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The Will to Change

Men, Masculinity, and Love

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The Will to Change

Written by: bell hooks, Ross Gay
Narrated by: Janina Edwards
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About this listen

From New York Times bestselling author, feminist pioneer, and cultural icon bell hooks, a timelessly necessary treatise on how patriarchy and toxic masculinity hurts us all.

Feminist writing did not tell us about the deep inner misery of men.

Everyone needs to love and be loved—including men. But to know love, men must be able to look at the ways in which patriarchal culture keeps them from understanding themselves. In The Will to Change, bell hooks provides a compassionate guide for men of all ages and identities to understand how to be in touch with their feelings, and how to express versus repress the emotions that are a fundamental part of who we are.

With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, hooks addresses the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society, in new and challenging ways. The Will to Change “creates space for men to acknowledge their traumas and heal—not only for their sake, but for the sake of everyone in their lives” (BuzzFeed).

©2003 Gloria Watkins (P)2020 Simon & Schuster Audio Anthropology Gender Studies Social Sciences Emotions Discrimination Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Truly insightful look at the isolation felt my men as a result of patriarchy. I purchased a copy for all the men in my family and we’re going to do a book club. I feel really grateful for bell hooks writing

Bro found insight for men

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This book sheds light on the much needed change needed in our western societies. Please read and recommend.

I have been shaped by patriarchy.

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This book life changing, must read/listen! I recommend to all my friends! It helped me hold and give space for men's emotions. And to be the change I want to see in the world.

A Must Listen!

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this book is saturated in love and that is a nice thing to experience. It suffers from a bit too much finger pointing at other authors and theorists, which distracts from the important work at hand. there's a lot of valuable Insight in this book though, and myself, as a man in a patriarchal society, found a great deal of value in taking this in. especially the very end.

inspiring

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This book is eye opening to the way our culture and systems encourage the self-destruction of men. Although I found that the book feels a bit drawn out, until reaching chapters 9-11. Those chapters are the best, make sure to listen to those.

Narration is great, and bell hooks writes from a place of sympathy to a world full of men who have a hard time feeling anything. Would recommend to any guys looking for emotional self-development.

Compassionate Insights for Men Seeking Healing

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Very informative and highly recommended for all men. I wish I had read this sooner.

Great read for any man/woman

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Working in men's work, I've discussed almost all the symptoms of this issue without ever naming it what it is. I believe this book is going to be the new foundation to everything I do!

Must read for men and women alike

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As a man who has been doing his inner work for quite some time I was amazed at how insightful this book is and how much I have left to learn. To miss out on the emotional component of your life is to miss out on life. While I have been doing the work to better engage with my emotional world, so much of this book brought into focus areas of my life where there is work to be done, places and situations to speak up in, and my story to tell.

I enjoyed every part of this book and I have not been well-versed in feminist theory. I see the impact of men not being in touch with their emotions or having the will to change.

I’m my opinion this is an essential book for men to come into union with themselves so that they can live the lives they wish they could.

An essential book for men!

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Listened to it twice. Most books on masculinity simply redefine it without imagining dismantling patriarchy and the work of coming home to the truth of interdependent, transformative, loving men. Thank you, bell hooks.

Best book on men and patriarchy I've ever read

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Simply described and clear. Helps understand issue without forcing on others. Think it’s great for men and women. It’s actually more supportive of men.

Very important

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