The end of Manhood [Paperback]

John Stoltenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

This breakthrough book from the author of Refusing to Be a Man offers a daring alternative to the cult of masculinity. Stoltenberg explains why men so often act as if they were split in two--like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde--and provides a realistic prescription for gender justice, showing exactly how men can put this wisdom to work in every aspect of their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author of Refusing to Be a Man dispels the myth of manhood in this analysis of modern-day notions of masculinity.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A mixed bag of essays, fables, musings, and skits in which a radical feminist plays havoc with the concept of manhood. In this follow-up to Refusing To Be a Man (1989--not reviewed), Stoltenberg, a founder of Men Against Pornography, turns from public policy to interpersonal issues. His theme here is contained in the epigraph: ``The core of one's being must love justice more than manhood.'' The notion of manhood itself, says Stoltenberg, is a sham, a trap--and those who would redeem it or remythologize it are kidding themselves, for manhood is a mask, incompatible with truly human selfhood. So much for beating drums with male companions in the woods. Each of Stoltenberg's 23 brief chapters poses a question--usually an anxiety-laden one (``What If My Father Didn't Love Me?''; ``How Can I Be Anybody If I'm Not a Real Man?'') that may or may not be answered here. The text takes many forms and varies from philosophical, even scholarly, analysis to tongue-in-cheek humor. Homophobia, pornography, and the treating of women as sexual objects are scrutinized and lampooned. ``Coach `Irony' John'' gives advice to sexual athletes; ``Mister Mann'' offers a guide to proper etiquette in male bonding; and the ``Ancient Armorer'' versifies on the link between manhood and warfare. In a final sendup, all three testify at the ``National Commission on Manhood Hearings.'' Stoltenberg's humor can be heavy-handed and often crude, perhaps because his anger is so strong, but it gets his message across. Less persuasive are his personal revelations (of his homosexuality, for instance). A harsh critique of masculinity ostensibly written for men but likely to find its warmest reception among women. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Plume (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452273048
• ISBN-13: 978-0452273047
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,276,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, thoughtful advice from a man who cares about other men, August 18, 2010

By 

feministman - See all my reviews

This review is from: The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience (Hardcover)

I throughly disagree with the female reviewer who posted what has, heretofore, been the only review on Amazon of this book.

I'm the Executive Director of the Mariposa Men's Wellness Institute, a nonprofit focused on education and promotion of men's emotional wellness and I can say, unequivocally, that John Stoltenberg's book is one of the 'bibles' of not only my own view of men's wellness, but that of many of my colleagues. Far from trashing men or engaging in muddled thinking, this book lays out, in clear, concise, and thoughtful language, the ways in which "men of conscience" can move beyond the violent, hurtful, and emotionally dysfunctional modeling of American culture to a more emotionally nurturant, socially aware, feminist view of the world. John Stoltenberg has, like many males, been exposed to images of maleness that are hurtful to themselves, other males, their significant partners, women, children, and the world at large, and he exposes those messages in a manner that makes clear that, not only are they not in the interests of much of anybody, but continuing to indulge in them will only bring further destruction to our culture and our planet. He lays out, in a very utilitarian manner, the steps males can take move beyond "I'm the guy and therefore whatever I say goes" [which is a distinction outgrowth of traditional patriarchal culture] to engage in what he terms "loving justice".

John Stoltenberg is not talking about the 'end of men', he arguing for the end of the classic patriarchal imagery of manhood that serves the interests of no one. I can't recommend this book highly enough. All men who care about the value of being a social responsible man and all women who care about engaging in positive, feminist professional and/or intimate relations with such men, should read this book.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars REGRETTABLE ASPECTS OF THE 'MASCULINE' PERSONALITY, September 30, 2010

By 

James L. Park "James Leonard Park" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience (Hardcover)

John Stoltenberg
The End of Manhood:
A Book for Men of Conscience

(New York: Dutton, 1993) 311 pages

Stoltenberg criticizes the regrettable aspects of the conventional
'masculine' personality, such as being macho, violent, tough, insensitive.
He believes that these are false images put upon men.
And if they will tune-in to their 'true selves',
something wonderful will emerge.
The book is repetitious, abstract, & superficial,
but it might be a place for some men to begin.

If you would like to discover better books on this subject,
search the Internet for the following bibliography:
"Best Books on Gender-Personality".

James Leonard Park, creator of the Gender-Pattern Chart.

5 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Muddled thinking, crass, inelegant style, July 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience (Hardcover)

Reviewed by a woman. I struggled through the first thirty pages, but could not get through the bad writing. He distorts the concept of manhood assuming it to be the most negative and degenerate form of masculinity, and then goes ahead to "deconstruct" it. Man-haters will love it, men searching for the meaning of manhood will waste their time with it.