The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help (How to End Domestic Violence, Mental and Emotional Abuse, and Sexual Harassment)

As a male and professional firefighter working in a hyper masculine and sexist environment I found this book to be incredibly enlightening and encouraging as I work to embrace a healthier definition of masculinity and to fight the negative influences associated with my workplace and in broader culture as I build a better me. This book sparked immense interest in and better understanding of gender and violence issues to which I was mostly blind before. It led me to purchase and read Men Speak Out by Tarrant, A Call To Action by Jimmy Carter, and so much more material as I aimed to educate myself and realign my perspectives and behaviors. I gained valuable insight and perspective into the world of the women in my life. I have now embarked on a mission to do my part through self evaluation and peer education to fight sexism and be sure I am no longer part of the problems of our culture. I think especially for guys who align themselves with stereotypical definitions of masculinity, who are interested in being real men and creating a stronger and healthier self, and who want to work to build a better world for the women (mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, etc.) and men (fathers, brothers, sons, husbands) they love, this book is a must read. I purchased the book on kindle, liked it so much and felt it was so important to my own transformation and endeavors I bought a hard copy so that I can loan it to the important men in my life.

For anyone to say or think that Venus & Mars is not a good album(and thank God that by the majority of great reviews on here for this album,you are very clearly much in the minority!) has to be deaf & dumb! This is one of the *GREATEST* solo/Wings Paul albums he ever did! It's a great rock album and he also has some great hard rock songs on it he wrote and it's Beatles quality because every song is very good & if anyone wants to know what a true music genius Paul really is,just listen to the *music* in the great Letting Go! My mother only liked classical music,Beethoven,Bach & Mozart,no rock & she played their music on the piano.When I was playing this album and she came into the room when Letting Go was on,she asked me is that Paul McCartney and I said yes and she said Oh that music is brilliant,he's a music genius like Beethoven! And my sister who is 4 years older than me and had a big diverse music collection since she was a mid teen,bought Venus and Mars when it came out,and I remember listening to it with her,and her friend and my best friend and we all loved it! My sister still says years later that Venus and Mars is one of the best rock albums she ever heard and that it's unique and she knows no album like it!She always said his 1971 Ram album was a very good album too,although I like this album much better. Paul's best post Beatles sounding music was from 1970-1975,with this being his last true great album.After this he wrote some good music but he never wrote the same great quality music again for some reason. His first solo album McCartney where he played every instrument by himself (and he played them all great) is very good,Red Rose Speedway and Band On The Run are very good albums too,and he produced all of these great albums by himself and co-arranged the music on Venus and Mars by him self also.

I have been studying how women are doing in the world all my adult life. In general, women and children are not safe in this world, and in general, men are the reason why. Jackson Katz explains the dynamic of male violence, the structure of the patriarchy that holds it in place, all without making men wrong. Indeed, he invites all men who love their moms, wives, sisters, girlfriends and friends, to stand against violence and participate in educating men around them...helping people to connect up the dots. Mahalo nui loa to Jackson for writing this powerful, important and enlightening book. I shared it with many women, including my daughter, who CRIED with relief from the very first pages. It's NOT women's fault that men beat and abuse. This book is one of the best wake up calls in the world. I'd like it to be required reading in every classroom from middle school on up. The book discusses how males determine manliness, and I can tell you from teaching in Kindergarten and First Grade, that the process is already in place by these young ages. Men need to look inside themselves and ask themselves what manliness means...what it means to be a man. And be willing to learn better and then DO better.

Katz makes arguments for change that are fresh and well founded. This book is well written and endlessly insightful. I am very glad to have read it.

This is an excellent book for both men and women who want to know what they can do to combat violence in our society. It is written by a man and doesn't waste time with polemics. The fact is our society fosters violence in our boys and men. As the author points out, while 90% of violence is committed by men that does NOT mean that 90% of men are violent. This book helps foster the good efforts and wisdom of those men and women who want to change our society and make it safer for everyone....

One of the most important books you might ever read. Both incredibly validating and illuminating. It will have you seeing the world with new eyes and give you startling and empowering insights into the unseen forces within culture and communication that drive us towards cruelty and violence as a society. This book will help you learn how to see it in yourself, see the ways you can be complicit, and thankfully teach you tools for making the world, and your own life better.

I met him years ago at a conference in the early years of his work. Sadly, I found him abrasive and egotistical. He was pretty full of himself. So - yeah - I like the books he writes and the message is vital. But the person himself - meh. It always bugs me with the persona and the message don't appear to match. Good job on the various books though.

Dr. katz did an amazing job with his book "The Macho Paradox". It goes into great depths about how all men (even the self-proclaimed "good guys") can help the fight against sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape. I liked that it was written from a male perspective, geared toward male readers, it really helps us as men identify with the issue much better on a level that we can relate to. It's not a book about guilt, it's a book about responsibility. And I would highly recommend it to anyone with a heart for women.

Great and important read. The book itself is super well made.

A must read for all women and particularly men to understand why it's important for them to join in the feminist movement and help eradicate violence and sexism towards women. Great eye opener, greatly expressed and argued and with so much insight and honesty. As a woman it made me feel validated. It validated all the hurt and pain endured. It validated my right and anger and of all women and those that love them including males at those men that are conditioned and some to dangerous means. Society needs to change and I support the fight. I learned a lot from the book and it was food for thought and one that I treasure, one that I want many men to read. It doesn't shame anyone but brave enough to be frank about a much neglected and silenced issue which is detrimental to both men and women. It redefines masculinity and strives for a healthier meaning to it that doesn't limit men of their potential as human beings. It shows how issues effects us sociologically and how society shapes us. It calls men to start and look with the man in the mirror and to change and challenge what needs too and make a difference so that we all can live as equals and have healthy relationships and ways of relating to one another. It strives to cut down on oppression and violence against women as well as the sexual objectifying of them and degradation. Women are also those that men love; their mothers, sisters and daughters and we need to protect them as well as giving value and respect to all women so that nobody suffers. Women have suffered at the hands of men for too long and social conditioning is hurting both genders. We need to reunite in the fight, not separate from one another. This book is a voice for those that are silenced, it fights for equality, it challenges males to reject social conditioning and male taught behaviours and it does so with passion, conviction and honesty. This is an awesome book. It's so important to have people use their power for the better.

I'm a men's family violence practitioner, and this is a must read for workers, men, and women. Highlights the shame component of violence in an approachable and empathetic way without reducing responsibility and accountability. I believe this book and its teachings/learnings to be imperative to anyone who struggles with perpetrating or receiving anger.

Informative and often unsettling, this is a must-read for everyone, but especially those raising or working with boys and young men. To quote from another review: "We all know people who are victims, yet we remain mostly silent. Katz makes it very difficult to remain silent and inactive, by making it very plain that we need to act, and that it is really men who need to change our behavior."

Well written. Highly recommend.