Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #170828 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Harvard government professor Mansfield delves into philosophy, literature and science to define manliness and to argue that it should have a place in an increasingly non-gender-specific society. Throughout, Mansfield clearly states his intentions, and though he may have convinced himself he accomplished his goals, readers will be skeptical; when, for example, he sets out to "elevate manliness from aggression to assertion and thereby discover its connection to politics," he jumps from Hemingway to Achilles before posing a question that has little more than a thin patina of importance: "In our time there are many who say that heroes lack humanity and few who will admit that humanity needs heroes. But at all times heroes have to assert themselves. The question is, what is in it for us?" Similar murky questions and non-sequitur lines of logic continue throughout: "Man has fearsome powers of wisdom and fire over beasts. All beasts fear fire, which perhaps represents the Promethean gift of technology." This clunky chain of supposition is followed by a brief foray into The Jungle Book. But Mansfield's theories on gender equality are likely to create the most conversation: "women are the weaker sex," "women's bodies are made to attract and to please men" and "now that women are equal, they should be able to accept being told that they aren't, quite" all appear on the same page. Mansfield set out to write a provocative book, but ended up penning a juvenile screed.
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Review
"Mansfield argues that manliness—in its combination of stubbornness and rationality—provides a ground for political life. His work is a thoughtful attempt to move us to think more clearly about who we are, and about the future of our liberal society."—Mary Nichols, Baylor University

(Mary Nichols )

"Annoying at times (often!), but never uninteresting, this book has much of importance to say."—Arlene Saxonhouse, University of Michigan
 

(Arlene Saxonhouse )

"A work of thought as well as a provocation, Manliness deserves to be widely read, argued over, and pondered."— David Bromwich, Yale University

(David Bromwich )

“It’s a subtle exploration about the virtues and vices of the thymotic urge."—Frank Rich, New York Times 
 

(Frank Rich 4. New York Times )

“Mansfield’s defense of what, politically, has become indefensible by anyone wanting to keep his reputation intact is most welcome.”—Theodore Dalrymple, American Enterprise

(Theodore Dalrymple American Enterprise )

“Mansfield argues that efforts in Western society to equalize the status of men and women are doomed to failure.”—Kevin Horrigan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch


(Kevin Horrigan St. Louis Post-Dispatch )

"[This] new book entitled simply Manliness amounts to a spirited defense of the male psychology."—Joseph R. Phelan, Washington Times


(Joseph R. Phelan Washington Times )

“Amusing, refreshing, and outrageous observations. . . . Many readers will be grateful to him for his candor and bravado.”—Christina Hoff Somers, Weekly Standard
(Christina Hoff Somers Weekly Standard )

About the Author
Harvey C. Mansfield is William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of Government, Harvard University.

Customer Reviews

Great thesis but unreadable
Professor Mansfield's thesis -- that manliness is a crucial and sorely neglected virtue -- is a great one. Don't expect a ringing defense in this book, however. His prose, regrettably, is so mincingly nuanced as to be practically unreadable, and is often laced with postmodern academese. I made it through one chapter before putting my copy up for sale and renewing my search for a full-throated treatment of the topic.

Real Men Don't Need To Read A Book For 'Real Men'...
Only the very insecure would wish to read this book as those secure in themselves don't need to real who to be a 'real man' and with this, why men are 'superior' to women. Isn't this topic so tired, so worn out, only the pathetic would bother? The author has nothing new to add and worse, nothing of insight. The writing swings from topic to topic with nothing to form an accurate connection. The book is unreadable in many places, or, so irksome, so tiresome, there is little point in what amounts to nothing more than one man's tirade which, alas, does nothing for real men.

Finally ...
A book myself and my 30-something well-educated female friends can understand and relate to. Reason is, we are still single, living in Boston and wondering "Where are the men?" We grew up about 50 miles outside of Boston. Our fathers were blue-collar men who worked hard, valued the American dream, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. A construction worker, lineman and mechanic. Big, brawny men who mowed the lawn, fixed the roof, fixed our bicycles, smoked a cigar, drank alcohol, chopped wood for the woodstove during the energy crisis, and valued a good pair of work boots that sat out on our porches because they were usually too dirty to come in the house. Us girls moved to Boston to broaden our horizons, yet realizing there are no cowboys here. I agree, men are confused. But we'd love to see a "Return of the Man." Thank you Mr. Mansfield. From a Simmons College grad...