King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archetypes of the Mature Masculine

Really quite an excellent jaunt into the depths of masculine psychology. Reads well and is quite short. Intuitively grasps a great deal about how men and boys (and women and girls) function, and conveys it cleanly. Thought-technology of the finest order.

I have no background in psychology, I am a tradesman. I read KWML about 6 months ago and found it to be the 'how-to' guide to repair and rebuild following a devastating personal loss. The four mature archetypes and their attendant immature 'shadows' were highly illustrative to me. The benevolent King, the courageous and disciplined Warrior, capable and knowledgable Magician, and the connected and loyal Lover all have their place, while the immature archetypes provide a guide for what really needs repair within the psyche. Moore is right: there are a lot of us who are still little boys in many ways. I regard this book quite highly, and will re-read it again after I recover it from the last person I lent it to.. This is one of the pivotal books of my life. It has its flaws, and could be twice its length, and still leave the reader wanting further study. I highly recommend it.

I first read this book when it appeared in the early '90s, when the Men's Movement was everywhere (how long ago that seems). I have come back to the book many, many times for guidance and insight, finding relevance in different portions as I have aged, changed jobs, and faced new challenges. There is a reason why this book remains in print: it's an intelligent, clear, and well-grounded examination of the primary facets of men's selves and how men can use this understanding to improve their lives. The authors discuss each of the title's four archetypes in turn, explaining both the positive and negative aspects of each one, and how each can interact with the others. A particular strength is the authors' ability to describe each archetype in a vivid, three-dimensional (yet concise) way that enables you to *see* the archetype at work in yourself and others. I would recommend this book especially for readers who may be turned off by self-help works that are either too simplistic or too mystical. And, as other reviewers have pointed out, much of it would appear to be of interest to women as well as men.

This is one of the most important books that I have ever purchased. I also read Iron John and feel almost as strong. It's been a year since I read KWML and I go back to it often. Since reading it more than a year ago, I have noticed that I now apply this knowledge, which benefits others around me, as well as myself. I can easily say that it has matured me in dramatic ways, opening pathways, giving me more confidence in my relationships with women on a personal level (the women I've dated) as well as on a professional level (the women I work with, for, etc.). It helps me to identify which men should mentor me and whom I should avoid. On a philisophical level, this brought new challenges in the face of a world unprepared or unwilling for the maturation of men. However, the rewards are great for you and those around you, because I now believe the greatest acheivement of man is his own maturation and I am confident that all your friends and loved ones, secretly cheer you on to that goal - the same way Arthur's kingdom flourished when he drank from the grail. Or perhaps how Christ calmed a raging sea. Seize this pearl.

If you want to understand the underlying philosophy of the men's movement, New Warrior, and related activities, this is the book to read. This book, along with Bly's Iron John, launched the Men's Movement, and is the brains behind the movement--offering a psychology of growth and healing.