Would you buy this book?
Many times, people tell me I should write a book given all the fabulous content I get from my readers (that would be you) about men, marriage, relationships, sex and society. I see books out like Kathleen Parker's Save the Males: Why Men Matter Why Women Should Care
that look at men's issues in terms of what is good for women. What about writing about men for the sake of men, and not just for how their lives will affect women?
First off, I will admit that I am very lazy and the thought of writing another book
is a daunting task. However, I think it's important. I would like to write a book that looks at men's lives, thoughts, and feelings through the eyes of men, in their own words, not that of a woman, or a man who is trying to understand men for women like so many of the "men and relationship" books do. The book might use kind of a Nancy Friday approach. In Friday's book, My Secret Garden,
she had women tell their sexual fantasies and just tied the stories together in chapters to give the reader a private view into the sex lives of these women. Would you be interested in such a book? Answer the poll and let me know.
that look at men's issues in terms of what is good for women. What about writing about men for the sake of men, and not just for how their lives will affect women?First off, I will admit that I am very lazy and the thought of writing another book
is a daunting task. However, I think it's important. I would like to write a book that looks at men's lives, thoughts, and feelings through the eyes of men, in their own words, not that of a woman, or a man who is trying to understand men for women like so many of the "men and relationship" books do. The book might use kind of a Nancy Friday approach. In Friday's book, My Secret Garden, she had women tell their sexual fantasies and just tied the stories together in chapters to give the reader a private view into the sex lives of these women. Would you be interested in such a book? Answer the poll and let me know.Labels: interesting books, men's issues
posted by Helen at 1:25 PM
22 Comments:
I can't wait to come to your city and buy you lunch as you autograph my cherished book that you have just published. Life is good! Or perhaps you will have a book signing near me. Life is good as I save on gas money. QCTM
we're doomed,
That is really sweet. I would be honored to autograph my conjectural book for you.
Hey we're doomed, just admit that you think Dr Helen is beautiful
I'd love such a book, so long as it isn't one of those touchy-feely "fire in the belly" ones that were all the rage fifteen or twenty years ago. This issue is as much sociology and biology as it is psychology, in my view. For men, it's an existential question: "What am I here for? What is my purpose? What does society expect from me?"
You'd bring a valuable female perspective to that question, I think, since you seem to be sympathetic to the male point of view on such things.
Of course she is beautiful, and what an intelllect. Smart women are the best. That's why I married my wife, her beautiful mind.
p.s. and she would tolerate most of my deficiencies
Helen wrote, "What about writing about men for the sake of men, and not just for how their lives will affect women?"
This is why I come to this blog every day. Few women can even think such a thought, much less take action on it.
Thanks, Dr. Helen.
Women always know better what men think, what they like, what they want, what they should want.
Please tell us!
If I may be respectful but absolutely frank, I find Dr. Helen's writings on men's issues somewhat harsh and myopic and needlessly and disconcertingly dismissive of women's experience of the world. It doesn't seem like the right antidote. There is a wonderful book of essays written by men about the experience of manhood edited by a man named Ian Brown. It's called 'What I Meant to Say' and I'd strongly urge woman wanting to reflect on the inner lives of men in order to better understand, respect and appreciate them to check it out.
In Christian circles, this is pretty close to the contributions of John Eldridge. His Wild at Heart is enormously popular. I didn't particularly find it that helpful, but there certainly is a market for it.
Might be interesting, coming as it would from someone who is actually supportive of men.
I mean, contrast this with Barbara Eherenrich (sp, sorry) and her "Hearts of Men" which I had to read in college.
I've always wanted to write a book called "The Hearts of Women" which was as largely dismissive of men and their experience as the "Hearts of Men," and compare the reception. My guess is that the major complaint would be something along the lines of "how dare a man write about women's inner lives?"
On the other hand, I can already see the responses from those who praised Barbara when they read Dr. Helen's book: "right-wing vassal/tart who's sold her soul to the Republican party."
Ah, what the hell. Dr. Helen, you write, and I'll buy it!
Oops: "as largely dismissive of women and their experience..."
Apologies.
Lord Jiggy...
"I can already see the responses from those who praised Barbara when they read Dr. Helen's book: "right-wing vassal/tart who's sold her soul to the Republican party.""
You say that like it's a bad thing! Sounds like a book blurb to me.
I will give you a provisional yes, on the understanding that it will be awesome like Nora Vincent's Self-Made Man
http://tinyurl.com/y92kylb
that was a good book for those who want an outside perspective
I'm not taking the poll because there isn't really a response that applies to me. Normally, I wouldn't buy a book with that title because, in book length, I (almost) only read fiction. However, I would be interested in a book by that title, and would avidly read summaries and reviews to see whether it might have good ideas.
But, very rarely, I know enough about an author through other writing to make an exception to my "fiction only" rule. For example, I bought and read with pleasure Amy Alkon's book about rude people.
I would make an exception in Dr. Helen's case as well.
Here's an orthogonal but possibly useful thought...Writers of fiction, of course, have to put themselves into the mental universe of people quite different from themselves...different social class, different race, different languge, different time period..and different gender. It would be very interesting for someone to analyze what male writers tend to get right/wrong about the experience of being female, and what female writers tend to get right/wrong about the experience of being male.
Nancy Friday already wrote a male equivalent to "My Secret Garden". It's called "Men In Love".
Helen:
Love your blog ... you could talk to my friend Tom Matlack at www.goodmenbook.org -- see how his book and venture is going ...
Ladies and gentlemen, The Man Song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Y0I91rubg
It seems the Good Doctor has been overrun by Chinese spam. Love the idea also.
I'm in.
With a side of "whatever" to the wackadoo nay-sayers.
Yes, Dr Helen, I like the book idea. Should reach an ill-served market. Get busy and good luck!
I also offer you the following "demotivational poster" that impeccably captures the modern young male's entirely rational view of the modern woman:
http://verydemotivational.com/2009/12/19/its-a-serious-economic-decision/
I would very much grab a copy of such a book from the good Dr H. But I would respectfully suggest to her that she make all the necessary adjustments for study subjects, survey population, distribution of study subjects and whatever "Ph.D. stuff" so that her critics (that predictable liberal stampede of know-it-somes) that will assault her findings.
Other than that...best of luck!!!
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