Lads: A Guide to Respect and Consent for Teenage Boys

In a world full of negative influences, LADS is a toolkit for teenage boys on respect and consent, helping them call out bad behaviour and giving them the confidence to be their best selves.

*What people are saying about LADS!*

'The antithesis of Andrew Tate' - Guardian

'This book is the mate that backs you up and gives you the confidence to speak up for what's right, building the foundations for healthy, respectful relationships' - The Scotsman

'If I could give this book 10 stars out of 5 I would do it in an instant. It is a well written, important and much needed handbook on how to be a good guy' - B Humphrey, Netgalley Reviewer

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Have you ever been in a situation where there's a loud guy making dodgy comments, cracking jokes that only he thinks are funny or leering at the girls in the room? You can feel the tension, right? That Guy is the worst, but no one is saying anything, because the whole situation is intimidating and awkward.

This toolkit will help you call out bad behaviour and understand the serious issues facing girls today. And it will make you feel confident navigating relationships, so that everyone feels happy, heard and respected, while being the best version of yourself.

From flirting disasters and what staying in the friend zone really means to the perils of porn, 'locker room talk' and the importance of consent, this is a vital handbook for lads who are fed up of That Guy, and who want to step up and help create positive change.

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'The kind of book that tells you the things you need to hear as a teenage boy, but you'd rather not have to ask your mum or dad about, and in a way that feels chatty and not patronising. It's easy to dip in and out of the sections too. After reading it, I felt more confident about speaking up with my male friends when I heard them saying things that weren't right, and I hope I would be a better friend to my friends who are girls' - Sydney, aged 14

Recommended for ages 13 and over.

***SHORTLISTED for the SLA Information Book Award 2024***

Alan Bissett is a novelist, playwright and performer from Falkirk, in Scotland. Formerly a secondary school teacher, bookshop assistant and university lecturer, Alan has been working as a full-time writer since 2007.

His first novel, Boyracers (2001) followed the formative years of four Falkirk teenagers and his second novel, The Incredible Adam Spark (2005), told the story of Scotland's first superhero. His most recent books, Death of a Ladies' Man (2009) and Pack Men (2011) were both shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Council Fiction of the Year awards.

He was Glenfiddich 'Spirit of Scotland' Writer of the Year in 2012, and in 2016 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Stirling University for his Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Culture.

Since 2011, Alan's focus has been on playwriting, and he has twice been shortlisted for Best New Play at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland. In 2022, he was one of the writers of the Police Scotland video 'Don't Be That Guy', which focused on toxic male behaviours towards women and which went viral, garnering much praise and winning a PRCA Dare Award (for UK-wide PR campaigns) in the 'Public Sector' category.