BOYS TO MEN

Grating ``inspiration'' alleviated by patches of genuinely moving memoir. Baywatch star Alan-Williams (A Gathering of Heroes, 1994) found the road from boyhood to manhood fraught with obstacles. He has overcome alcohol and drugs, as well as a sexist attitude toward women. He used to be a deadbeat father: Like many men, he was ashamed that he couldn't make enough money to support his son as generously as he wanted to, so he sent nothing. Having grown up without a father himself, he eventually realized that his journey would have been much easier if he'd had someone to show him the way, someone who could have lent him a ``map'' of his own experience. So he decided to become a father to his own son. This book is a further gesture toward Alan-Williams's commitment to showing boys the way. In a feminist era, some of his rhetoric seems dated; in many passages (those about self-respect, for instance, or facing fears of failure) the word ``person'' could easily be substituted for ``man.'' However, there are others whose gender specificity is valuable; in one chapter he asks why war and violence are always viewed as the ultimate passages to manhood. Alan-Williams writes well about his own complicated experiences. He describes ``Mr. Blue,'' his mother's boyfriend, who left a mixed legacy about being a man, taking an active and caring interest in the boy, yet abusive to his mother, in the end nearly killing her. However, the inspirational mission of this book is too self- conscious. Alan-Williams constantly repeats peppy mantras like ``Suit up and show up for life.'' And sometimes he talks down to his readers: ``There's this guy I like to listen to, his name is Deepak Chopra.'' Alan-Williams's road is paved with good intentions, but we can't help feeling we've been down this path before. (Author tour)