Customer Reviews

The Way of the Wild Heart

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mark Twain once said, "Most men die at 27, we just bury them at 72." John Eldredge is a master at explaining this puzzling quote from Mark Twain with his newest book, The Way of the Wild Heart.

Eldredge says that in our technologically advanced/post-industrial revolution world, we have "Unfinished" or "Uninitiated" men. By this he means that we men can get spiritually stuck in an earlier stage of our development, even though we continue to mature physically. There are six stages of masculine maturity according to Eldredge, ranging from Boyhood, Cowboy/Ranger, Warrior, Lover, King, and the Sage. As a man grows, he can get wounded at one of the earlier stages, and never grow out of it, so he never fully realizes his God-given potential.

Fans of Wild at Heart will draw strength from each page, and it will be hard for a man to put this book down. Eldredge has not only grown as an author in my opinion, but this book is backed up with solid scripture that drives home his points.

This is a book that I will go back to again and again as I raise my son and have influence over those in the next generation. This is a must-read for any man, and especially those working with men.

It's time for all men to follow the Way of the Wild Heart, and raise our sons to do the same.

Our world will forever be grateful.

Having read the first half of the book, I was starting to think it was more of an in-depth work book of 'Wild at Heart'. But then I started learning new things that made the whole book worth while reading.

It only takes one paragraph from a book like this to help a man bring parts of his life into perspective that he has been struggling with. 'Wild at Heart' did this for me and now 'The Way of the Wild Heart' has also enlightened me on certain subjects that I was not getting answers on from elsewhere.

Thank-you John Eldredge for stepping out and publishing a very personal book like this. I know your books have touched many a man's heart, and have also shown them what it takes to raise their son's to become men of God.

I would urge you to overlook the negative reviews of this book. I really don't think the negative reviewers understand what the author is trying to get across. This book is not the definite guide book to being a man, nor does the author want you to feel that way. Even though he heavily explores an important aspect of being a man, he does not leave out the other ones. In fact he does a good job of covering all the different aspects that the negative reviewers are saying he rejects!

The readers are not only shown how to implement what is shown in this book into their lives, but into their sons lives.

I would encourage all men, religious or non-religious, fathers or not, to read this book.

I've read Eldredge's first book, Wild at Heart, and believe he has as good of a work here if not better. Wild at Heart is a pre-requisite to gain the most benefit from this volume. Even without having read the first title however, Eldredge here will resonate with many Christian male readers.

I simply don't understand how other reviewers can say this book is shallow on its Biblical content -- I don't believe I have seen a better analogy to the life of David in any other work. The masculine journey, according to Eldredge, begins first at boyhood, then progresses to the cowboy, then warrior, lover, king and finally sage. While the author doesn't bluntly offer chapter and verse for the ideas he shares, anyone familiar with the life of David can see clearly the parallels.

I recommend this book to all Christian men. Grandfathers, fathers, and sons alike will all find something here to inspire to walk closer to God and to develop much-needed relationships with other Christian men. This title is well-worth the price.

I've been going through an intensive Dark Night of the Soul, with God digging down into my heart to dredge up old wounds and expose them for healing through insight and/or submitting them to Him. Because this book is so clearly directed to men, I didn't expect to find much of use in it, but OH MY GOSH! It's THE best thing I've read during this very difficult time in my life! It is ministering directly to my deep father wounds and providing a bridge to wholeness - the words fairly leap off the page, directly into my heart. THANK you, John Eldredge.

I completely identify with the curse of having been left to myself in childhood to find my own way, teach myself, "raise" myself, learn it all on my own. And Eldredge expresses the pain of that so well in his book - the reviewer who criticized that aspect just DIDN'T GET IT. In fact, he didn't get the point in any of his criticisms. To find someone who identifies so well with how it feels to be "fatherless," is healing in itself. As a woman, "The Question" for me isn't supposed to be "Do I have what it takes?" but everything Eldredge says about feeling scared and alone and fearful of doing anything is so familiar to me. We do it anyway, I've even achieved a PhD in psychology, but with such self-doubt and pain along the way, devoid of a cheerleader. There's resentment that goes along with it, even when we feel guilty for feeling any kind of anger. And disbelief that God is really a loving Father - to ME. Huh? What does that even MEAN?? I have limped along in life and viewed with great envy and yearning the close, intimate, blissful relationships other friends have enjoyed with the heavenly Father, and just couldn't figure out how to get there myself. To know that I'm not alone is such a comfort.

To grow up fatherless and dubiously self-reliant turns us inward to greater and greater self-focus, and self-focus destroys the ability to come to God - the vulnerabilty we need in His presence, the transparency, the innocence, the security we should feel, and most of all, the TRUST. I've longed for decades to find a way to replace my natural, tremendously flawed, father image with relationship and closeness with my REAL Father, and so I'm unimagineably grateful for this bridge going in that direction!

This book is a continuation of the topics covered in the book Wild at Heart and has good expansion and further development of the themes. Eldridge's basic premise is that there are 6 stages of the full masculine journey in life. That of the boy, cowboy/ranger, warrior, lover, king, and sage. In each stage the boy/man walks through crucial elements in his development as a man.

The boy stage is when he is young and enjoying doing boy stuff like playing outside, exploring, climbing trees, basically having fun and being delighted in by his parents and family.

The cowboy/ranger stage is when the boy moves more into the young manhood stage where he goes out exploring on his on and begins learning the things of the masculine world such as how to fix a car, working with power tools, going on backpacking journeys in the woods either alone or with some of his friends. This could also include such adventures as backpacking across Europe. The main part of this stage is his learning the answer to the question "do I have what it takes/can I handle this?"

The warrior stage is when the man is beginning his quest and mission in life which may include beginning a career such as a teacher, lawyer, doctor, consultant, mechanic, salesman, or becoming a missionary overseas. This is the stage in which he is finding his cause to fight for and the things that are important to him and what he will work towards during his life.

The lover stage sometimes crosses over with the warrior stage. This is when the man is learning to appreciate beauty and how to love. It is not necessarily when he pursues a woman and learns to love in that sense but can also include the awakening to the beautiful things in life such as nature, art, and music. Full development in this stage will include learning to love and be loved by God in an intimate way. Something Eldridge said which makes sense is that it is best for the man to have established himself as a warrior before entering this stage. Many women can be frustrated with the men they marry who don't seem to have a sense of purpose to their lives and Eldridge indicates that it is best for the man to come to the woman from a state of strength and having journeyed through at least parts of the warrior stage.

The king stage is when the man becomes responsible for leading others. This might include being the head of his household, becoming a manager at work, or a coach of a team. During this stage, warriors may be working for the king.

The final stage is that of the sage. This occurs when a man steps down as a king but does not fade into the distance. He will commonly be an adviser to kings and provide the wisdom that comes only through years of living through the various stages. Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings trilogy would fit this category.

During each of the stages, the man will likely experience parts of all the stages but will generally be centered upon one of them.

In reading this book, I suggest taking it slowly, not because it is difficult reading but so that you can really absorb and take in the topics discussed. I highly recommend this book as an excellent understanding of the development of a man and what makes a whole and complete man.

I think that the reviewers who give John's books poor ratings read it from the mind of logic or analysis, but forget that it truly IS from the heart that we come to know and experience God...for that IS where He abides in the heart of a Christian individual.

Nobody has "made" John the expert, and nobody has said he was...infact, if one reads into John's book, they will see that he does not proclaim himslef to be, but simply...he writes on what God has given him to experience and what he has observed. Life is the same way. Albeit, if one is truly experience a life totally and completely surrendered to Christ, then they have received God's Spirit--who gives us understanding, direction, and wisdom.

Thank you John, for allowing God to use you in your writing. Praise Yeshua HaMeshiac for His wonder love, passion, and even beauty that can be found in the heart of the redeemed man. Despite the critics, they truly have their own agendas or biases...because even they are diametrically oppossed to allowing God/Holy Spirit to examine and take them deep into their hearts.

I recommend this book to all!

My husband loves this book and shares some of the insights with me almost daily. Not everything may be relevant to every man, but every man will get something relevant out of the book. John Eldredge desires to help men know themselves better and live life the way they were designed to live it. He is a Christian, but any man will benefit from reading "Wild at Heart" and "The Way of the Wild Heart".

John Eldredge writes from the depths of his rich spiritual well to speak to the heart of men. Eldredge conveys meaningful insights about the stages he perceives men going through in healthy life transitions. He labels the stages as: "Beloved Son," "Cowboy," "Warrior," "King," and "Sage." These stages seemed right on for men. He writes about each one and follows the theme of the stages throughout the book.

Eldredge's writing appears more mature and refined with each new book he writes, as does his precision in targeting the experiences of men. This book offers myriad insights into the soul of men.

Eldredge continues his fascination with certain movies and books that speak to him about men and relates many tales of adventure in the great outdoors. In both cases, he succeeds in emphasizing the points he is trying to make using these tools and tales.

Some readers may weary of the emphasis on "manly" things like climbing mountains, guns, hunting, fishing, and blowing stuff up. I think Eldredge uses these to make good points but also has come to an understanding that not all men share these passions.

God has blessed Eldredge with a quiver of sons, and he shares his experiences with fatherhood. The lessons learned from him in this book make it valuable reading for parents of boys. I recommend it to mothers of boys because it will share with you ways to help your son be all the things God has designed him to become.

Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

As a father raising boys and a husband, I find these insights invaluable. I think for me the great takeaway is to give inspiration for, and to be more intentional with, fathering. I echo much of John's frustrations, confusions and desires for my life and how these may conflict with raising 'healthy' children. Here both healing is advised and encouragement offered. I so appreciate how he is allowing himself to be used by God to encourage fathers and husbands like me who are trying to juggle so many balls in life - without apparent immediate effectiveness.

John's anecdotal assessment of so much around us that is simply 'not working' is readily combined with descriptive (not prescriptive) solutions for working out our own salvation (restoration) and raising the next generation.

Under the reign and Lordship of Jesus I see someone who is daring to ask the questions and, even more daring, asking the Holy Spirit for the answers. Here is someone I am really looking forward to meeting when God's Kingdom is finally consummated.

John, though often accused of being another naked, drum banging, macho man, shows the full picture of manhood in this book. He shows us we have permission to be tender, sensitive, as well as the warrior, kingly, authoritive types other men's books often demonstrate.

Most non-Western societies, in addition to Jewish and some other more Western influenced societies, have initiation into manhood. We've lost that in the West, and we are hurting due to it. John gives a framework for initiating a boy, and for a male adult to recover the initiation he missed. I like that he gives it in a framework fashion, as each male is an individual. This is often missed by readers and listeners of Eldredge -- that he gives example and frameworks, not a prescription. Each dad reading this is given enough to frame an initiation that goes for his son's heart and points the son to the Father, while seeking from God what the dad missed.

And as always, John points to God for final say, not his own ego.