Iron John

'This book needs to be read’ – Guardian

‘A fascinating examination of myth, literature, psychology and anthropology... As thought-provoking an exploration of men and masculinity as any in recent years.' – Newsday

‘Brilliantly eclectic… Invaluable’ – Deborah Tannen, Washington Post

‘Timely and powerful’ – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, New York Times

What does it mean to be a man?

In his bestselling classic Iron John, Robert Bly writes that the images of adult manhood offered by popular culture are worn out, and that men can no longer depend on them. Instead, he searches for a new vision of what a man is – and what he could be.

Taking the Brothers Grimm fairy tale 'Iron John' as his starting point, Bly draws on psychology, anthropology, mythology, folklore, religion and poetry to explore male identity and the journey from boyhood to maturity.

At the heart of the book is the mythical figure of the Wild Man. Through this ancient archetype, Bly considers the instinctive and emotional dimensions of masculinity and what modern men may have lost touch with.

Exploring fatherhood and the bonds between fathers and sons, mentorship, men's relationships with the feminine and with emotional wounds, Bly considers what can happen when boys grow up without close relationships with older male figures. He examines how confronting wounds, limitations and the darker aspects of the self can help men develop a more mature and integrated identity.

Ultimately, Iron John asks how men can reconnect with instinct, purpose and emotional depth without returning to outdated ideas of masculinity.

An international bestseller and enduring classic, Iron John is a provocative and thought-provoking exploration of men, masculinity and the journey to adulthood in contemporary society.