The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love

bell hooks

Jan 2004 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

From the New York Times bestselling author of All About Love, a brave and astonishing work that challenges patriarchal culture and encourages men to reclaim the best part of themselves.

Everyone needs to love and be loved—even men. But to know love, men must be able to look at the ways that patriarchal culture keeps them from knowing themselves, from being in touch with their feelings, from loving.

In The Will to Change, bell hooks gets to the heart of the matter and shows men how to express the emotions that are a fundamental part of who they are—whatever their age, marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. But toxic masculinity punishes those fundamental emotions, and it’s so deeply ingrained in our society that it’s hard for men to not comply—but hooks wants to help change that.

With trademark candor and fierce intelligence, hooks addresses the most common concerns of men, such as fear of intimacy and loss of their patriarchal place in society, in new and challenging ways. She believes men can find the way to spiritual unity by getting back in touch with the emotionally open part of themselves—and lay claim to the rich and rewarding inner lives that have historically been the exclusive province of women.

Ratings and reviews

Those three P's perfectly encapsulate what this work is and represents. It's a call to action, a shot in the darkness, to rally the masses. This might be over stating it but I think this book is the key to saving the black community. Bell Hooks states in the book that patriarchy is the cause of insanity in men and she is correct. Our criminals justice systems are full of men who have only been taught to be violent and display rage. This book articulates so many of societies pressing problems particularly in the black community. It is truly speaking truth to power. The book is an easy read and the pacing is amazing. I couldn't put it down and read the entire book over the course of a day. No other book has informed me as a black gay man of the role that patriarchy plays in racism, sexism, homophobia, and ableism. They are all branches on the tree of patriarchy. This is a book of a life time, one that is sure to shake you to the core and challenge your world view in ways you never thought possible.

A very fascinating exploration of masculinity, feminist masculinity and the capacity for men to love and dismantle patriarchal masculinity that prohibits them to show love. A guide for feminists to understand how they reinforce patriarchal masculinity and how to support men coming into feminist masculinity. The book changed my life in understanding the men in my life and the men I love.

As relevant today as the day it was released. The compassion in bell's critique and critique in her compassion is awe inspiring. Thank you for providing so much that gives hope and thought and energy for change.

About the author

bell hooks was a cultural critic, a feminist icon, and the renowned author of more than twenty books, including the enduring classic New York Times bestseller All About Love, Rock My Soul, The Will to Change, Sisters of the Yam, and When Angels Speak of Love. A charismatic speaker, she divided her time between teaching, writing, and lecturing around the world. She passed away in 2021.