The Best Little Boy in the World Grows Up Paperback – December 7, 1999

The book before TBLBITWGUP was TBLBITW and it literally saved my life. Despondent and unable to get information on being gay in the 1970’s, I almost cashed everything in. But I was lucky to come across a copy, read it, and then knew I was not a freak. God bless Andy Tobias for his books. His Grows Up volume is equally informative and masterfully written.

Exactly what I was looking for. It was reasonably priced and I got it in a very nice time frame.

I found "The Best Little Boy in the World Grows Up" well-written, insightful and inspiring. I am a straight female and don't usually read a lot of material about gay men, nor do I read a lot of biographies (boring). So why did I read this in the first place? Actually, because I liked "The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need" so much.The investment guide was invaluable to me when I inherited some money and had no clue what to do next. That book transformed me rather rapidly from someone who felt like she needed help but was not even sure where to turn, to feeling that I could handle things just fine on my own, and it's working out very well for me. In addition to being useful, I found that book so well-written and just plain entertaining that I have re-read it several times and started looking for other things he had written.I tried "My Vast Fortune" but it didn't grab me for some reason, and I liked "The Best Little Boy in the World" better. But I felt this follow-up book about his adult life is extraordinary. I have known quite a few gay folks in my life, but I have to admit this book still made me more aware of their issues than I had been. I'm not very political, and if the book were preachy, I would have tossed it. But Tobias makes his points with deft humor and a variety of fascinating anecdotes. It is quite entertaining as well as emotionally gripping. I highly recommend it.

, but no what he felt and only his politics for what he thought. I could not believe how detached his reporting was of funerals for his friends during the worst years of AIDS, especially the loss of lovers. I accepted that he has a big case of HARVARD OVER-IDENTITY SYNDROME. Hardly a page goes by without his crimson references. Nonetheless, I really loved the first half of the book. Something happened when he got around page 120. It is far less personal, and mainly his political manifesto, but stated more as a "fabulous" manifesto, than heart-felt convictions. A great buy if you find it on a remainder table. I would rate the first half four stars, the second half two stars.

I read the Best Little Boy in the World as a teenager. It was published under his pen name then, but I remember feeling just not so alone anymore with regard to the realization that I had same-sex attractions. Later in life, I read Andy's investment books, and when this book came out, and I realized this guy -- was that kid -- wow. What an amazing journey he has had. Smart, poignant and optimistic, it's a great read for anyone (even if you didn't read the original book!). Andy Tobias is a great guy, I see him often in Fire Island or at charity events.

If you think Andrew (Andy) Tobias does too much name-dropping and pumping up the Ivy League,like I did, read the very end. He graciously said others thought the same thing. But, he says,if you have had an interesting life, why not write about it.I really liked many parts of the book. It has humor, depth, sadness, and political activism.I was especially intrigued by two things: 1.) His lavish praise of Bill and Hillary Clinton,and 2.) his occasional but earnest praise of Republicans as good people. We so often forgetBill Clinton's accomplishments, so clouded is his memory by the scandals, but Tobias is right.Clinton did move our issue to the forefront. And though he jabs at the Republicans often,Tobias' vision is of a world where we all coexist and somehow form a country. "E pluribus unum,"or "One from the many." Wow, we so often forget that these day.So don't be put off if you didn't go to Harvard or Yale. I didn't. I wish I had some ofTobias's connections or his disposable income, but in the end I felt like I liked the guy.PS I read "Best Little Boy in the World" back in the late 1980s but don't remember a lot of it.I guess I'll have to reread it. I was amused by Tobias saying he date Rita Mae Brown, author ofthe other really famous coming out book, "Rubyfruit Jungle" which I remember as being so deepand wonderful.

A nice read on the second part of Andrew Tobias life. I hope he writes another on aging in the LGBTQ community and how he has come to acceptance.

I'm not going to reiterate the negative reviews here, mostly because they're right on the mark. This book is boring, unnecessary, grandiose, and lacking in any editorial judgement. I read his first book many years ago, enjoyed it, and thought that its follow-up would be equally entertaining. Boy was I wrong. I bought it back in '98, tried to read it, and gave up. I recently moved and found the book in a box. I thought I'd give it another try, and it was just as insipid as it was eight years ago. If you want a good memoir, go elsewhere.