Manhood: Revised & Updated 2015 Edition

A compulsory must have in every household. No household & man should be without this book.Manhood is indispensable, a compulsory & essential equipment for homes like water & fresh air is.Manhood is a masterpiece based on years of research undertaken by renowned male psychotherapists, doctors & Biddulph’s own expertise & credibility in the field of raising men The Men’s Movement.Reading Manhood, although Biddulph wrote it, you’ll see he draws from thousands of years of practical history of man’s successful survival & processes of creating great men like Jesus, Buddha, the Prophet Muhammad, Aristotle,Plato,Alexander The Great.The Sunday Times produced a list of the Top 10 Greatest Men & the test defined exact qualities required in great leadership, human quality. This book is confirms (unintentionally) the Sunday Times League-Table of great men.This world is a much better place for this book (thank God) just as it is for esteemed authentic texts like the Quran,Bible & Ved. Chapter 11 is most significant as Biddulph & Mircea correctly identify the Healing Initiation,it is exactly as happened in Abrahamic faiths like Christianity & Islam such as Abraham initiated his sons Ishmael & Isaac, the Prophet Muhammad was gently pierced a seal on his back to confirm he is the final messenger of God; Jesus healed the wounded. After reading this the universe seems different to readers, one feels the vastness & echo of nature. We are a group of female friends who read this to understand our beloved men.We can confirm, although we felt like women always, after reading Manhood we feel like fuller women.We gifted this book to our husbands, male cousins & nephews as graduation gifts.Manhood the book is one of the best gifts you can gift a man.Ch.11 to be read 1st as its the most imp' Chptr.S Biddulph ’s Raising Boys as an excellent intro’ to Manhood to complete the grid.Every pupil must graduate from school having read Manhood to create a healthy society.

This review is of Manhood: An Action Plan but presumably applies to this edition as well. Steve Biddulph's 1994 first edition of Manhood: An Action Plan accomplished that rarest of all achievements for a men's movement book, achieving bestseller status in its country of publication. The mainstream press as well as men's rights activists praised the book, which remains Finch Publishing's leading title. (While I am here reviewing the 2nd edition of Manhood, Finch has just released a 3rd edition of the book which does not contain the same material regarding the Duluth model to which I object in this review.) How did Biddulph manage this remarkable feat? First of all, unlike many descriptive works on gender issues, the book has a specific mission--to guide men through the "seven steps to manhood." Biddulph's steps are 1) `fixing it' with your father' 2) finding sacredness in your sexuality; 3) meeting your partner on equal terms; 4) engaging actively with your kids; 5) learning to have real male friends; 6) finding the heart in your work; 7) freeing your wild spirit. The bulk of the book concentrates on fleshing out each of these points and offering the reader concrete steps to achieving them. Secondly, Biddulph is an extremely talented writer, packing his work chock-full of fresh insights and inspiring formulations. He also has a knack for forcefully yet succinctly capturing the essence of an issue that the more faint-hearted or less adept might approach more cautiously or avoid altogether. A few examples: "Choose your friends carefully. Some friends are on the side of your marriage and your happiness. However, a whole other group--both married and single--are losers with women and are glad to see you having problems too. They don't want you to stay married." (The emphasis in these excerpts is the author's.) "It's highly likely that boys have a biological need for several hours of one-to-one male contact per day. Put another way, to have a demanding job, commute to work in a city and raise sons well is an impossibility. Something has to give." Sometimes Biddulph blends humor with his nuggets of truth. "Somewhere, in their heart-of-hearts, mothers feel so loving to their children that they never want them to leave. Men, however, have a part of them that would like the kids to be gone yesterday! In a healthy marriage, partners compromise and give the children eighteen years and then nudge them out!" Later the author cuts right to the heart of many men's passive withdrawal from their wives (and--I might add--their families), tabulating eleven specific ways men unconsciously depart, including extreme moodiness, complaints of fatigue and physical ailments such as backaches, an avoidance of eye contact with his wife, and having to be continually reminded about the same things which he continually seems to forget (hanging up his clothes, taking out the garbage). A second key to Biddulph's success is the superlative sections entitled "In a Nutshell" which end each chapter. The author deviates from the usual practice with such summaries by periodically injecting new ideas that are consistent with the chapter's material, and it works wonderfully. Particularly noteworthy is his advice on dealing with our emotional legacy from our dads. "This fatherly `inheritance' is a mixture of utter garbage and priceless treasure. Unless you get in and sort it out, you will never know which is which. Most men stay out of the `attic', the part of their mind where this is all stored... As a result, a funny smell is always drifting down and tainting their lives. At the same time they feel deprived--missing out on the jewels and riches concealed in the heap." I did come across one major shortcoming in Manhood, one that raises a thorny issue with which I frequently struggle as a reviewer. I would hate to think that an ideological litmus test has been set up for books reviewed in men's movement publications, whereby a rigid doctrine must be followed from which any deviation will be punished, in analogy to feminist reviews. Yet at the same time, what are we to do as free men when we read an otherwise excellent book that is marred by a lack of knowledge or understanding of female complicity in domestic violence, child abuse, or other problems? Biddulph repeatedly discusses and explicitly approves the notorious Duluth model for analyzing domestic violence. The author goes so far as to prominently reproduce the two famous wheels (of "power and control" and "equality") in a section called "Relating with Respect" which ends the book. So a top-notch book concludes with an egregiously misandrist model that makes no acknowledgement whatsoever that the female half of our society has any responsibility for violence against partners or children. As many readers here know, women batter men at least as often as they are battered, and mothers actually commit more abuse of children than any other group, including fathers or stepfathers. Certainly men's violence is to be deplored, but should not women's be similarly deplored? What is one to make of a book that along with reams of very helpful advice to men, recycles the tired old feminist assumption that men are the root of all violence? A second issue on which I somewhat take issue with Biddulph is his focus on the negative aspects of sports. While the downside of an overweening focus on competition cannot be denied, the author may be underestimating the positive role that sports can often play in a child's life. A puzzling clash exists between such moments and the excellent information the author imparts throughout the rest of his book in his very knowledgeable, male-friendly tone. If Biddulph gets marks off for these occasional if critical lapses, he deserves extra credit for the compelling, provocative cases he sometimes makes in which he goes farther than most masculists might go, for example when he suggests that it may be impossible for a child to reach adulthood without major problems if the child does not grow up with his or her father. I am not sure I agree with him but I appreciate his raising the issue. It is only fair that I close with a couple more pungent excerpts from Manhood. Biddulph can be wildly funny and on point at the same time. "Our system has one outstanding way of holding men in place--it's called a mortgage.... When you go for that vital interview at the bank... you walk out with a hundred thousand dollars. It's a miracle! But something else happens, something they don't tell you about. You leave a testicle behind!" (again, the emphasis is the author's in these quotations.) The author is also very compassionate. "Every father, however much he puts on a critical or indifferent exterior, will spend his life waiting at some deep level to know that his son loves and respects him... He will spend his life waiting." Manhood: An Action Plan is so very good at what it does well that I would urge everyone to pick up a copy, gather the book's numerous pearls, and pass over its occasional lapses with the same generosity of spirit that Steve Biddulph himself frequently displays.

All stars for subject. There is so little else were about manhood. A very good inside and analysis of the different aspects of man life. Also bunch of good suggestions on how to improove certain areas. I like the chapter about relations to father and job passion. Sexuality has a very good analysis on different paths. However if You struggle here You will only acknowledge You are on wrong path. Don’t expect any serious advices how to change and what to do. On the downside, to me it seems to be a bit naive a major manifesto to take advice and example from older generations. They are either too little experienced on different life paths (as of individuals) or lost and confused by themselves and with a lot of grief. In “Wilde Spirit” chapter I rather found there some nonsense on man’s initiation. Expecting more to find advices how to compensate man’s conquer and discovery capability/need throughout life. A BIG missing part is middle life crisis so much present in manhood. Summarizing – an essential book on topic. But still waiting on title with more full picture and collective experience.

This is the most important book I have ever read on being a man, fathers and sons. Iron John: A Book About Men comes a close second and really inspired me to eventually read this one. If you like me come from a divorced family where you had very little exposure to your dad, read this book immediately. So many of the feelings I could never described have been brilliantly articulated by Steve Biddulph. It's great that I have done The Breakthrough Experience: A Revolutionary New Approach to Personal Transformation on my dad about 2 years ago and now these books confirm the path that I have been on since then. My dad has not been in the best health in the last few years with a few mild heart attacks to many. It's important for me to get to know him on a deeper level. And that's the next challenge for me now.

I'm no sociologist - but I know that Steve Biddulph strikes a deep chord. He gives an enlightened view on men and our relatively poor understanding of our role in life, sexuality and our relationships. As a father with a son of my own, the issues he raises about growing up and coming of age have been very valuable to me in understanding what's happening with my son (and myself). The book encouraged me to think about my father, my brothers, my good friends in a very positive and constructive light. The writing has good strong humour yet it pulls no punches. There's too little good literature on fatherhood to miss this one.

The chapter on man-women relationships is quite good in my opinion. It is the reason I'm giving the book 4 star rating. Other aspects, such as idealising savage men / initiation rituals are a bit weaker, I think. I'd recommend this book as long as you take it with a grain of salt.

While walking through a bookshop one day 15 years ago, for no real reason at all this book found its way into my hand. As I read the back cover it twigged a mild interest in me that I couldn't ignore. The next 2 days were spent reading and contemplating the messages, stories and collective wisdom that Steve has expertly put together. The words of elders such as Robert Bly and Sam Keen resonated something in my masculinity that had not previously been tapped into at anything more than a superficial level. I laughed, cried and pondered the man I wanted to be -I was hooked. Needless to say, I have revisited this book many times since then, each time gaining new insight into myself and my relationships with others. This book is for men who want to take an honest journey into their strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities and opportunities for their future. Don't be surprised if you feel compelled to pass this onto other men you know, or to your partner. Take from this book what works for you - what you don't find helpful today may just grab you next month, next year, or even further into your future.

I've been given this book to read by a woman. Perhaps that would be the first sign that this book does not really teach or help anyone become a "man". There are some interesting points regarding the overdue social revolution of men, something similar to that of women in the 60s & 70s.... The book does touch on some common traits of younger men (teens to early twenties) and gives relatively decent direction. That's the good... The bad: There is this constant impression that somehow men have lost their nature and that they need to regain it. As if we are all a generation of men raised by women. It is quite possible that male involvement in raising children today is more pronounced than ever before, but that is a different story... Often the book gives a fond reflection of the past being better. But the truth is that in the past cruelty to children was significantly worse. Allegedly, fathers in the (historical) past had a better and closer relationships with their children...it would be all too easy to find faults with this line of thinking, an assumption at best, gross error at its worst. The book also makes some basics assumptions towards the nature of people & men. As if our basic nature is good, or bad. What makes a "man" be a "man"? in this case, the obvious question is answered subtly by the author's preconcieved notion of manhood. Supposedly there might be something wrong with a man the does not cry, or that is less sensitive. Perhaps this man is not connected with his "nature" or feelings. As if it's impossible to be quite healthy, normal & simply less sensitive. In short, no one can tell you you are a man. You either know it or you don't. If you need to prove it, you're not. If you are a younger man, (say under 25) you might find some helpful insights in this book. Remember that this is not an absolute truth to being a man, it is simply one person's opinion on the matter.

Must read for all the men who are in there 20s.

Extremely insightful of the challenges thinking men contend in the modern, appropriately gender equal western world.

A compulsory must have in every household. No household & man should be without this book.Manhood is indispensable, a compulsory & essential equipment for homes like water & fresh air is.Manhood is a masterpiece based on years of research undertaken by renowned male psychotherapists, doctors & Biddulph’s own expertise & credibility in the field of raising men The Men’s Movement.Reading Manhood, although Biddulph wrote it, you’ll see he draws from thousands of years of practical history of man’s successful survival & processes of creating great men like Jesus, Buddha, the Prophet Muhammad, Aristotle,Plato,Alexander The Great.The Sunday Times produced a list of the Top 10 Greatest Men & the test defined exact qualities required in great leadership, human quality. This book is confirms (unintentionally) the Sunday Times League-Table of great men.This world is a much better place for this book (thank God) just as it is for esteemed authentic texts like the Quran,Bible & Ved. Page 200 is particularly significant as Biddulph & Mircea correctly identify the Healing Initiation,it is exactly as happened in Abrahamic faiths like Christianity & Islam such as Abraham initiated his sons Ishmael & Isaac, the Prophet Muhammad was gently pierced a seal on his back to confirm he is the final messenger of God; Jesus healed the wounded. After reading this the universe seems different to readers, one feels the vastness & echo of nature. We are a group of female friends who read this to understand our beloved men.We can confirm, although we felt like women always, after reading Manhood we feel like fuller women.We gifted this book to our husbands & male cousins & nephews as graduation gifts.Manhood the book is one of the best gifts you can gift a man. Pls read his Raising Boys as a predecessor to Manhood, they complete the grid.

Growing up was not easy as I had my share of neglect and childhood traumas. I didn't want to carry that trauma over to my children and family. This book is a life changer. The author describes ways of thinking and actions a man can take to be the best man possible for yourself, your children, and your whole family. It is a MUST read if this is what you want.

The edition I read is not the one on the image. The book is useful in its emphasis on the importance of elder / adult males in the raising of boys and gives some good examples. This topic is still relevant. However, it is by now a bit dated and makes very little reference to anything other than heterosexual, monogamous relationships. (I think it only once mentions that a boy might turn out to be gay.) And where are all the men's groups that apparently were established in the wake of the book …?