Customer Reviews

Beyond the Hero: Classic Stories of Men in Search of Soul

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,This book is pivitol. It has helped me and many people to whom I have recommended this book gain some deeper under- standing of many of the commonalities of manhood across time and cultures. It helps to make sense of our part in the human experience and suggests to us that many of our experiences (expecially of those regarding men's experience in midlife) are universal. This is not a self help book that purports to give the answers to cure all of mens' problems, rather an insightful look into the commonalities of mens' experiences throughout nearly every culture.

If you found Campbell's "The Hero's Journey" compelling or even "mind-blowing" (as I did when I stumbled upon it as a young man); if Robert Bly's "Iron John" and the other works of the "men's movement" (Michael Meade, Sam Keen, James Hillman) have illuminated your own journey in some way; and if you are 45 or older...this is a must-read.

There are many phases in a man's life. Initiation into the Hero or Warrior role is necessary (Campbell). Chinen's book makes the case for an initiation into the Mature Male role--a ritual which he says is common in many traditional societies. He uses myths and stories and personal anecdotes to illustrate.

And humor! Because, let's face it, middle-aged guys are funny--particularly when they are still trying to be Warriors.

Or maybe not so funny, if you think about political/military/cultural "leaders" -- middle-aged men who have not made the conscious transition and who are still trying to be Warriors -- and the damage they can wreak.... Can you say "Dick Chaney?" .... But that's another story. Don't let my politics keep you away from a good read.

If you like Carl Jung or Joseph Campbell you will also like this book, especially in that it is much less dense and esoteric. Dr. Chinen takes a Jungian approach to middle age. Probably, I would have not been able to relate to this book very much if I had read it as a younger man. It talks at length about steps men can take to meet the crisis of middle age which include (along the Jungian concept of "archetypes"), getting in touch with one's "feminine side". Make no mistake, Chinene is not calling for a "wimpification" of men, he rather sees the feminine archetype as a step into getting more in touch with the "Trickster", a "deep masculine" archtype. I think the book holds a great deal of wisdom for the middle aged male in crisis. The author uses a variety of fairy tales to illustrate his points.

Though the book gets a little redundant about 2/3rds of the way through; it picks up in the final 1/4.

Of all schools of psychology, Jungian psychology can be viewed as a little "far out". Dr. Chinen, however, explains things in a manner that makes some sense for the modern age.

Dr. Chinen uses carefully chosen tales to demonstrate his theses in a helpful manner for modern people. His "Once Upon a Midlife" takes off where this book ends, more or less. Recently, I purchased a further exposition entitled, "In the Ever After" in which Dr. Chinen continues his journey through human development. The two I've read were highly enjoyable and most rewarding. They're gems. Hope he writes lots more!

This is a wonderful deeper exploration into the fascinating ideas offered in Chinen's "Once Upon A Midlife," which identified the patterns in folktales written about characters in the second third of life. While I really enjoyed that book, I had wanted more explanation after finishing it. Focusing on the developmental issues that men are struggling with really made sense, since men and women traditionally do have different trajectories and different sides of their personalities in need of development as they reach midlife. I can't wait to read "Waking the World" which focuses on the patterns in folktales about women in midlife!