Iron John: A Book About Men Paperback – July 28, 2004

the point is not whether or not i agreed with everything that was discussed. the point is more that i found it fascinating and not so dry that i couldn't finish it.recommended to me by my father, which is weird, but i'm glad i read it.- Probably worth a read if you like: Joseph Campbell, Freud, Bettelheim, or Seneca (and other stoics)i am a huge fan of researching storytelling, mythology, and fairy tales. there was a lot in here that i felt deepened my understanding of those areas of study.the psychological side of the book is also very interesting.it's presented in a very "take this as you will" way for the most part, although at times it seems to be a little bit of a lecturing and denegration of modern men.and (try as the author might to side step it) there are a few passive aggressive swipes at the women's lib movement. or that's how it read to me. it seemed as though it Bly was in pain, trying as hard as he could to not come down on women.nevertheless, i think there's good information and "advice" in here.

This book isn't perfect. Occasionally, the author draws far fetched meanings, or he makes generalizations that are too broad, but, in general, the book is gold. It's not really a self help book, nor is it a psychoanalytical interpretation of the central myth which he has built the book around. Instead, it is Robert Bly passing down, in the spirit of an elder, everything that he thinks is most important to becoming a man. He wrote the book around the age of 64, and it reads that way. It's like talking to your grandfather. If you can get through the eccentricities, you end up finding a wealth of wisdom; everything that has allowed the man to reach old age and still be happy.In reading it, I found that he stretched the myth sometimes to fit his purpose. Often, there were times when I would have interpreted it differently, and if he were trying to offer the definitive interpretation of the myth, I might object. However, that's not what he's trying to do. He uses the myth as a vehicle for his own understanding. In that way, he creates a new myth, one which is updated for our modern age. On the way, he also creates a vocabulary which, for myself, has helped to organize my thoughts. In particular, I found the concepts of "ashes," "copper," and "the garden," helpful.In short, I'm ready glad I found this book, and I recommend it to anyone who thinks that masculinity is inherently harmful, outdated, or completely meaningless.

The depth of this book is stunning. I love this book so much I bought two additional copies as Christmas presents for my friends.Robert Bly is a fantastic writer. Part poet, part cultural anthropologist, he has a style that is both lush and crisp at the same time. He is clearly a fan of Joseph Campbell; the structure of his book evokes Campbell's style. However, this is no insult. Few have the talent or skill to write in such a breezy yet lucid fashion. And Joseph Campbell is one of the twentieth century's greatest minds. Clearly, Robert is a helluva writer.Robert has an ability to explain complicated emotional states with ease. His understanding of what men need is equally profound. And while the book is far from thick I've found my pace through the book to be deliberately slow; every page is so rich with thought it leaves me with much to ponder.If you're a thinking man who realizes that modern society does not value manhood and that we've been driven away from what men are supposed to be then this book must be read by you immediately. This book acknowledges and explains how deep and multi-layered men really are. This is Fight Club for intellectuals. By it immediately...then buy three more copies for your best friends and make them read it as well. That's exactly what I did!

While not really a subscriber to the mythopoetic men's movement, I was interested enough in learning more about it that I bought this book - apparently regarded as one of the seminal works in the field.I thought it was well-written and very accessible. No real fiery rhetoric or adversarial stuff here, just a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be/become a man woven into an engaging fable. Of the 3 books I've read on this topic/genre, this is the only one I've read more than once.It was a quick read, and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the genre, whether purely an intellectual curiosity or something more personal.