essential human values that may not always be explicitly taught. Its primary aim is to assist boys in navigating the complexities of maturing and ultimately becoming responsible, virtuous men.

Book Blurb

"This book is written with intention to help boys become aware of most of the life experiences and enhance their learnings towards them. Knowing in advance and in an organized manner is better than learning by committing mistakes or learning too late in life or learning in the wrong manner or learning from wrong people. Growing up kids should be prepared to carry themselves more confidently and to face the world without fear. They must be given knowledge before they encounter experiences.”

Review

This nonfiction book serves as both a practical self-help guide and an informative resource, carrying the responsibility of providing tangible guidance. Covering a broad spectrum of topics, it endeavors to impart essential human values that may not always find a place in traditional school curricula. Through the use of real-life examples, it offers insight into subjects such as navigating physical and emotional challenges, embracing values and ethics, addressing matters related to sex, combating bullying, fostering respect for women and the challenges they encounter, and understanding the transformative experiences of puberty that affect both boys and girls.

This book presents an extensive array of subjects in a concise format. Each chapter spans only 1-2 pages, offering easy comprehension. While the primary focus is on imparting Human Values for Boys, readers will gradually realize that it also holds value for girls and parents seeking to provide guidance to their children. Written in straightforward and clear language, the book is designed for  accessibility. However, it's worth noting that in some instances, due to limited knowledge, it may inadvertently lead readers down the wrong path.

The issues in the book that will help readers to understand changes and tackle the challenges are:

• Understanding of physical features. Though the education system has chapters on human life and reproduction, kids do not receive suitable knowledge about the changes they may experience. These changes can make them feel uneasy when they are unaware. In this book, the context of physical features is well-developed.

• Knowledge of personal hygiene in this book is valuable.

• Guidance about the myths of manhood is valuable.

There are more such aspects in this book that will help boys understand human values.

The intent of the author to write this book is thought-provoking, yet the readers may feel it is more of a personal diary or journal written with a motive. Some points that will affect the readers include:

• Women are physically less strong. This point can misguide the boys in considering women vulnerable and bullying them.

• "It shows that their parents have not taught them moral values and their family and society background is not good." In this, the blame goes to the parents. It may offer the readers the freedom to indulge in mischievous activities and ruin the reputation of parents, family, and society. However, every parent tries to deliver the best values to the kid. 

• "Any kind of sexual relationship before marriage is not advisable." Again, to support this statement, the blame goes to a particular category, i.e., celebrities. But remember, it is a personal choice of the couple.

There are a few other aspects within the book that could potentially lead readers wrong.

Overall, this book has a mix of feedback. The book is good for teenagers and parents to understand the challenges and the ways to tackle them. But, the teenagers are required to read this book under the guidance of their parents to not impart wrong intentions.

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