Finding the Boyfriend Within: A Practical Guide for Tapping Into Your Own Scource of Love, Happiness, and Respect

by Brad Gooch

Book Overview

In the tradition of the perennial bestseller I'm OK, You're OK, noted author Brad Gooch offers single and coupled gay men a provocative, sophisticated, and inspirational guide that addresses the big issues of love, romance, and being alone.

Part memoir, part self-help, Finding the Boyfriend Within is a remarkably practical and helpful guide in the quest for self-discovery for the thousands of gay men who despair of ever...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743225309
• ISBN13: 9780743225304
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

It must be a timing thing

Seeing that a number of reviews are scathing and people have given Brads book 1 star I really thought I should say something. It's a fantastic book. Maybe you have to be in the right place for it to be relevant. But if you are it will really hit the mark. I read `Finding the Boyfriend Within' back in 1999 I think, and still go on dates with my boyfriend within and use the principles of reflection and self nurturing. They have become a fundamental part of my life. I used the book as the basis for workshops over 4 weeks with a dozen of my gay friends. Everyone found it helpful. When coaching gay male clients, the issues raised in the book are not uncommon. I often lend out my copy to clients and it usually gets returned with a smile and thanks. If you are waiting for someone special to come into your life and bring you happiness then I would have to say this is essential reading, otherwise you may find you've wasted your whole life. The message of this book is clear. The most important happiness we all have the power to create is the happiness we create in ourselves whether we are in a relationship or not.

Great Book!

This is a great book! At first it really doesn't make a bit of sense (at least it didn't to me) but after really reading it a lot of it does. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's really a good book on Finding the Boyfriend Within or just finding happiness inside. ~~~~ Kyle ~~~~

very helpful -- simplistic but real

I guess the other guys who did not give this book a good review were not in the right "place" (i.e., state of mind) to permit the words and exercises in this book to sink in and have a positive affect. Yes, some of the things were overly simplistic but taken as a whole this book was wonderful. I definitely feel better about myself after reading it -- I'm not such a moron to think that this is ONLY the result of reading a book but it was a real piece of the puzzle of my life at this point and it was most definitely helpful. Don't let all of these "negative nancy's" dissuade you -- if you are looking for insight into yourself -- and/or this book was recommended to you by your best friend -- make a small investment in your happiness, buy it, read, and, most importantly, do the exercises that Brad "assigns".

Like all things in our lives, it either works or it doesn't

While reading BFW I did find myself saying "he just put this in to make himself look good"... and I also found myself saying "wow, that is so true". This book is one you'll love and put to good use right here and now, or you'll throw it in the trash, having nothing good to say about it or the author. I put it to good use! The exercises are helpful. I as a norm, don't get too insightful with myself. The exercises are simple, short, to the point and a joy. I came to self realizations I never would have independently and even found my BFW in a delightful and timely manner thanks to the reading. The story examples are cute, some self-centered,(of course the stories are about Brad, so how could they not be self-centered in some way?) but useful stories none the less. Like most self help books you get what you put into them and enjoy them depending on where you are in your life. If you didn't find Mr. Gooch's book helpful, you weren't supposed to, but don't throw it away just yet. Someday down the lane, you will have a "moment" and the book will have changed the way you think of relationships with others as well as with yourself. I believe every gay man, and some straights, will find Mr. Gooch's book "Finding The Boyfriend Within" helpful and useful at some point in their development. If you are in a bad space, truely desire change and want a healthy outlook on your relationships, then this is the book for YOU.

A convivial and insightful guide towards self acceptance

It's always been interesting to me that so many gay men of my generation (early 40's - years old, not birth years) by and large live with a lot of self loathing...Out, but not feeling really "in". Having come of age during the full bloom of sexual liberation, and having enjoyed its pleasures and accepted its consequences, it didn't surprise me to find out that Brad was a member of this club, regardless of his exceptional looks.I though this book was terrific, written in a breezy, personal style and full of helpful suggestions and hints...it might seem a little embarrassing to sit down and write out some of these exercises, but once you get going, it's a surprisingly easy way to find honest and deeply rooted feelings that, when exposed, aren't so awful after all.It takes a certain amount of bravery to reveal your psyche naked for the world to pick over...Bravo Brad for exposing your vulnerabilities in an effort to help others find peace within themselves.