Iron John: A Book About Men

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!

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.

WOW Robert Bly what a treasure! and the story of Iron John has changed my life in away no modern day language could. If you lay awake wondering whats it all about well here's away to wonder some more this story is truly wonder-full I have the audio book too adds a whole new dimension to it. After all it's a story it's suppose to be told not read, that's because it was born before reading and writing. If this too leaves you wondering check out You tube.search Robert Bly and add Micheal Meade for bonus awe If you search well Robert has debridged other more well known but bastardised fairy tales and some not so. If your a parent of young children you may find Jack and the bean stork, an eye opener. And if you are often fleeced or fooled, then Male naivety and giving the Gold away is a must. But Iron John is the story of stories for me, paving male initiation and the right of passage to what men inherently seek. I have been talking with other men for over twenty five years in regards to Iron John and men's recovery of our masculinity and we are far wiser, peaceful and older than our natural years. So please don't waste time if you feel lost in the world today and can't find the words to express where you are and where you're going and honesty don't know, if you should or could or even would then follow us that have gone before you. Sam Keen once said there are only two questions in life! Where am I going? and who's going with me? Though it comes with a deadly warning never get them back to front !!! I wish you Pain, Growth and Joy a long your journey, you might need a canoe LOL warn regards PPP

This book came out when men's groups were everywhere. The myths and metaphors in this book are very powerful but you don't have to be a seasoned member of a men's group to understand it. You do, however, need to possess a working knowledge of psychology in order to grasp the meaning. If you are a man who comes from a seriously dysfunctional family, you will benefit greatly from this book. It explores the emotional geography of being a man and dealing with the complex feelings that come from even the slightest abuses. It is a bit heavy on myth, though. I had Louise Hay to guide me...I wish there were a male equivalent of her for men.

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.

One could argue a lot about the claims in this book. Does Robert over extend some of his claims about experience, myth, history, or any other number of premises and claims? To do that, however edifying it might seem at the time, is to miss the point of the work. Men are so lost that they don't even know that they are. Out of this, the world is just as lost. While women are finding their way (and Robert is excellent in respecting this) men-as-a-whole have lost theirs. Those that think they are preserving it are characturing manhood and those who think they transcend their gender are equally diservicing the world. Iron John is about identifying what makes a man manly in a way that is authentic to what the world needs of men and what we need from ourselves. One of the most important books on gender, ever, at a time that it is possibly need more than ever.

Bly recites poetry and makes references without really nailing down his points. When Bly does explain his meaning, it is gold. Someone needs to rewrite this book so that everyone can understand it. Iron John tells a vital story that preserves the western initiation rites of Becoming a Man. Developing boundaries, purpose in life and and other manly shit. Reading this book made me realize how these characteristics are neglected today. A poet would tear through this book. I struggled, but I got there, and I am glad I did. I had many realizations as I read Iron John, it helped me realize where I let people put me down in my life. It helped me realize that I may know my purpose/reason to live/passion in life by the desire to defend it. It helped me realize that if you don't feel free to be spontaneous, you are letting people trample over your boundaries and you are avoiding your purpose. Keep google handy as you read this book, you will need it If you are attracted to this book because you would like to ascend as a man, read King Warrior Magician Lover by Robert Moore. I read Iron John because Moore was inspired by Robert Bly. KWML is much more practical and better explained.

I bought this book have I read and immensely enjoyed Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes' book "Women Who Run With The Wolves". This book, Iron John, provides perspective into the historical roles that men have held in society and the journey that must naturally occur in life in order for a man to realize his true power. Today society has diluted strength and the masculine because it has been deemed uncivilized or uncouth. This is a detriment to my husband, father, and future sons. I bought this book for my husband after I enjoyed reading "Women Eho Run With The Wolves", and even I enjoy reading it and learning about the men in my family and the transitions that must occur organically for them to be truly happy.

Bly applies old wisdom about male self-actualization and his keen poetic sense to our modern (post-)feminist context. The book is as necessary now as it was when it was published twenty years ago. Everyone should read it, both men and women.

I’ve now read this twice. Contrary to what some reviewers say, this is about a poetic approach to self and nature, and not another group of mindless men in a drum circle. The book advocates discovery of something masculine and lost, but this involves tenderness, ferocity, courage, creativity. It is a book of being a warrior, which is not something achieved by any number of gun purchases. It is a book of initiation to a mythic view of our own lives.

Todo salió exactamente que esperaba. No hay nada de quejarse. Sin duda volvería comprar en este lugar. Recomiendo lo mucho.

I believe that this will strike the cords of every modern mans soul letting us all get in touch with every aspect we can feel missing in the suffocating structure of modern civilization.

A must read for every man. As simple as that.