Publishers Weekly
02/27/2023
AskMen senior editor Manley (translator, Made Up) offers a thoughtful guide to becoming a more ethical, caring, and considerate man. Contending that #MeToo, mass shootings, a rising education gender gap, and other factors have pushed traditional masculinity to “a crisis point,” Manley, who is nonbinary, blends academic research and personal anecdotes to call for a shift in masculine habits and attitudes that have been detrimental to men and women. These include limiting oneself to “art created by men, about men, for men,” which leaves one struggling to recognize women’s humanity and valuable perspectives; believing men should dominate in sex, which limits one’s pleasure as well as their partner’s; treating male friendships as “a surface-level thing” rather than being willing to forge deeper bonds by expressing vulnerability; and the conviction that “winning is paramount, losing is anathema and fighting is the way to bridge the difference.” Throughout, Manley’s autobiographical asides—about their first sexual experiences, being bullied in grade school, the predatory approach their male creative writing professors took to the program’s female students, coming out as nonbinary—buttress insights from David Graeber, Hanna Rosin, Sarah Schulman, and others. Earnest yet provocative, this wake-up call has much to offer. (May)
From the Publisher
Earnest yet provocative, this wake-up call has much to offer.” — Publishers Weekly
“The New Masculinity is a hopeful, refreshing look at the post-feminist possibilities that lie ahead of us all, and it's a necessary how-to guide for men and boys everywhere.” — Maisonneuve
“At once astute and accessible” — Esquire
“It’s never too late to come of age in a new era with new expectations. At its heart, The New Masculinity is a wayfinding text from the Millennials to the Gen Z-ers who must forge a new path, gain a new vocabulary, and take the initiative to get comfortable with their vulnerability. In the essential work of expanding the definition of manhood, Manley is one guiding force.” — The Montreal Review of Books
“Much of his message is about becoming a better person – practicing civility, respect, love, and compassion for other human beings, rather than acting out the domination and hostility that are becoming the norm for some men in American society. The sections on avoiding stereotypical romantic roles are particularly illuminating.” — AudioFile Magazine
“This conversational, accessible, and astute nonfiction offering from AskMen senior editor Alex Manley balances candid memoir and social commentary to give readers an alternative to our standard—and tired—conversations around masculinity.” — All Lit Up Blog
