More stars!

This is an absolutely spectacular answer to a lot of societal gender issues--not the only answer, mind you, but an excellent tool to have in your self-development arsenal. This includes women, too (I'll get to that in a minute).

The four archetypes in the title are covered both in adult and juvenile versions, in brief in the first chapter, and then the mature archetypes get an entire chapter dedicated to each. Both the positive, healthy aspects, and the Shadow aspects, are covered. The language is wonderfully easy on the eyes, conversational without losing content.

As I read, I found myself recognizing a lot of the traits of these archetypes in people I knew--and myself. I strongly urge everyone, not just men, to snag a copy of this. It's not just so that women can finally "understand men". It's because this is also a map to the Animus, that within women which is male, and which is often lost track of. I found myself nodding in recognition at both Boy and Man traits of various archetypes that I found to be familiar within myself, and this has definitely given me more to chew on.

And, in the very back of the book there are several meditations that basically amount to what magicians know as pathworking and invocation for readers to use to work with their own archetypal selves. This is very much a valuable tool, and I'm surprised it hasn't gotten more mention in the pagan community since I've heard grumbling now and then that paganism is too female-centric. This book has been out since 1990, and I think it would go a long way in helping not only pagan men, but (as I said before) people in general understand *human* psychology better.

I also like that it places responsibility at the foot of certain threads of feminism for some of the more recent anti-male sentiments in society, particularly that which blames all men for all the problems women have while vehemently denying that men actually have problems, thanks to their male "privilege". My own approach to feminism had always been similar to Action Girl - Girl-positive and female-friendly -- never anti-boy. While I think the work is far from being over, I'm less of a feminist these days and more of an "everyone-ist". If we're going to really bring equality into reality in any capacity, we have to extend that equality to everyone, not just women. I've talked to enough men who aren't exactly happy with the bad conditioning and pigeonholes they get stuck into, and I believe that rather than trying to place the blame for the way things are in the hands of one sex or another, it needs to be directed at the culture in general that breeds insecurity. As the authors pointed out, patriarchy isn't caused by masculine energy in general--it's caused by immature masculine energy that is not only anti-female, but anti-mature male as well. This book is an excellent tool for deprogramming the destructive, immature masculine and helping to promote the healthy, creative masculine.

Okay, off my soapbox now....

For the bad parts--the authors refer to sadomasochism as "perversion" and male humiliation of women. Um, no. Ignore this part. It's one of the few parts that does date the book. Also, I really wish they'd gone into more detail on how to work with the archetypes, instead of a couple of paragraphs at the end of each chapter. There are books for at least three of the four archetypes on their own, but they're out of print and very expensive to get ahold of.

But, in short, really, really, really good book, recommended to anyone.

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Essential Reading. Deservedly, one of the defining books in the mens movement

I really enjoyed this book on the Archetypes of the Lover, Magician, Warrior and King when I first read it and find myself referring back to it often. It's based on a combination a study of the archetypes and Jungian psychology. Of course, the archetypes have their foundation in the medicine wheel and the four cardinal directions and all that they represent (earth, fire, air, water etc.).

I've done workshops based on the archetypes which I've really found valuable and enjoyable. Most men animate one of the energies (Lover, Magician, King or Warrior) as their natural home, for myself it has been the Magician and when I first started this type of work I discovered the other feminine polarity, the Lover (which women love!) and worked more on those of the Warrior and King (perhaps the hardest) as circumstances in my life have required. I've found it to be a really invaluable model for the masculine psyche. There are few men who can do all of the quadrants well. That requires becoming concious and doing substantial inner work. Most men tend to hang out in one quadrant, and, unfortunately, animate the negative side of that quadrant... (although thats only through habit, fear and not having awareness) which is why it's invaluable to have the awareness of the positive and negative role models.

I agree with other reviewers, it's not a self-help book as such, so it doesn't contain lots of recommendations about practices, how to practically use the ideas. It is however, I belive, a valuable contribution to the men's movement and something men can use to reflect upon and guide their actions.

Most valuable is the section on boy psychology, the immature form of the masculine psyche and the shadow side, something all men know only too well, something I think it's often hard for women to understand. How many men out there these days have the magician energy and operate from it's shadow form as detached manipulators... (just look at business today)with the knowledge of the shadow, we can embrace it and own in ourselves (no easy task) and see it clearly and not become subject to the covert manipulation of others. These ideas are worth more than the cost of this book alone. When you look at the other shadow forms of the masculine psyche Moore has illustrated - the weakling king (just look at most our political leaders) or the addicted lover (our addictions to sex and to temporary hits of pleasure) or the Warrior (masochist).

Also, while it can be considered a prequel to the other boooks, I think it's worthy of buying on its own. I found a few of the others in the series light on in terms of content / depth (because much of the content is the same across each volume). That said, it must have been a very hard job to research and write the volumes, so have no criticism from that standpoint. The books are undoubtedly inspirational and anything that helps me connect more to my masculine and my fellow men is very much welcomed in my quarter.

I've listened to one of the author's tape sets - on the Magician, and I quite enjoyed it. Although there's no way I'd take much of what he said at face value. It's great when a group of men come together and be real, talk about their challenges, victories, hopes, desires and laugh and connect with one another and for that, those tapes were worth their weight in gold.

I'd highly recommend also Sam Keen's 'Fire in the Belly', Iron John, Knights without Armour, and for advanced spiritual practitioners anything by David Deida, starting with his wonderful 'Way of the Superior Man' for an outline of his 'model' see intimate communion or you'll find him on the web.

Think about it, imagine men being really connected to their warriors (to get things done), their heart (lover), have the tools and awareness to create change and transformation in the world (magician) and be in their true, authentic power (King) to guide, inspire and lead others to create that change for the good of all. And then consider what we see in the world today... people acting unconsciously out of their fears, greed, selfishness, ingrained unconscious patterns and gross sense of separativeness and self centredness. You can see why this work is so important.

There are far too few books in the mens movement, and even fewer good ones, this is one of better ones. We're lucky to have men who've put the effort into creating works like this. Highly recommended reading!

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To anyone who might be interested in psychology or personal growth

King, Warrior, Magician, Lover is a great book.
Personally, what I've found most interesting was the picturing of how men can manifest the archetype's energies in infantile manners. It's also very interesting how it maps the archetypes with certain myths and religions. Personally, I like the "all the different theories fit together" feeling it gives.
I would not say that this is a self-help book. But in times where children raising is so poor, the book plays its part in helping men become more mature. And that is very, very valuable.
That's it. Sorry for my bad english.

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