Iron John - 25th Edition by Robert Bly (Paperback)

About the Book

"Bly's [book] is based on his ongoing work with men, as well as on reflections on his own life. He addresses the devastating effects of remote fathers and mourns the disappearance of male initiation rites in our culture. Finding rich meaning in ancient stories and legends, Bly uses the Grimm fairy tale 'Iron John'--in which a mentor or 'Wild Man' guides a young man through eight stages of male growth--to remind us of ways of knowing long forgotten, images of deep and vigorous masculinity centered in feeling and protective of the young"--

Book Synopsis

This bestseller is a new vision of what a man is or could be, drawing on psychology, anthropology, mythology, folklore and legend.

"Important. Timely and powerful." --New York Times

Robert Bly writes that it is clear to men that the images of adult manhood given by popular culture are worn out--men can no longer depend on them. In Iron John, Robert Bly looks at the importance of the Wild Man (reminiscent of the Wild Woman in Women Who Run With the Wolves), who he compares to a Zen priest, a shaman or a woodman. He explores the idea of the missing father in contemporary society.

Iron John draws upon a cornucopia of legend and literature--as varied as the poetry of William Blake, Jungian psychology, and Sioux initiation rituals--to encourage men in their pursuit of the "inner warrior."

Review Quotes

"Combining erudition with enthusiasm...Bly conducts a fascinating examination of myth, literature, psychology, and anthropology....As thought-provoking an exploration of men and masculinity as any in recent years."--Newsday

"Important...timely...powerful."--The New York Times

About the Author

Robert Bly was a poet, author, translator, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic men's movement. Bly received many awards, including the National Book Award, for his poetry; in 2013, he was awarded the Poetry Society of America's Robert Frost Medal, a lifetime achievement award. robertbly.com