Product Description
Originally published in 1964, One-Dimensional Man quickly became one of the most important texts in the ensuing decade of radical political change. This second edition, newly introduced by Marcuse scholar Douglas Kellner, presents Marcuse's best-selling work to another generation of readers in the context of contemporary events.

"Marcuse shows himself to be one of the most radical and forceful thinkers of this time."
—The Nation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Some of the best of the '60's
Herbert Marcuse was one of the original members of the Frankfurt School of critical theory.Along with like-minded colleagues, when Hitler came to power in Germany, Marcuse emigrated to the United States where he taught at a number of universities, including New School for Social Research, Brandeis, and the University of California at San Diego.

Marcuse and the other members of the Frankfurt School, such as Benjamin Nelson, Max Horkheimer, and Theodor Adorno, were profoundly influenced by the work of Karl Marx.In addition, however, they were indebted to Hegel, Freud, and Max Weber.This helps to explain their interest in culture as a vehicle of domination and exploitation.

During the 1960's and early 1970's, Marcuse was the most influential New Left philosopher in the U.S., and probably throughout the world.He voiced the suspicion, however, that he was much more often cited than he was actually read.It seems unlikely that he would be pleased to be remembered as one of the three M's:Marx the prophet, Marcuse his interpreter, and Mao his sword.This sort of mindless slogan mongering was sharply at odds with Marcuse's commitment to rigorous scholarship in the pursuit of truth.

After 40 years, I remember One-Dimensional Man best for two relatively simple but paradoxical notions:rationality is never neutral or disinterested, and freedom can be oppressive and contrary to the development of human potential.

Rationality in the service of specific interests at the expense of others is manifest in out-sourcing, down-sizing, internationalization, and technological development, all means of reducing labor costs to benefit capital and at odds with the interests of labor.Rationally calculable pursuit of profit, in other words, is thoroughly irrational from the standpoint of labor.

The oppressiveness of freedom can be seen in modern industrial society's capacity to provide immediate material and sensual gratification, contributing to the creation of cultural shallowness and single-minded pursuit of the pleasures of consumption.The creation of new needs renders us prisoners of capital's productive apparatus and ideological tools.

If he were alive today, one wonders if Marcuse might have entertained the idea that our credit crisis is really a product of the contradiction between diminished purchasing power and the ever-more-effective manipulation of the culturally engendered need to consume.At this juncture the most we can say with certainty is that if Marcuse wanted to develop this idea he would not have written a polemic -- his commitment to rigorous scholarship was much too strong.

100-Dimensional Realities
Yes, I flipped all the pages of Herbert Marcuse's work, "One Dimensional Man," when it was first written. It was an interesting critique of society. Naturally, we can think of hundreds of critiques of other societies, but just looking at our own, we can admit readily that there are things that needed improvement.

A lot of that improvement has taken place, in terms of internet sites encouraging and even thriving on more individual expression. This is on a scale hardly imaginable in the 1960's and 1970's. We all knew some new things would come along, but who would've predicted YouTube and similar, take-off sites?

When reading a critique of our own society, it is important to keep perspective. All aware of the problems and benefits of our own societies, we can readily find there are problems and benefits everywhere. Erasing poverty, hunger, starvation - and even erasing wars - will go a long way towards increasing humanity.

Probably everyone alive in the 1960's and 1970's would agree that it is a good thing that the New Left and the Black Panthers were not running society. We all know it would have gone the way of the Khmer Rouge and thought up some form of universal "final solution," justifying all sorts of means towards some improbable end. However, we also need to wonder, "Why are Americans underpaid and lacking in government benefits compared to Europeans?" Was something like the mind-control or public thought-control contemplated by Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" at work, keeping the public acquiescent while the taxes on the wealthy and on corporations was decreased? They listened to and accepted for a long time the arguments of the far right, all to the effect that the wealthy deserved all that and more. It was completely forgotten that the heroism of those members of the average society, our military foreparents, made their wealth acquisition possible and that they might owe more than the average person to society because of facts like that?

The well-off do not acquire their well-being strictly through their own efforts. It may be through inheritance, and other times, their own efforts, or a combination of the two. The playing field was made safe and free from Hitler and from Communism by the blood of the young people of the working and middle classes, by and large. That is why we are not all slaves of some madly-totalitarian directing our every move from above.

Freedom is not free. If you read One-Dimensional Man today, it should be largely as a historical work. It should be read - if at all - only by people who have done a significant additional amount of reading of long, written works. Philosophy, at that. Perhaps the kind of person who could stand to get through a graduate program in something or other. Even then, it would be read with a large grain of salt. There were some very good points made.

It certainly makes more interesting reading than Karl Marxes "Das Kapital," which was a real sleeper.But I would like to mix it with some Eric Hoffer.

Then, as they train in college, don't particularly "believe" in any one thing. Not too much, anyway.

Instead, think,

"It should be interesting to see how it all comes out."

Very exciting.
Not disillusioned with the central theme of Marxism, Marcuse attempts to explain the arrested development of post-Marxist revolution, along with totalitarianism of both capitalist and communist systems, production for the sake of production, the sciences infiltrated by totalitarian ideology which leads to catastrophic consequences, the dialectic which portrays man's potential and man's defeat in the face of modern society and the systematic adjustment and tolerance to rebellion against existing society, like Che Guevara designer t-shirts.

Trenchant social critique
I first read this in college, and it is still one of my favorite books, full of perceptive, although not positive insights into western society

A surprisingly disappointing book
This is Marcuse's most famous work and one that was a major influence on and during the student revolts all over the European continent of 1968. Many of the catchphrases of that time, such as "repressive tolerance" and the like, are derived directly from Marcuse. He has since lost much of his popularity and audience, and in my view, quite deservedly so.

His main thesis is that modern man has become one-dimensional due to the totalitarian, all-encompassing exercise of power by the entrenched capitalist class. While this of itself is not such a bad idea, though certainly romanticizing and exaggerating reality, his approach to explaining and attacking it leaves very much to be desired. Marcuse overuses empty or unexplained phrases endlessly (like "cutting off perspectives through an overwhelming ossified concreteness of imagery" and similar things) while at the same time hardly making use of any prior thought or philosophy on the subject at all. This makes the impression of much ranting and little content. Even worse is his general laziness as a thinker - he never actually bothers to explain why such a full-spectrum dominance has occurred or how he wants to prove its existence, he merely asserts it and then goes on about the manifold bad effects it has.
Rather bizarre in this context, and perhaps even nihilistic, is his general dislike of what he perceives as "rationality". He only uses this word in negative contexts (particularly in the context of industrial expansion) and seems to consider it the primary form of "one-dimensional thinking", affected by the symbolism of capitalism. Now it is one thing to say that the fashionable concept of rationalism is false and ill-founded, but to reject relying on rational processes altogether as he seems to do is a bit too much.

To put it bluntly, everything Marcuse has written in this book has also been written in, say, Debord's "The Society of the Spectacle", and then in half as many words and quite more philosophically coherent. The early Marcuse (of Eros and Civilization) was much better; this book warrants no more interest than a purely antiquarian historical one. ... Read more

Product Description
What does it mean to be a man? In this book, noted historian George L. Mosse provides the first historical account of the masculine stereotype in modern Western culture, tracing the evolution of the idea of manliness to reveal how it came to embody physical beauty, courage, moral restraint, and a strong will. This stereotype, he finds, originated in the tumultuous changes of the eighteenth century, as Europe's dominant aristocrats grudgingly yielded to the rise of the professional, bureaucratic, and commercial middle classes. Mosse reveals how the new bourgeoisie, faced with a bewildering, rapidly industrialized world, latched onto the knightly ideal of chivalry. He also shows how the rise of universal conscription created a "soldierly man" as an ideal type. In bringing his examination up to the present, Mosse also studies the important roles of women and the so-called called "unmanly men"--Jews and homosexuals--in maintaining the stereotype, and considers the possible erosion of this stereotype in our own time. ... Read more

Product Description
Why do men do ballet? What kinds of men become theatrical dancers? In this highly original piece of research, Michael Gard shows how the worlds of Western theatrical dance, gender relations and sexuality intermingle and, over time, produce different answers to these questions. Surveying both academic and popular writers, as well as drawing on life history interviews with twenty male dancers, Gard argues that the answers to these questions are inextricably linked to another question whose answer is never the same at any moment in history or any place in culture: What is a man? ... Read more

Product Description
The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men's Health assembles into a single volume a quarter-century's worth of hard-won knowledge about men's health -- knowledge that men need to lead longer, healthier lives.

More than twenty-five years ago, researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health began what have become the largest aggregate studies ever of men's health. Tracking 96,000 American men over decades, these studies provide the ultimate resource on what keeps men healthy -- and what doesn't. The result is The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men's Health:

• Features the most current information on the health-preserving functions of diet, exercise, and over-the-counter drugs and supplements

• Gives straight answers to questions like when drinking alcohol is beneficial and when it's not

• Offers advice on behavior modification and stress control• Includes all the crucial information on diseases that are particularly important to men, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, erectile dysfunction, and kidney and bladder problems

• Provides an easy-to-navigate guide to the health-care system that gives balanced views on the benefits and drawbacks of common medical tests

With the authority that only the world's largest and best-known medical school can provide, and the lively, clear presentation that is the hallmark of Harvard Men's Health Watch, the monthly newsletter edited by Dr. Simon, The Harvard Medical School Guide to Men's Health is an essential reference for every man -- and for everyone who cares about a man's health. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Content fine - printing terrible
I've never written a review of a book based on the quality of its of printing before, but here I am compelled to. It looks it a 1942 first edition was scanned at low resolution and then printed with a clapped-out inkjet. Every letter on every page has a little flaky shadow below it. Weird thing is on the imprint page is says "Manufactured in the USA" - sigh.

I suppose it shouldn't stop one from buying the book as it's obviously not going to be read like a novel, but it wasn't cheap so the quality can't be ignored. Shame on Simon & Schuster for putting this in customers' hands.

Edition info: I ordered this in October 2010 and it is the edition copyright 2002.

A must have for every guy
The other reviewers have said it all. This is an amazing book packed with beneficial information for all men. I am young (almost 20), but I still find this book to be incredibly useful and informative. I plan to get some more copies of this book to give as gifts to my father and uncles.

This book is well worth the money.

What every man should know about maintaining better health
Terrific book that covers all of the health issues. Get the facts here, and stop listening to all the false claims made by advertisers on television.

Doc

Bladder cancer from smoking?
Life saving information is in this very well written book. I learned smokers can develop bladder cancer besides the norm such as heart disease. Get this book if you are past 40 and/or avoid seeing a doctor for checkups. There are many easy to read articles in this book which you may feel too embrassed to discuss with your doctor.

The best men's medical reference book
This is an excellent medical reference book for men.The information is very well organized into three separate parts: 1) what makes men different, 2) what makes men healthy, and 3) men's main diseases, how to prevent them, test for them, and treat them.The book is quite long at 470 pages.But, it reads easily.And, it makes for an excellent medical reference to go back to when you want specific scientific information on various men's health topics.

The best part about the book is that it is based on extensive medical studies.The advice provided is the result of statistically significant conclusions derived from these studies.Thus, the objectivity, integrity, and intelligence derived from this book is so much greater than from any of the medical authors positioning themselves as the current diet or health care guru.

The book confirms the value of EFV.The ultimately healthy lifestyle consists of a lot of Exercise with a diet that includes lots of Fruits and Vegetables.These three factors (exercise, fruits, vegetables) appear to be universal protectors against all age related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.Similarly, the high risk factors regardless of the health risk considered seemed to be always the same, including: smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, lots of saturated fats and trans fats in the diet.

The book has a ton of information besides the self-evident basics mentioned above.There are lots of tables, graphs, and summaries that make the information easy to retrieve.These include info on BMI, PSA test levels, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, recommended frequencies of screening tests, recommended dosage and toxic levels of vitamins and minerals, Glycemic index, life expectancy charts, and lots more interesting stuff.

With the medical knowledge derived from this book, you will be in a far better position to take care of your health and initiate a mutually productive dialogue with your general practitioners and specialists.The World is getting increasingly complex.Technology and science evolve rapidly.Nowhere does this increasing complexity have a greater impact than on healthcare.This book will help you understand your health, risk factors, relevant testing, and cures to be considered.

As we age, we will invariably be faced with some challenging options and decisions.This book is a great road map to help us out along the way.If you are well informed, it takes a lot of anxiety out of the equation.That takes care of a major health risk already [stress and anxiety].This book is good for you!

Along the same line of excellent health related information, I also strongly recommend another great book from Harvard Health Publications: "Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy" by Walter C. Willett.It is the best book on diet and nutrition I have ever read.And, that is also because it is based on scientific studies, and not on subjective opinions from egocentric blowhards. ... Read more

Product Description
This completely revised and new edition offers any reader real insights into the often-private thoughts of men.It represents many years of practice, research and consulting devoted to educating parents, teachers and counselors about key aspects of male psychology that are often poorly understood in treatment and education. For women who want to better understand their relationships with men and for men who want to hear some straight talk from men who are courageously revisioning their lives, this book will be quite helpful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A classic in helping to understand men.. Just read it!!
I read this book in 1992 (?) and it gave me an entirely a new perspective on myself as a white male American. I was so taken that when I got to the end and saw that Aaron invited readers to contact him I did. Consequently I went to Santa Rosa to meet him and ended up not only attending a course he and his partner were giving at Sonoma State but got involved deeply in men's work. I included this and Aaron's other books on the reading list I used for a course I tought on men and women for 13 years. And it led to my writing an essay "Confessions of a Recovering Male" which has been published in several places, including an unauthorized translation into Slovak!

Aaron is real. He speaks from his heart and from a life that has been a challenge for him (as I suspect all men, including myself, find life.)

I am delighted to see that it has been re-issued. Just read it; if you are a woman trying to understand a man, or a man struggling to understand himself or a son/daughter trying to understand your father. The ultimate irony of all this is that I came upon this as Amazon Recommendation #500 something on a day in which I made email contact with Aaron for the first time in many years!

(Although the reviewer line above says I am from Claremont, CA, I emigrated to Tasmania 4 months ago and am now a resident of Hobart, TAS, Australia)

I understood way.
I understood after reading the book in swedish way I lost contact with my now 14 years old doughter Emelie Finette, living in Westheim/Marsberg. I have seen her for only 6 hours totaly.

I also understood that we parents who wants to have equal rights for the children will have a long way to go yet.

Thanks Aaron for a wounderfull book.

Tommy Jonsson

Finding My Masculine Soul
Aaron Kipnis has put into words what I have felt for many years. He says that the "value placed on men's lives, as compared to women's, is greatly depreciated in our culture." It starts with how male infants are treated by their mothers right up to how devalued were the lives of so many men who fought in Vietnam. Had it been women who were dying senseless deaths over there, Kipnis points out, the war would not have lasted near as long.

He tell us in a way that resonates with me that, "Men frequently feel disconnected from an authentic source of aliveness within us." Maybe it is because so many of us have constructed an"heroic personality that is hard, inflexible and, like the armor of old, heavy to drag around."

This book was given to me by a friend who, with me, is a member of The Mankind Project, New Warrior Community, a group that Kipnis talks about in his book. The book has helped me to really understand the obsessive overachieving and workaholism of so many men and how they have numbed their lives and avoided real intimacy with both men and women in their lives, especially their significant others. (In reality, not very significant!)

Kipnis says, "This numbness includes loss of emotional and even physical sensitivity." Men come home and escape into a few beers and the tube or even worse. The price we pay, he says, is pain: isolation, alienation, stressed-induced illnesses, sex and love addictions, codependence (taking care of our women before even thinking of ourselves and being dependent on them for approval), fear and anxiety and God knows how much more.

This is a powerful book and an easy read. It is mesmerizing because it is so damn true and accurate. Kipnis does not stop at describing this devastating phenomenon. He offers up many ways for us to seek healing. He tells women readers that they would do well to listen carefully to what they can do to help the men in their lives starting with their male infants and sons. He encourages us to join men's groups and seek therapy from psychologists who understand the acute losses to the masculine soul and may be wounded healers themselves. He shows us that the spiritual dimension of life is critical for our emotional and mental health and that sharing openly with other men the pain and fear we're experiencing is the beginning of healing.

Kipnis speaks of the "uninitiated male". We in the New Warriors understand him when he says that the uninitiated male has many problems. He quotes another author who says about Shakespeare's Hamlet: He has "no roots in the instinctive world--and he makes only division and tragedy of [the divine and sacred] in us, not paradox and synthesis." Kipnis says, "The narcissistic male, unable to wield the power of the father, cannot generate and protect life or transform the world, only devalue it.---Hamlet retreats into immobility as a defense against the conflicting emotions he feels."

I like the way Kipnis tells the real stories of pain, healing and joy that he and his men's group colleagues experienced. That gives life to the book and helps men and women understand that we can rediscover ways of male initiation and heal the wounds between fathers and sons and between we men and those whom we claim to love but find so it so difficult to do. This book is a must read for every man and still, I realize that only a small fraction of men and their women will read the book and benefit from the wisdom and practical ways of healing found within the book. I am very thankful that The New Warriors have entered my life and made possible a path, a life-long path, of loving myself and following the ways of healing of which Kipnis speaks so eloquently. He makes the masculine soul real.

I have discovered my masculine soul and I am in the process of empowering myself to be vulnerable and open with my brothers so the strange paradoxes of life can be understood and realized, especially, the paradox that the more open and vulnerable I am, the more powerful I am as a man, a spouse, and as a leader. As a personal life coach and leadership consultant, I am grateful that Aaron Kipnis has written this and other books which I can strongly recommend to clients and friends.

An overview of ways in which men are remaking themselves
Aaron Kipnis offers a comprehensive view of all aspects of the men's movement in this 302-page volume. Inspired by issues raised by members of an addiction/recovery men's group headed by the author, the book looks atvarious male images. Kipnis critically examines the old masculine values ofthe "heroic" male as well as those of the newer, sensitive man(what Kipnis calls the "feminized" man), and addresses at lengththe emerging "authentic, integrated" masculinity inspired byRobert Bly and friends. Intertwined with these accounts are stories andvignettes from men in the group, new knights of the round table on a questfor a new masculine paradigm.

Although the metaphor of the knights seemsto get a little corny at times, the book has much to recommend it. This isthe first, if not the only, book that globally looks at all facets of themen's movement. Everything from circumsicion, to myth, ritual andinitiation, to the politics of male-bashing, is covered. There is anexcellent table comparing the masculine images of the heroic, feminized,and integrated man and looking at how these differ along physical, mental,and emotional lines. There is a section on men's resources, with names andaddresses of organizations and suggestions on how to get involved. Also,unlike most books on men's issues, this one actually has an index--arefreshing feature indeed! ... Read more

Product Description
Take your understanding of Invisible Man to a whole new level, anywhere you go: on a plane, on a mountain, in a canoe, under a tree.Or grab a flashlight and read Shmoop under the covers.Shmoop's award-winning website is now available on your Kindle. Shmoop on the Kindle is like having a trusted, fun, chatty, expert literature-tour-guide always by your side, no matter where you are (or how late it is at night).You-ll find thought-provoking character analyses, quotes, summaries, themes, symbols, trivia, and lots of insightful commentary in Shmoop's literature guides.Teachers and experts from top universities, including Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and Columbia, have written content designed to engage you and to get your brain bubbling. Shmoop is here to make you a better lover of literature and to help you discover connections to other works of literature, history, current events, and pop culture. These interactive study guides will help you discover and rediscover some of the greatest works of all time. For more information, check out http://www.shmoop.com/ballyhoo/kindle-ebooks.html ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the first comprehensive account of the changing role of men and the construction of masculinity in contemporary Japan. The book moves beyond the stereotype of the Japanese white-collar businessman to explore the diversity of identities and experiences that may be found among men in contemporary Japan, including those versions of masculinity which are marginalized and subversive. The book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of contemporary Japanese society and identity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

chipping away at the archetype
As the subtitle of this anthology clearly states, the editors and contributors are trying to show that not all Japanese men are middle-class, company-oriented, gender-typical, childcare-shunning, heterosexual males in intraethnic marriages.However, it still indicates how the Japanese law presumes that the salaryman is the national everyman.

Typically, books discuss either women, gay men, transgenders, and gender rebels separately and exclusively.This books peels the layers of the onion discussing most every aspect of gender- and sexual diversity.One chapter on transgenders discusses gay men and some gender-typical gay male readers may be offended by the equation, however.

This anthology had a good mix of male and female contributors ranging from Europe, the United States, and Asia.Thus, this is abook about "us" and "them."However, because many writers had American ties and I hear that Japanese students learning English are taught the American style, I was surprised this book was written in British English (dare I say "the Queen's English"?)Examples of this include s's instead of z's ("theorise"), titles not punctuated (Mr, Dr), and none the less not spelled as one word.As diverse as the contributors were, they pretty much relied upon academic quotes from Western scholars (Butler, Connell, Foucault, Halberstam, etc.)I am not sure whether this means Japanese scholars are not producing work on gender diversity or that the contributors themselves are at the forefront of this field.

The last three chapters are from Japanese in political organizations (gay activists, fathers' responsibilities and rights advocates, those unlearning domestic violence).The two chapters before that concern working-class Japanese men.The first half of the book could have been organized as well.Therefore, I am surprised that the editors not to break the chapters into parts and have commentaries at the beginning of each.

Given its size and power (despite the recession oft-mentioned by the authors), it should come as no surprise that Japan is diverse in terms of gender, class, biological sex, and sexual orientation.Still, claims of homogeneity within and outside of its shores persist for Japan.Finally, a book chips away at this inaccuracy.I would really like to hear what Japanese nationals think about this text. ... Read more

Product Description
Take your understanding of Of Mice and Men to a whole new level, anywhere you go: on a plane, on a mountain, in a canoe, under a tree.Or grab a flashlight and read Shmoop under the covers.Shmoop's award-winning website is now available on your Kindle. Shmoop on the Kindle is like having a trusted, fun, chatty, expert literature-tour-guide always by your side, no matter where you are (or how late it is at night).You’ll find thought-provoking character analyses, quotes, summaries, themes, symbols, trivia, and lots of insightful commentary in Shmoop's literature guides.Teachers and experts from top universities, including Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and Columbia, have written content designed to engage you and to get your brain bubbling. Shmoop is here to make you a better lover of literature and to help you discover connections to other works of literature, history, current events, and pop culture. These interactive study guides will help you discover and rediscover some of the greatest works of all time. For more information, check out http://www.shmoop.com/ballyhoo/kindle-ebooks.html ... Read more

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Good binding. We ship fast ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Just read it!
Men, you definitely need to read this book if you are wanting to truly be men of integrity and the priest of the home the way God intended.Ladies, I would recommend this book to you as well to help you see what kind of man you should be waiting for if you desire a true man of God who will step up and be the spiritual leader you want in the home.Great insight and Biblical truth.This book kicked my butt!

Highly recommended. Biblically sound book
If you are skeptical or uncertain as to whether this book could be helpful to you, rest assured that what Karl has written is spirit-led and helpful to anyone wanting to truly understand God's design for men and women. This book should be read and used by every church pastor and christian counselor. This is not one of those "feel good about yourself" books. Rather it is straight to the point and makes no apologies for presenting an analysis of the root problems of loss of manhood. Karl's book deals with so many aspects of manhood including being a shield to his wife and daughter as well as a mentor to his daughter's suitors.

I know the author personally and strongly believe that Restoration of Men is a powerful, life-changing book. If you are serious about developing a Christ-like lifestyle, this book will help take you there no matter where you have been.

Restoration of Men - restoration of values
"Restoration of Men" is not for the faint of heart nor the weak in faith. On the other hand, if you are, this book might be just what you need in order to get back on track with God's original plan. Duff brings excellent understanding to God's functional design of men and women and of their mutual support roles, and lays out step-by-step how sexual immorality destroys relationships. He covers topics such as accountability, sovereignty, reconciliation with fathers and God's provisions for conquering impure thoughts. The "Letter To Daughter" in chapter 11 should be mandatory reading for every young woman, and for every father. For that matter, the whole book should be mandatory reading for every young person, and is a great tool for every parent or single person who struggles with understanding and living God's will for their own life or their children's lives in the current world. The book's theory is excellently supported with many Scripture references, and lends itself perfectly for small men's groups or women's Bible studies. Be prepared to be challenged, or encouraged: either way, you will not be the same after reading this book.

... Read more

Product Description
In the past, when sport simply excluded girls, the equation of males with active athletic power and of females with weakness and passivity seemed to come easily, almost naturally. Now, however, with girls' and women's dramatic movement into sport, the process of exclusion has become a bit subtler, a bit more complicated-and yet, as Michael Messner shows us in this provocative book, no less effective. In Taking the Field, Messner argues that despite profound changes, the world of sport largely retains and continues its longtime conservative role in gender relations.

To explore the current paradoxes of gender in sport, Messner identifies and investigates three levels at which the "center" of sport is constructed: the day-to-day practices of sport participants, the structured rules and hierarchies of sport institutions, and the dominant symbols and belief systems transmitted by the major sports media. Using these insights, he analyzes a moment of gender construction in the lives of four- and five-year-old children at a soccer opening ceremony, the way men's violence is expressed through sport, the interplay of financial interests and dominant men's investment in maintaining the status quo in the face of recent challenges, and the cultural imagery at the core of sport, particularly televised sports. Through these examinations Messner lays bare the practices and ideas that buttress-as well as those that seek to disrupt-the masculine center of sport.

Taking the Field exposes the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which men and women collectively construct gender through their interactions-interactions contextualized in the institutions and symbols of sport.

Michael A. Messner is professor of sociology and gender studies at the University of Southern California. His previous books include Power at Play: Sports and the Problem of Masculinity (1995) and Politics of Masculinities: Men in Movements (1997). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Interesting text book
I had to read this book for a class, the book was easy to read.I liked the writing style of the author, I learned lots of information from this book!

A feminist man who's both smart and honest
Here are a few of the many reasons I keep reading everything Mike Messner writes:

1) He seems to take the feminist "personal is political" slogan to heart, revealing much more of himself and his own questions and vulnerabilities than most other male writers.

2) He uses both academic and journalistic techniques to research his topics and support his theses.

3) He lacks the arrogance of many experts, retaining an open mind as he delibertely attempts to look at things in original ways.

4) The topic of this book -- and several of his others -- continues to fascinate me. By looking at how we "do gender" in a sporting context, we come to understand so much about how and why any and all women and men behave as we do.

Highly recommended. -- Mariah Burton Nelson

Putting Sport into the Center of Gender
USC Sociologist Michael Messner, who has spent the majority of his academic career studying issues of sport, masculinity, and power has written a truly significant book with Taking the Field: Women, Men, and Sports.The book finds a place for much of his previous research, as well as the research of other gender and sport scholars, to elicit the mechanisms in which gender is produced, reproduced, and contested in sport.

The premise of the book holds that gender is a product of structure, culture, and an individual's interactions within culture.This serves as the launching point for a deft discussion of the affects of sport in America.Messner has a talent for seeing the larger picture in seemingly "normal" events, and in Taking the Field he analyzes the affect that "normal" interactions in sport has on the subjugation of women and gay men, and the real and symbolic violence committed against both women and men by men.

Messner's work is important to scholars of both sport and gender, but is particularly important to gender scholars who too frequently fail to recognize the power sport, and sport media, has in shaping current gender relations, particularly the institutionalization of manhood.But Taking the Field is also highly recommend for anybody who has an interest in understanding the larger implications of American sport, beyond winning and losing.It is a must read for coaches, parents, and educators who have anything to do with sport.

To help us understand how theory hits the road, Messner highlights familiar news events such as the Columbine Massacre, or the 1999 Women's World Cup Championships, and analyzes them from a social-feminist perspective. In such he clearly elucidates the perils of the way we do sport in America and shows us that the concepts and theories he speaks of are not just found on the pages of books - that they are real, with real life application, and have a very real affect on people's lives.

Taking the Field is also important because it brings both homophobia and the mediea into thecenter of analysis.Whereas much attention has been given to the media's role in gender relations, I have been wholly discouraged by the absence of homophobia from much sport literature, and from sport in gender literature.Taking the Field shows the significance homophobia plays in sport, shaping and maintaining athletics as a masculine and heterosexual institution, and how important sport is in the production of gender

In the end Dr. Messner suggests that resistance to the system is possible (perhaps even inevitable).The masculinist center of sport has a soft underbelly and it is currently challenged by individual sports, female athleticism, the growing presence of gay male athleticism, and progressive individual men who are no longer willing to allow the system to function in a homophobic and misogynistic manner. But while these challenges to a hegemonic masculinity have threatened sport's ability to be openly sexist and homophobic, we must understand how sport attempts to reproduce itself covertly, so that we can continue to progress toward a culture of equality... ... Read more

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Does Paul teach a hierarchy of authority of man over woman, or does he teach the full equality of man and woman in the church and home? In Man and Woman, One in Christ, Philip Barton Payne answers this question and more, injecting crucial insights into the discussion of Paul's view of women. Condensing over three decades of research on this topic, Payne's rigorous exegetical analysis demonstrates the consistency of Paul's message on this topic and its coherence with the rest of his theology. Payne's exegetical examination of the Pauline corpus is thorough, exploring the influences on Paul, his practice as a church leader, and his teachings to various Christian communities. Paul's theology, instruction, and practice consistently affirm the equal standing of men and women, with profound implications for the church today. Man and Woman, One in Christ is required reading for all who desire to understand the meaning of Paul's statements regarding women and their relevance for Christian relationships and ministry today. This work has the potential of uniting the church on this contentious issue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Important Study of an Important Issue
This is a strong scriptural look at the unity of women and men in Christ according to Paul's writings. Dr. Payne wrote this for the Evangelical Free Church so that they would reconsider their stand of not ordaining women. He cogently argues from Galatians 3:26-29, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Colossians 3:11, and elsewhere that Paul's uniform vision is Jew and Gentile, man and woman, slave and free, united and equal in Christ. No problem there.

Dr. Payne goes on to expound some controverted texts in 1 Corinthians. He argues at length that wherever the word kephale (Head) shows up in 1 Corinthians 11:1-10, we should interpret this to mean source rather than leader or authority. Therefore, Paul is not saying that the leader of every man is Christ, and the leader of the woman is man, he is saying that the source of every man is Christ, and the source of the woman is man, and the source of Christ is God. He gives parallels in ancient literature, but the argument is strained. The head covering debate is really a hair covering issue rather than a hat covering issue according to Payne, and this may be right. He also shows from 1 Corinthians 11:5 that both women and men can pray and prophesy in church.

Payne then goes into 1 Corinthians 14 and gives a painstaking, 42 page deliberation on why verses 34-35 were interpolated into the text centuries later. He argues forcefully for this, because he knows if Paul really did say that women are to be silent and submissive in the churches at all times, this shoots down Payne's position that women can pray and preach and lead in church.

Payne shows that these verses were not quoted in the first couple of centuries of the church, and when they show in later texts, they are not always in the same place. He also demonstrates that Paul says elsewhere that we are not under the law, but under grace (Rom 6:14), so why would he invoke the law to keep women from speaking? No where else does Paul invoke the law.

After a long, passionate discussion, I must say that Payne has finally persuaded me in the end that these verses could very well have been interpolated.

There is also a long discussion of Ephesians 5:21-33 where Payne reminds us that the word "submit" cannot be found in Ephesians 5:22, and there is an intense, scholarly, cogent exegesis and exposition of 1 Timothy 2:8-15, where Payne interprets Paul as saying "Since women are the targets of the false teachers in Ephesus and since they are helping to propagate this false teaching, I do not permit (right now) for a woman to teach or assume authority over a man, she should learn in quietness and silence. We need to remember that Adam is to be respected as the one who is the source of women.Moreover, just as Eve was seduced by false teaching in the garden of Eden, so also the Eves of Ephesus are being seduced by false teaching. But women will be saved through the childbirth of Jesus Christ if they continue in faith, love, and holiness,with propriety." Payne may be right again!

Then Payne takes great pains to show us that the instructions to elders and deacons in chapter 3 apply to both women and men. But if he is declaring that women ought not to teach at the present time, it's hard to imagine that they would be given instructions on how to be elders and deacons, especially since one of the big requirements is to be "able to teach - 1 Timothy 3:2). Also,the reference to elders and deacons being the husband of but one wife cannot easily be swept aside, as Payne tries to do.

At the end of the day, I believe that Payne has shown that the ordination of women into pastoral ministry should not be forbidden, but it is not a slam dunk. Much hinges on whether or not Payne is correct about the interpolation of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, and the temporariness of the injunctions in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. This is an important book and is probably going to be considered the benchmark for the egalitarian position regarding man and woman in Christ.

Excellent and insightful
Payne's new book is an incredible work.He gives very good insights into the "gender" verses in the Bible.If you think you know what the Bible says on gender but have not read this book, I strongly encourage you to read it.

Payne has a blog where he answers questions and responds to reviews, most recently to Schreiner's negative review.

A Must Read
Whether or not readers align with Payne's conclusions, his research is comprehensive and fair-handed. Anyone who takes seriously the teachings about women in ministry and the Word of God will find here a biblically faithful, historical responsible, and culturally insightful defense of evangelical egalitarianism. To ignore Payne's research is to miss some of the most important findings to date on a topic that continues to divide Christianity in North America. I very much appreciate the author's commitment to all the relevant biblical data. While he shows appreciation for the cultural and social backgrounds surrounding the Pauline corpus, Payne does not "foreground" them unnecessarily such that they eclipse God's holy Word. His high regard for Scripture is evident on every page and he plainly states his full belief in inerrancy of Scripture. Moreover, he takes on the loudest voices from the other side (Wayne Grudem, Douglas Moo, Andreas Köstenberger, et al.) and graciously engages them without compromising his findings. Quite simply this is the best treatment today.

Yes, St. Paul was an egalitarian
Philip Payne's new book is an extraordinarily well-done study of Paul's letters, in the areaof women's roles in the church. Payne has studied this subject in detail for several decades. His knowledge of the 1st century AD background, of New Testament Greek, of textual criticism, and of the theological issues is extensive. His viewpoint is thoroughly evangelical.He zeroes in on several controversial passages in Galatians, I Corinthians, Ephesians, and I Timothy.He shows convincingly that Paul desired that all social groups be equal in status and potential role in the early church: Gentiles as well as Jews, slaves as well as masters, AND women as well as men.His tone is irenic, although he often quotes the views of those who believe in hierarchy and/or patriarchy.He shows how careful exegesis refutes the views of those who believe that women must remain in non-leadership roles in the church.His discussion of I Corinthians 14:34-35 is outstanding, demonstrating that these two verses are almost certainly an interpolation that came into the NT text a few generations after Paul wrote his original letter. Regarding the 1st letter to Timothy, Payne discusses the fact that there are NO masculine pronouns in Paul's lists of requirements for overseer, elder, or deacon roles that would limit these roles to males, showing rather that "anyone" or "whoever" fits the characteristics (such as trustworthy, hospitable, gentle, being above reproach, etc.) could aspire to one of these roles, which is said to be a "noble task."
Dr. Payne originally started his studies of these passagesfrom an adversarial viewpoint, attempting to prove the hierarchical stance, butafter prolonged study found that he must come to opposite conclusions.I highly recommend this marvellous book.It does require close attention in reading but is worth the effort.Definitely five stars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Informative

Nice packaging, and a great read even though it ventures off to a mega ministry it gives you insights on development and goals for a Men's ministry.

Quick Review of Mens' Ministry
I was hesitant about purchasing this book because I suspected that it would written for the American (and most likely) evangical audience. I wasn't wrong at all. I can't see a lot of these suggestions going down well with the men at our church - that is, non American men with a leaning to anglo-catholic theology. Having said this, there are some good concepts and ideas that I can use in setting up our Mens' Group and I'll 'cherry pick' these. It would be good to get a hold of a book written for men who don't want religion (christianity) to be so prominant on the agenda....men who don't want to 'be saved' all of the time. I think there are a lot of us in
Australia, the UK and even in your country who would appreciate a more relaxed mens' environment with Christianity included as a more intellectual excercise, but not all of the time.

Super for starting a men's ministry!
Our church wants to start a new kind of men's ministry and this book is the ticket!The first chapter covers how to get things off the ground and the last chapter is how to get men to serve each other--and they cover everything vital to a thriving men's ministry inbetween.From retreats and fun nights to being open and real with one another--something that doesn't come to easily to most men.Very helpful, practical, and fun to read.We can't wait to use these ideas to super-charge our new ministry to men!

Check out this book for mens' movie nights, also from Group Publishing:
Group's Dinner and a Movie: Adrenaline Rush: Flix for Guys

Great Foundation and Ongoing Resource
I picked up this book for my husband, who is getting a Men's Ministry off the ground at our church.I had purchased Women's Ministry in the 21st Century when our Women's Ministry was getting started and found it rich with foundational ideas and tools for many aspects of the ministry.Our Men's Ministry is not officially called Men's Ministry, because they want to make it edgy...something "manly men" will want to be a part of.For this reason, when I brought home the book, my husband was a bit hesitant.He didn't necessarily want to fit the ministry into a book.But once he started looking at it, he said, "This is a really good book!"(I held my sarcastic reply.)Men's Ministry in the 21st Century will help anyone with the process of putting down a foundation and enhancing what you already have.And there is no need to read the book from cover to cover (although you might find yourself doing just that!).It's so well organized, you can simply look for that specific tool, study, or service idea you want. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

nice study, disturbing findings
Lots of books have been written about poor, black males in Chicago.There is the personal ("Our America"), the journalistic ("There Are No Children Here"), and the academic ("Slim's Table").In this book, the author tries to analyze how 26 young, poor black men think, and not just what they do or the choices they make.He has some very counterintuitive findings.

As great as a book this is, reading it can be depressing to the nth degree.The interview subjects are just clueless about how society is organized and how the marketplace is changing.They come off as so naive and uninformed!This could really help fortify racist fallacies about black mens' intelligence.

Further, the people in power who are most interested in hurting black men could have a field day with this book.The subjects almost never say racism is a big deal.They blame themselves entirely for what has happened in their lives.They believe that a positive attitude will change all their woes.This type of "pull yourself by the bootstraps" lets racism and classism in American institutions off the hook.

Further, this book may hurt people who believe in or benefit from affirmative action.The author observes that those who have had the most exposures across races and classes are the most cognizant of racism and classism in this country.Many people might read this and say, "Well then blacks would be less angry at others if they didn't observe us."or "If diversity makes blacks bitter, they should not be exposed to it." etc.Thank goodness the Supreme Court already stated that affirmative action is legal in Michigan where the author works.

Speaking of Michigan, I am surprised that the author did not complete his study there.Like Chicago, Detroit has problems with segregation, unemployment, and post-industrialization.Why keep making Chicago look bad when many urban areas are hard places in which to live for African-American men?

Despite my critiques, I enjoyed this book.I actually do recommend it for antiracist activists and other progressive thinkers. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the comprehensive guide men have been waiting for: the companion workbook to the best-selling book, Every Woman’s Desire. Authors Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker believe that every man–whether married or about to be–can meet the secret desire of his wife. The problem is, most of them aren't exactly sure what that desire is and how they can go about fulfilling it faithfully.

By using the Every Woman’s Desire Workbook, individually or in a men’s group, readers can discover the common misconceptions about what it means to exercise biblical authority. They can better understand how mutual submission works. They can learn how to properly exercise their biblical role in marriage leadership. And, in the process, they can strengthen and enliven their relationship with their wife.

Every Woman’s Desire Workbook guides men through serious Bible study, intense examination of your personal life, and an honest application of biblical truth. In these practical, real-life lessons–easy to use by individuals or groups in eight sessions–readers will find clear teaching, easy-to-follow Bible studies, reflection and discussion questions, real-life case studies, and practical applications. ... Read more

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Great Helpmeet!
This book is a great study guide to go along with the book of Every Woman's Desire.What can I say?It's great! ... Read more

Product Description

A classic work in the anthropology of law, this book offered one of the first ambitiously conceived analyses of the fundamental rights and duties that are treated as law among nonliterate peoples (labeled "primitive" at the time of the original publication). The heart of the book is a description and analysis of the law of five societies: the Eskimo; the Ifugao of northern Luzon in the Philippines; the Comanche, Kiowa, and Cheyenne tribes of the western plains of the United States; the Trobriand Islanders of the southwest Pacific; and the Ashanti of western Africa. Hoebel's lucid analysis reveals the variety and complexity of these societies' political and legal institutions. It emphasizes their use of due process in adjudication and enforcement and highlights the importance of general explicit standards of conduct in these societies. In offering these detailed case studies of societies studied by other anthropologists, and in outlining an influential approach to the subject, it remains an illuminating book for both scholars and students.

Customer Reviews (1)

Real-life examples makes this a useful book
I have a long-standing passion for early man. He is my ancestor. He laid the foundation for what we as Modern Man accomplishes. How did he survive in a feral world where his skin was too thin (unlike the rhino) and his teeth too dull (unlike the sabertooth)? What was his magic tool? To answer these questions, I read the entire Aliso Viejo CA library on prehistoric man. I have a good idea how we made it through the Plio-Pleistocene, evolved from Homo habilis to become the workhorse of the human species--Homo erectus.

Erectus was a man's man with his thick skull (from being beaten about the head too often, paleoanthropologists speculate) and his advanced tools (Acheulian by then). As I studied his world (he survived longer than any other human species to date), I hoped to find the beginnings of religion, culture, music, why we decorate our bodies with jewelry and paint.

And where did our acceptance of laws come from?

Much has been written about the seeds of religion, music, jewelry, but not the beginnings of jurisprudence. Why do we voluntarily submit ourselves to the subjective rule of another? We allow ourselves to be ostracized jailed. We change our behavior to suit laws that are grounded only in the geography in which we live. I read everything I could find about modern primitive people, but there aren't many left. Man has civilized most of our globe and few isolated cultural groups remain. In the days of Margaret Meade, anthropologists studied many groups of primitive men--the Bunyoro, the Yanomamo, the Dinka--but within a hundred years, most of the tribes had disappeared.

Possibly the last comprehensive study (to my knowledge, though I am not a trained anthropologist) was done by E. Adamson Hoebel and his ambitious survey of five cultural tribes in The Law of Primitive Man (by 'primitive' he means 'non-literate' man). He starts with an overview of primitive law, discussing its cultural background, his methods of studying the tribes and the fundamental legal concepts he applied in the study of primitive law. His subjects are the Eskimo, the iFugao, the Comanche/Kiowa/Cheyenne, the Trobriand Islanders and the Ashanti. I knew what I was in for with this treatise when it took Hoebel eleven pages to define law as A social norm is legal if its neglect or infraction is regularly met, in threat or in fact, by the application of physical force by an individual or group possessing the socially recognized privilege of so acting.

Hoebel develops his study via a discussion of each society. As you red my notes, remember that the book was written in 1936.

* Eskimos lived in groups of about one hundred, which not surprisingly is also the group size paleo-anthropologists speculate that Homo erectus lived. It is considered the right size community for intimate face-to-face interactions, allows for a high degree of uniformity of their culture and language
* They believe in the supernatural, though admit they don't understand it and are content to not understand it
* They have nine postulates that underlie their society, beliefs such as
o life is hard and the margin of safety small
o all natural resources are free or common goods
o unproductive members of society cannot be supported
* Apprehension of unpredictable misfortune drives Eskimos to believe they are caused by spirits
* Magic and religion rather than law direct most of their actions
* Much of Eskimo law is communicated by Hoebel via examples. For example, an irritable foster-father declared to his adopted son that he wished the boy were dead. That the boy was not worth the food he ate. The youth declared he would never eat again. That night he went out naked into the snow, lay down and froze to deat
* The IFugao have a similar set of postulates, including
o the bilateral kinship group is the primary social and legal unit, consisting of the dead, the living and the yet-unborn
o an individual's responsibility to his kinship group takes precedence over any self-interest
o the kinship group shall control all basic capital goods and provide protection for its members and punish outside aggression against them
o Capital goods may be lent at interest
o A debt never dies
o Rice is the one good food

By the time I finished reading the legal details of five tribes, their rationale, their unwritten rules, their easy mix of objective and subjective, I had a nascent understanding of how our earliest ancestors might have determined their laws and why. It amazes me how much time and effort Hoebel put into this research, into synthesizing the details, into sifting through the disparate threads of their culture to come to his conclusions. That thought process is arguably as fascinating as his conclusions. On balance, I recommend this book to anyone with a curiosity about our roots and how we've ended up where we are today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A very worthwhile read
I thoroughly enjoyed this account of American middle class culture between 1830-1870. Well-researched, well written, and fun to read, I thought it was a great lesson in American civilization, and I also appreciated all of the references to popular culture during that time. The author begins the book with an arresting premise and follows through beautifully. A must read for anyone interested in broadening their base of historical knowledge.

Vicky Oliver
Author, Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers & Other Office Idiots

A Great 19th Century U.S. Social History
In Confidence Men and Painted Women, USC historian Karen Halttunen examines the social norms of middle class Americans from the years 1830-1870.She shows that for much of the nineteenth century, Americans viewed hypocrisy as a direct threat to the democratic process.They considered insincerity a "symbolic expression of moral and political decay in America."The possibility of upward or downward social mobility prompted this identity crisis for many middle class Americans.In their desire to appear sincere, urban Americans looked to identify themselves in opposition to confidence men and painted women.Confidence men were familiar figures in 19th century literature; these outwardly friendly men often corrupted young city newcomers.Painted women resided in parlor rooms; their use of makeup disguised the proof of insincere lifestyle.Both figures represented insincerity in domestic and social spheres. There was a fine line between proper attire and the insincere looks of fashion.

Both men and women strove for sincerity in their appearance.In doing so, there arose an inherent contradiction to the ideals of 19th century behavior manuals: namely, that by focusing on the correct attire and etiquette to appear sincere renders the participant insincere.The rest of Halttunen's book looks at society's recognition of this contradiction, the practice of sincere outward appearances in parlor rooms, on the street, and even at funerals.She concludes that ultimately public appearance reconciled with personal insincerity.In short, by the Gilded Age, Americans had not only made peace with the division between ostensible outward appearance and supposed internal sincerity, but had learned to accept this contradiction as a social norm.

Confidence Men and Painted Women: A Study of Middle-class Culture in America, 1830-1870
I haven't gotten finished with this book yet because I bought it for a college English class that hasn't started yet.I was trying to get a head start on it all.The book arrived in great condition and quickly, and so far, seems to be a pretty good read.

Must Read For Those Studying 19th Century America
Author Karen Halttunen does an excellent job in her study of 19th Century Middle Class Culture in America. CONFIDENCE MEN AND PAINTED WOMEN is a must for both scholars and living historians alike. Halttunen's work vividly details the social and cultural development of 19th Century Middle Class America, their etiquette, values and mores. Taken from etiquette books, manuals and magazines of the era, Halttunen's study covers the sentimental culture of fashion, etiquette, hypocrisy of the time and even mourning the dead. She focuses on the time period of 1830-1870. Halttunen has really done her homework on this topic, and she gives new insight to a bygone era. ... Read more

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Domestic violence in gay male relationships is the third largest health problem for gay men in America today. Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them breaks the silence surrounding gay male domestic violence and exposes this hidden yet prevalent and destructive problem. The authors paint a vivid picture of gay men’s domestic violence, bringing its brutality to life by including personal narratives, written by one of the authors, by clearly defining what it is and what it is not through lists of violent acts and criminal code categories, and by thoroughly examining and analyzing the criminal, mental health, medical, political, and interpersonal issues involved. The authors boldly depart from the battered women’s literature by asserting that batterers have a diagnosable mental disorder, that battering is not gender based, and that much further criminalization of domestic violence is necessary.

Striving for victim advocacy, the book underscores the idea that gay men’s domestic violence is totally unacceptable and is caused solely by individual abusive gay men who choose to batter. The book builds on and departs from what is known about domestic violence, with the authors challenging several fundamental premises in the literature, unabashedly identifying battering as a mental disorder. The authors explain that victims cannot stop their battering partners from battering and virtually all batterers choose to harm their partners in a premeditated fashion.

The authors provide practical steps and suggestions for victims who want to leave and stay away from their violent partners and for friends who want to help battered gay men. Chapters describe the scope of the problem and refute myths and misconceptions. There are several detailed theory chapters in which the authors explain why gay men’s domestic violence occurs, who the batterers are, who the victims are at different stages of victimization, and how domestic violence can be stopped. A visionary, wide-ranging governmental and private plan of action is introduced, including lists of necessary laws and policies, as well as outlines of strong education, training, and advertising problems needed in various sectors of society. As a self-help book, Men Who Beat the Men Who Love Them provides practical information on a never-before discussed topic. As a trainer’s manual or teaching guide, it includes specific criteria for understanding the problem and for providing treatment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

an excellent resource
this book, although dated, is an excellent resource that discusses an issue in the gay community that is just short of being ignored.while domestic violence in lesbian relationships and heterosexual relationships are discussed, researched, and written about to great lengths, violence in gay men's relationships is still a taboo subject.

this book was vital in my own personal healing after leaving an abusive relationship and is a cornerstone for my current research for my master's thesis on transformative learning theory and glbt victims of domestic violence.i would highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious on the subject and would recommend it as a MUST READ for any victim who is either in the middle of their violent relationship, fighting against it, healing from it, or healed.

i look forward to the day i can add to the small (but growing) number of books and research on this vitally important topic to the gay community.

Great Book - Very insightful
The reviewer from Western Australia has either not read the book or has just scanned it.The authors do not link domestic violence with mental illness on the perpetrators side, encouraging the perpetrator not to accept responsibility. In fact, they state exactly the opposite, that assault and battering is a choice batterers make, and the authors repeat this over and over, almost in every page. In addition, the authors do concentrate on the power and control issues, as main motivators for the violence. You have to admit, however, that there is nothing 'sane' about someone hitting their spouses. In fact, this is criminal behavior.
The reviewer from Western Australia makes a statement that this book reminds you issues from the '60's. This is innacurate.In the '60's there was very little, if any, mention of domestic violence both in the psychological community/trade papers and in the penal code. This book was written in the early '90's, and most research quoted is from a few years before that. In addition, the issues of social/financial control and sexual agression are reviewed and properly addressed in the appropriate context of one opressor and one victim.
The book descriptions of the whole dynamics and overall process are very accurate, and, as an ex-battered domestic violence survivor I wish I had the chance to read this book when it was hapening to me, and not after.This book gives specific actions a victim should take in order to get away from a perpetrator and very insightfully explains why some people stay in unhealthy relationships and decide that they can best cope with an agressor more by staying in the relationship than by leaving, as many of us do.
Lastly, this book helps you in identifying prospective batterers in new people you may be dating, with specific red flags to look for.
If you are reading this, you are probably a victim, batterers do not seek help unless the courts orders it, and they are not interested in reading about this because they think they are right in hurting you (and that it is their right to do so). You have to take action now, dont wait until you are hit again because, as the authors rightfully say, it will happen again, regardless of you making up or your wishful thinking or the amount of time that passed since you were last battered. This book will tell you how to get out and stay out.

Disappointing book
When I first found out about this book, I wanted to read it - but found myself very disappointed.It does seems to have been written in isolation and does not reflect much of the current literature and ideas around domestic violence.

The author seems to want to link the presence of domestic violence, with mental illness or other type of 'sickness' within the perpetrator.I find this model unhelpful, as it tends to encourage the perpetrator not to accept that he is responsible for his actions, and therefore discourages his need to take responsibility and change.I believe that this philosophy is `old fashioned' and the debates around domestic violence have become much more sophisticated and complex since the 1960's.

It also concentrates more on physical assault and ignores the wider aspects of power and control - ie social, financial control, sexual assault etc.I found that his understanding of domestic violence was limited and naive.

It's one positive aspect is the fact that it `names' domestic violence in gay male relationships.Many authors are writing about violence in straight relationships, and there are a few who write about violence in lesbian relationships, however the existence of DV in gay male relationships is still in the closet.The presence of this book helps to change that.

Overall, I do not find this book to be very helpful for gay men in relationships where domestic violence is a feature. ... Read more

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