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I finally read this classic, and I am very happy that I did!
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I found this copy of the book inside of a *Little Library* -- this edition alone is about 100-years-old! The tale itself was very first published in 1871, and it is a series of stories from the timeperiod, recalling the children's lives at *Plumfield.*

Aunt Jo and Mr. Bhaer run a small school for boys (and two girls) inside of their very own home. A couple of children are orphans; some have been mistreated; but the end result for all children remains the same:

*"'...this is home. ... This place is made for all sorts of boys to have a good time in, and to learn how to help themselves and be useful men.'"*
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*"...in Professor Bhaer's opinion, self-knowledge, self-help, and self-control were more important, and he tried to teach them carefully. ... it was an odd school."*
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The Bhaers are sensible, faithful people who believe in gentle discipline and strong principles. They cater to each child's individual character, building upon their goodness while correcting their errors. Because of this, there are many lessons and values taught throughout the book (most of which come from Christianity), but they are little things that we can all benefit from, regardless of age.

![](https://i.ecency.com/DQmWSJyEWXWqaaEyn8B4z6BAQgrAED6E8gZNzWbLmLuagq3/1781028433648.jpg) **(A classic illustration from the book: https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/alcott/men/men.html)**

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*"'...to be good, and to love to be good. ... I have a page for each boy. I keep a little account of how he gets on through the week. ... I call this my conscience book; ... Whether you will be pleased or ashamed to read it depends on yourself.'"*
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(I really liked this idea. Aunt Jo has a special "conscience book," where she keeps tabs of every child's achievements and mistakes. She chooses not to call direct attention on the good or the bad, but rather gives the children the opportunity to view their actions as a whole, and unbiasly judge those actions for themselves.)

*"It takes so little to make a child happy, that it is a pity in a world full of sunshine and pleasant things, there should be any ... lonely little hearts. ... the Bhaers gathered up all the crumbs they could find to feed their flock of hungry sparrows, for they were not rich, except in charity."*
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(A simple message that we must all keep in mind: children are very easy to please, and we should do our best to cater to that simple happiness as opposed to ridiculing them. Even in our age of technology and tablets, our girls are still happiest playing with balloons, bubbles, and cardboard boxes!)

*"'Clear up your things; a good cook never lets the utensils collect.'"*
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(I loved this part of the novel. At one point, one of the girls at Aunt Jo's wants to learn how to cook and bake. Although she is only 8-years-old or so, they immediately go out and buy her a play kitchen set -- complete with a REAL tin stove and fire! -- and begin teaching her how to bake pies. I thought this was wonderful, considering today's age is so bubble-wrapped that most parents wouldn't even consider this as an option for their children.)

*"'...one of the first and most important of our few laws is the law of kindness to every dumb creature on the place. I want everybody and everything to be happy here, to love, and trust, and serve us, as we try to love and serve them faithfully and willingly.'"*
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(A simple lesson, but an important one. Possessing basic empathy for animals makes it easier for us, makes us more inclined, to be empathetic towards our fellow brothers and sisters as well.)

![](https://i.ecency.com/DQmbifY34LDk7sKNv4WXgQQMsqDjoJzKrKY6L41MMEQ1cUJ/1781028506475.jpg) **(Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/little-men-by-louisa-may-alcott-illustrated-by-ruth-ives--774124909447220/)**

*"'...the boys would be all the better for another girl among them; ... Then they must learn gentle ways, and improve their manners, and having girls about will do it better than anything else.'"*
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(The novel did not shy away from the differences between the sexes, and this made for a wonderful piece of literature. Rather than enforcing the lie of equity, the Bhaer's focus on the differences between boys and girls, emphasizing how their opposites -- for example, the gentle nature of girls -- make boys more inclined to act similarly.)

*"...Nan showed them that girls could do most things as well as boys, and some things better. ... taught them to love duty for its own sake, and try to do it faithfully ... this little garden was full of sweet flowers ... to blossom beautifully in the warmth of love and care, the best climate for young hearts and souls all the world over."*
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(At the same time, the book also respects the fact that the sexes can do things differently -- and sometimes, better than the other, at that! But regardless of the child's nature, every one grows best under the love and care of gentle, guiding hands.)

*"...every hour of separation taught him the value of the 'stupid girls.' ... now there was no Daisy to pet and cook for them; no Nan to amuse and doctor them; and, worst of all, no Mrs. Jo, to make home pleasant and life easy for them."*
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(Once again, just another example of how boys can benefit from the female element -- and vice versa. The novel also pointed out how masculine energy can benefit women by making them more courageous, etc.)

*"'Do what you dislike, and do it well, and you get two rewards -- one, the prize you see and hold; the other, satisfaction of a duty cheerfully performed.'"*
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(It's worded a bit strangely, but basically do the things that you don't enjoy doing -- such as work -- and you are actually met with TWO rewards: the goal, and the satisfaction of a job well done. A very basic truth!)

*"'Well, you are mad at yourself, and ought to be whipped as much as me.' ... her anger all died out ... as if ashamed, '...and why should I punish you for being in a passion when I set you such a bad example? Forgive me, dear, and let us try to help one another in a better way.' ... it did me more good than a dozen rods.'"*
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(This was when Aunt Jo was reflecting on her own childhood, and how her mother had whipped her for running away one time. The mother recognized that her whipping was also an act of passion, just like her daughter running away, that she was acting hypocritically, and from then on learned to communicate with her child.)

![](https://i.ecency.com/DQmQ9yeZSoyog4qc5cs9wWzdUuKtJMaeh4cJqFQbBqZaixM/1781028618499.jpg) **(Daisy and her new kitchen set: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/little-men-by-louisa-may-alcott-illustrated-by-ruth-ives-httpwwwetsycomlisting114719--448460075367912537/)**

*"'Could I see anybody's soul with the microscope?' ... 'You must wait a long while before your eyes are clear enough to see the most invisible of God's wonders.'"*
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(A spiritual lesson; sometimes we cannot make sense of the things that we cannot see. However, similar to our eyes being opened to brand new worlds with the invention of the microscope, so will we experience new wonders with God.)

*"'...if men and women would only trust, understand, and help one another as my children do, what a capital place the world would be!'"*
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(This truly broke my heart, as I reflected on the current state of the world, over 150 years after this was published. Now we live in a constant age of competition -- women and men trying to outshine one another, women trying to prove they are just as capable as men... or worse, that they don't need men...)

*"'I only want to give these children a home in which they can be taught the few simple things which will help to make life less hard to them when they go out to fight their battles in the world. Honesty, courage, industry, faith in God, their fellow-creatures, and themselves.'"*
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(The book ends off with this specific lesson: what qualities any person needs to be a well-adjusted human being, and therefore a self-sustainable and reliable one. Honesty -- truth and trust -- will always be the most important trait of a person, for without trust, we could not live with one another.)

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I will say that, having been an abused child myself, and now that I am a parent, I find many of the lessons in Little Men to be very relevant and appropriate. 
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Being a devout Christian myself, I heavily believe in the teachings of Jesus, that they have nothing but a positive influence on the receptive receiver. Point me to a time when a society was not better for having accepted Christian beliefs.

Another thing that I found very telling about this classic, from the year 1871, is there is no entertainment of the neurodivergent concept. All of the children know how to behave societally, no child is on the spectrum -- no, not even the motherless children, or the orphans who were abused by strangers. Every child is met where they are at, their needs accomdated for, and each is expected to behave appropriately; otherwise, they are sent elsewhere.

A wonderful book that I will cherish, and will be using throughout the years for guidance during my years of parenting! I give this book an 8/10!
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