Customer Reviews

Men's Lives

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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Shortly after the book was published I picked it up and read it while floating in my sister's pool. It was a summertime read.

The true story in this book is the story behind the culture of manhood as expressed through numerous anecdotes typically experience in a difficult (and dying) industry-commercial fishing. I read this book during a changing and growing period of my own life, and the story oftentimes lead to tears for me.

Having spent some of my young adulthood as a commercial fisherman I truly identified with the scenes that Matthiessen eloquently paints with his words.

Masculinity comes with a rather ambiguous set of expectations. Matthiessen reveals them without label, gently, even in the midst of anxiety felt by the characters in his book.

If you love the sea, if you want to understand manhood better, if you just need to float away into the surf of Long Island, read this book, but read it slowly. I think you'll find that much of what is written will find a place in your soul, whether you are man or woman.

Is basically a "diary-like" description of the fishing life on the southeast coast of Long Island from old times through today. Would be better and easier to follow if the book had maps and some diagrams (or photos) so that the reader gets a better idea of the techniques and equipment which are discussed at length in the book. Also, there really is no "story"....it is more like a disjointed personal journal, so its not as compelling reading as it might otherwise have been.

An excellent dialogue about our culture's strict and rigid rules for masculinity. This book dispells some common misconceptions about the lack of sensitivity in men and provides feminist ideals that men can achieve. Kimmel and Messner's book gives a look not only into the lives of white heterosexual males, but males of all ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds with differing sexualities. This is a much needed critical review of men and their role in society. I highly reccomend this book to anyone and everyone. Everyone can benefit from a look into the psyche of the american man.