Using as his metaphorical text the grimm fairy tale iron john, bly offers an initiatory path in eight stages to allow men to recapture a sense of healthy, responsible masculinity. But as a poet, hes conjured deeply resonant imagery. Young men need initiation into adulthood, to be welcomed among the fathers of. Since robert blys first book, silence in the snowy fields, appeared in 1962, he has published twelve more books of poetry including the light around the body, which won the national book award in 1968, and recently, morning poems 1998 and his selected poems eating the honey of words 1999. King, warrior, lover, wild man, trickster, mythologist or cook, and.
By the time a man is thirtyfive he knows that the images of the right man, the tough man, the true man which he received in high school do not work in life. The inner boy in a messedup family may keep on being shamed, invaded. 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. Robert bly looks at the importance of the wild man. Robert bly born december 23, 1926 is an american poet, author, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement, most famous for his iron john. He served in the navy during world war ii and entered. Dec 21, 2018 robert bly is the poet of minnesota, vietnam and mythical men robert bly is probably best known for his controversial nonfiction book iron john. Robert bly writes that it is clear to men that the images of adult manhood given by. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Like eliot glick correspondence, may 2004, i am tired of the usual new age suspects being trotted out to teach us right thinking. A book about men robert bly 03068769 97803068764 in this deeply learned book, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man. Bly posits that the selfactualized adult male is in fact an entire community of beingsto be exact, seven distinct beings. Bly was a movement leader, and the war in vietnam stands behind this book. Have the hard cover book and now can listen to robert bly on the road or on my down time.
Robert bly was born on december 23, 1926, in madison, minnesota. Robert bly is a poet, author, translator, activist, and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. In iron john he brings both elements to bear in a way that will only truly be understood by men. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read iron john. Young men need initiation into adulthood, to be welcomed among the fathers of the world, or they rage and sulk alone through life. Strong words about strong and weak men from poet and critic bly american poetry, p. I love this book so much i bought two additional copies as christmas presents for my friends. Whats missing in modern man iron john by robert bly youtube.
His resulting book about this ageold story helped establish the mens movement, and his seminars. The michigan daily archives undoubtedly has the article i wrote in the huge, yellowed volumes in its dusty library if the library or the volumes or the dust are still there. In this timeless and deeply learned classic, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it means to be a man. Written by robert bly, audiobook narrated by richard ferrone. Bly has received many awards, including the national book award, for his poetry. Without his interpretation of this story, it would be just another disney production. Robert bly, in full robert elwood bly, born december 23, 1926, madison, minnesota, u.
Robert bly is the poet of minnesota, vietnam and mythical men robert bly is probably best known for his controversial nonfiction book iron john. Most people see the story as a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood. The story also became the basis for the book iron john. Apr 20, 2020 robert bly, american poet, translator, editor, and author, perhaps best known as the author of iron john. Song teardrop remastered 2006 artist massive attack. Dec 14, 2018 bly was born in 1926 in a norwegian lutheran community in minnesota, the son of a farmer. Michael venturas interview with robert bly the wind isnt depressed, may 2004 is a perfect example. Bly had been giving talks on mythology to supplement his income, and found that the brothers grimm tale iron john hit a nerve with men. Drawing upon jungian psychology, myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales, the book demonstrates blys masculinist convictions. Robert bly is a poet and the founder of a mans movement. Bly is best known for his 1990 book iron john vintage, which proposes that modern men suffer from a lack of male mentors and initiation rituals. Blys vision is based on his ongoing work with men and reflections on his own life. One of the main premises of the book is that man needs to get in touch with his inner wild man, or his primal masculinity.
In this deeply learned book, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man. A book about men, and the sibling society, and more on. Whats missing in modern man iron john by robert bly. Robert bly mike hazard and greg pratt a video documentary on the poet, including poems by rumi, kabir, neruda, yeats. Licensed to youtube by umg on behalf of virgin records ltd. Blys vision is based on his ongoing work with men, as well as on reflections on his. Why iron john is no gift to women the new york times. Iron john 1990 robert bly robert bly is a wellrespected american poet. An exegesis of iron john, a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood with help of the wild man, and part of the grimms fairy tales published in 1812 by german folklorists brothers grimm, it spent 62 weeks on the. The author of dozens of books of poetry and translation, blys work is based.
He lives in minneapolis and in moose lake, minnesota. One day, robert bly writes, a young man is in college, being fed and housedoften on someone. A person who discreetly farts in an elevator is not a divine being, and a man needs to know this. A book about men 1990, reprinted 2001 as iron john. He won the 1968 national book award for poetry for his book the light around the body. He served in the navy during world war ii and entered harvard as a 21yearold sophomore in 1947. As a poet, editor, and translator, bly has had a profound impact on the shape of american poetry.
There are books out there on every aspect of the male experience from practical skills like carving a turkey and dressing well to sociological studies on what it means to be a man in history and modern society to more poetic examinations of the male experience. Storyteller michael meade and an audience of 30 twin cities men in an hour of interaction, imagery and introspection. Here, using the grimm fairy tale iron john as a vehicle, bly explores the myths and cultural underpinnings of a distinctly vigorous male mode of feeling, a. A book about men, edition 3 ebook written by robert bly.
Blys vision is based on his ongoing work with men, as well as on reflections on his own life. Each significant event in iron johns life can be viewed through a spiritual, or psychological lens. Robert bly robert bly is a wellrespected american poet. Robert bly books list of books by author robert bly. The 25th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking new york times bestseller, with a new afterword by the authorwhich offers a new vision of what it is to be a manin this timeless and deeply learned classic, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it means to be a man. Robert blys long epilogue with alzheimers disease the. Robert bly is an american poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. The author of dozens of books of poetry and translation, blys work is based in the natural world, the visionary, and the realm of the irrational. Since starting the art of manliness, ive read a boatload of books about masculinity, manliness, and simply being a man.
A book about men made him internationally famous, long before he was taken up as the popular bard of the new age movement. We have to think about the man being able to say at that moment, i feel ashamed here by what you just said. They discuss what it means to be a man in todays society the pains of being a man. Jul 27, 2004 in this deeply learned book, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man. American writer robert bly is regarded as one of the legends of contemporary poetry, according to david biespel, the prototypical nonmodernist the one who set in motion a poetics of intensity for generations to come. Robert bly breaks down this story as stages of initiation that cannot be neglected or passed over in order to live a complete and whole life as a man. I suppose a man can read cosmo and come away with something too. A book about men 1990, which spent 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list, and is a key text of the mythopoetic mens movement. Robert bly born december 23, 1926 is an american poet, essayist, activist and leader of the mythopoetic mens movement. Today, at the age of seventyseven, he is writing what many recognize to be the most important poetry of his literary career.
Then he said that sentence, if you are a young man and youre not being admired by an older man, youre being hurt. A book about men is a book by american poet robert bly. A book about men is a book by american poet robert bly published. Bly was born in 1926 in a norwegian lutheran community in minnesota, the son of a farmer. Robert bly is the poet of minnesota, vietnam and mythical men. Robert bly looks at the importance of the wild man reminiscent of the wild woman in women who run with the wolves, who. Iron john searches for a new vision of what a man is or could be, drawing on psychology, anthropology, mythology, folklore and legend. His resulting book about this ageold story helped establish the mens movement, and his seminars inspired its drumbeating, tree. Nov 10, 2015 the 25th anniversary edition of the groundbreaking new york times bestseller, with a new afterword by the authorwhich offers a new vision of what it is to be a manin this timeless and deeply learned classic, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it means to be a man.
A book about men 1990, which spent 62 weeks on the the new york times best seller list. A book about men robert bly in this deeply learned book, poet and translator robert bly offers nothing less than a new vision of what it is to be a man. He is also a renowned translator, editor, and a founder of the mens movement. To be a mentor and help others to awareness go for it get out of the pattern that is in society, experience the strength that is a part of you. Robert bly writes that it is clear to men that the images of adult manhood given by popular culture are worn out, that a man can no longer depend on them. Iron john a book about men by robert bly addisonwesley. Robert bly, poet and cultural firebrand, has been stirring up controversy for the past forty years.
This is a traditional story that is told and decoded by the great robert bly. I was particularly struck by a chapter titled the road of ashes, descent, and grief. Share robert bly quotations about culture, siblings and writing. In addition to being one of our finest poets, robert bly has, over the last 10 years, inspired through talks, workshops. Sourced quotations by the american activist robert bly born in 1926 about man, body and male.
This could only be good for women, i thought, and im sure other women. An exegesis of iron john, a parable about a boy maturing into adulthood with help of the wild man, and part of the grimms fairy tales published in 1812 by german folklorists. A book about men by robert bly which spawned the mythopoetic mens movement in the early 1990s after spending 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list. See all books authored by robert bly, including iron john. Lenfestey in robert blys eightythird year, to celebrate acquisition of his archives, the university of minnesota sponsored a major conference, robert bly in this world. This is a quick read packed with some good insights on being a strong man for the woman in your life.
This book needs to be read, i believe, not as a dry work of scholarship to be. The modern man is lost, disheveled, and more broken everyday because there is no guidance to lead him into maturity, and through selfdiscovery. Blys new book iron johnessentially an exploration of an ancient tale about a hairy wild man who lives at the bottom of pondhas become a surprise commercial success, battling past. Drawing upon jungian psychology, myth, legend, folklore, and fairy tales the title is taken from a story by the. Blys vision is based on his ongoing work with men, as well as on reflections on. A book about men, which spent 62 weeks on the new york times best seller list, and is a key text of the mythopoetic mens movement. Robert bly is the poet of minnesota, vietnam and mythical. Utilizing the myth of iron john, robert bly offers some answer to the wounds we receive in life, and how those too are means for us to grow well. He addresses the devastating effects of remote fathers and mourns the disappearance of male initiation rites in our culture.
Four things we owe to robert bly the good men project. Revisiting jill johnstons critique of robert bly and iron john the. Part poet, part cultural anthropologist, he has a style that is both lush and crisp at the same time. Sugg this entry in twaynes world author series is a clear and valuable introduction to robert blys poetry. Excellent video of poet robert bly being interviewed by bill moyers in 1990. A book about men is a book by american poet robert bly published in 1990 by addisonwesley, and is his bestknown work. The book is actually a story about a young man whos recently married and is having marital problems. I am proud only of those days that pass in undivided tenderness. Enjoy the best robert bly quotes and picture quotes.
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