Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection
“We need this book! . . . Adams and Frauenheim show that we need to develop a more expansive conception of what it means to be a man.” —Cary Cherniss, PhD, coauthor of Leading with Feeling

In a recent FiveThirtyEight poll, sixty percent of men surveyed said society puts pressure on men to behave in a way that is unhealthy or bad. Men account for eighty percent of suicides in the United States, and three in ten American men have suffered from depression. Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim say a big part of the problem is a model of masculinity that’s become outmoded and even dangerous, to both men and women.

The conventional notion of what it means to be a man—what Adams and Frauenheim call “Confined Masculinity” —traps men in an emotional straitjacket; steers them toward selfishness, misogyny, and violence; and severely limits their possibilities. As an antidote, they propose a new paradigm: Liberating Masculinity. It builds on traditional masculine roles like the protector and provider, expanding men’s options to include caring, collaboration, emotional expressivity, an inclusive spirit, and environmental stewardship.

Through hopeful stories of men who have freed themselves from the strictures of Confined Masculinity, interviews with both leaders and everyday men, and practical exercises, this book shows the power of a masculinity defined by what the authors call the five C’s: curiosity, courage, compassion, connection, and commitment. Men will discover a way of being that fosters healthy, harmonious relationships at home, at work, and in the world.

“A wonderful book for thinking about how to release ourselves from crippling processes.” —Paul Gilbert, PhD, author of The Compassionate Mind
1136156143
Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection
“We need this book! . . . Adams and Frauenheim show that we need to develop a more expansive conception of what it means to be a man.” —Cary Cherniss, PhD, coauthor of Leading with Feeling

In a recent FiveThirtyEight poll, sixty percent of men surveyed said society puts pressure on men to behave in a way that is unhealthy or bad. Men account for eighty percent of suicides in the United States, and three in ten American men have suffered from depression. Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim say a big part of the problem is a model of masculinity that’s become outmoded and even dangerous, to both men and women.

The conventional notion of what it means to be a man—what Adams and Frauenheim call “Confined Masculinity” —traps men in an emotional straitjacket; steers them toward selfishness, misogyny, and violence; and severely limits their possibilities. As an antidote, they propose a new paradigm: Liberating Masculinity. It builds on traditional masculine roles like the protector and provider, expanding men’s options to include caring, collaboration, emotional expressivity, an inclusive spirit, and environmental stewardship.

Through hopeful stories of men who have freed themselves from the strictures of Confined Masculinity, interviews with both leaders and everyday men, and practical exercises, this book shows the power of a masculinity defined by what the authors call the five C’s: curiosity, courage, compassion, connection, and commitment. Men will discover a way of being that fosters healthy, harmonious relationships at home, at work, and in the world.

“A wonderful book for thinking about how to release ourselves from crippling processes.” —Paul Gilbert, PhD, author of The Compassionate Mind
17.95 In Stock
Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection

Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection

Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection

Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection

Paperback

$17.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

“We need this book! . . . Adams and Frauenheim show that we need to develop a more expansive conception of what it means to be a man.” —Cary Cherniss, PhD, coauthor of Leading with Feeling

In a recent FiveThirtyEight poll, sixty percent of men surveyed said society puts pressure on men to behave in a way that is unhealthy or bad. Men account for eighty percent of suicides in the United States, and three in ten American men have suffered from depression. Ed Adams and Ed Frauenheim say a big part of the problem is a model of masculinity that’s become outmoded and even dangerous, to both men and women.

The conventional notion of what it means to be a man—what Adams and Frauenheim call “Confined Masculinity” —traps men in an emotional straitjacket; steers them toward selfishness, misogyny, and violence; and severely limits their possibilities. As an antidote, they propose a new paradigm: Liberating Masculinity. It builds on traditional masculine roles like the protector and provider, expanding men’s options to include caring, collaboration, emotional expressivity, an inclusive spirit, and environmental stewardship.

Through hopeful stories of men who have freed themselves from the strictures of Confined Masculinity, interviews with both leaders and everyday men, and practical exercises, this book shows the power of a masculinity defined by what the authors call the five C’s: curiosity, courage, compassion, connection, and commitment. Men will discover a way of being that fosters healthy, harmonious relationships at home, at work, and in the world.

“A wonderful book for thinking about how to release ourselves from crippling processes.” —Paul Gilbert, PhD, author of The Compassionate Mind

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781523088966
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication date: 10/13/2020
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Edward M. Adams, PsyD, has been a psychologist in private practice for over thirty years. He founded the nonprofit organization Men Mentoring Men and has facilitated over one thousand men's meetings, workshops, and retreats. As president of the American Psychological Association's Division 51, Adams helped usher in the landmark "APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men" in 2018.

Ed Frauenheim is senior director of content at Great Place to Work—the research organization behind Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. He has written or cowritten articles for Fortune, Inc., and Wired and is the coauthor of three books.

Table of Contents

Foreword Paul Gilbert ix

Preface xiii

Introduction: Reinventing Masculinity 1

1 Outdated and Unhealthy: Confined Masculinity 23

2 The Way Forward: Liberating Masculinity 45

3 How to Reinvent Your Masculinity: The Five Cs 69

4 The Liberating Power of Compassion 93

5 The Liberating Power of Connection 113

6 Reinventing Masculinity at Work 131

7 Honoring the Soul of Men 155

Conclusion: It's Time to Reinvent Masculinity 169

Notes 177

Resources 189

Discussion Guide 189

Reinventing Masculinity Self-Assessment 191

Places to Connect, Things to Do, Resources to Explore 192

Acknowledgments 199

Index 205

About the Authors 211

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews