Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 · rating details · 21,793 ratings · 1,022 reviews

Helping men rediscover their masculine heart, this guide to understanding Christian manhood and Christian men offers a refreshing break from the chorus of voices urging men to be more responsible, reliable, dutiful... and dead. God designed men to be dangerous, says John Eldredge. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be...more

Paperback, 242 pages

Published January 3rd 2006 by Nelson Books (first published 2001)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

God's Favor - Breath Of Heaven by Michele Woolley

Top "X" Books That Will Change Your Life

3rd out of 36 books — 36 voters

Books That Could Change Your Life

198th out of 597 books — 476 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 19, 2012 Trevor rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

I have a handful of friends who are strong believers in the message delivered in this book by John Eldredge. I think most of us here know the type by now. They are the kind that gets overly enthralled by an idea and take it too far without realizing what they've done. They're usually college-aged guys who are just discovering who they are and where they are going. They might try to grow a scraggly beard and start wearing flannel shirts and clunky hiking boots. They might spend their whole summer...more I have a handful of friends who are strong believers in the message delivered in this book by John Eldredge. I think most of us here know the type by now. They are the kind that gets overly enthralled by an idea and take it too far without realizing what they've done. They're usually college-aged guys who are just discovering who they are and where they are going. They might try to grow a scraggly beard and start wearing flannel shirts and clunky hiking boots. They might spend their whole summer earnings on outdoor gear. They might get a leather-bound journal with antique looking pages to achieve the proper backwoodsman effect. And they'll start contriving all sorts of "wild-man" things to show themselves -- and above all their friends -- just how "wild" and "alive" they are, whether it be solo camping or mountaineering or any other dangerous and unusual pursuit that will provide the requisite self-posed pictures to give them bragging rights back with the buddies.

I'm not trying to insult any of these things. They're all good for their own sake, and most participants of adventure sports aren't trying to be inauthentic when they hike a fourteener or go careening down a trail at Mach-5-with-their-hair-on-fire on their brand new Trek bike. I do most of these things myself and I enjoy them very much. What I'm criticizing is the idea, put forward in Wild At Heart, that doing such manly, wild, adventurous things are necessary in order to imitate the character of God.

Eldredge arrives at this perspective by a peculiar twist of logic. In order to be spiritually alive, a man must be emotionally alive. In order to be emotionally alive, a man must do wild and adventurous things - the kind of things that appeal to machismo outdoorsy types - in order to fire his primitive instincts and fulfill his true created purpose as a "warrior" made in the image of God.

Somewhere on the internet I read an interview with Eldredge in which he responded, when questioned, that promoting such ideas is valid and worthwhile if it is bringing more young men to Christ. On the contrary. Eldredge's message is giving young Christian men a false idea of what it means to be "on fire" for God. It is misleading young men by encouraging them to model themselves after a "warrior God" whose character is unsupported, even contradicted, by scripture. It depicts gender as consisting of simple categories: men are *this* way; women are *that* way. It promotes a perverse variety of "muscular Christianity" that was once used to uphold such doctrines as empire and militarism. By criticizing the modern, domesticated, settled life, it is helping to create more unsettled, maladjusted, restless men who see it as their manly right to seek an adrenaline rush when things aren't just right at work or with their family. It is legitimizing old-fashioned, un-Christian, and oppressive ways of viewing a man's role and purpose in life. And it is doing it all of these things in the name of a "god" whose alleged character as a "warrior" is completely unsupported by the canon of Christian scripture.

Eldredge's message, in short, has been taken way too far. In seeking to make his case, Eldredge draws upon strands of thought that carry with them a lot of moral and intellectual baggage. Most readers of Wild At Heart might be a little surprised to discover that the broad outlines of his ideas were stated long ago. One part of his message is derived from the Romantic Movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, which emerged as a reaction against the ideas of the Enlightenment and the scientific rationalization of nature that occurred during the Industrial Revolution. In Eldredge's story, such ideas are used in his criticism of the tedious, mundane, unexciting lives that the majority of men on the planet must endure -- if only to keep their families fed. While many Romantic ideas are relevant even today, it must be remembered that they were articulated at a particular time, in a particular place, as a result of historical developments (like the Industrial Revolution) that had nothing to do with the character of God or the message of Christ. It is shaky logic indeed to use 19th-century ideas as an answer to 21st century problems and then to ascribe them to a body of scripture that was written 1,900 years beforehand! The point is not that Christian scripture is irrelevant in the 21st century, but rather that Eldgrede is *suggesting* that scripture is irrelevant by seeking answers from a *different* intellectual source.

Even more disturbing is his description of what it means to be a "warrior" created in the image of God. Whether Eldredge knows it or not, his ideas draw heavily upon the doctrine of "muscular Christianity," which was actually invented in the late 19th century as a way of getting young boys (mostly in Britain and North America) to combine physical and spiritual development as a way of preparing them to become builders of the British Empire. The United States had its equivalent purpose in raising up soldiers and settlers who could first conquer and subdue the "savage" Native American tribes in the West, and then settle the land and make it a fount of American civilization. Muscular Christianity in fact finds its most enduring legacy in the Boy Scout Movement, which was the brainchild of Robert Baden-Powell, a committed imperialist and arch racist who wanted to make British boys more adapted to the conditions they might encounter while conquering new African colonies. The idea was that you needed to have pluck and toughness, physical and moral courage, a variety of outdoor skills, and a warrior mentality in all pursuits. Such moral and physical qualities were thought to be necessary in order to build up the British Empire and take Christianity and Civilization to the barbarous savages of the world. A set of beliefs and theological principles created to legitimize and rationalize empire-building (and all the cruelties that attended to it) is not exactly a good foundation for a book aimed at hapless teenage readers in the 21st century.

These ideas might be dismissed or overlooked easily enough as the product of a bygone age were it not for Eldredge's insistence that they represent the very character of God himself. Eldredge has apparently cherry-picked the Old Testament for passages that support his view of a Warrior God, who since he created man in his image must have wanted a bunch of Warrior Followers as well. But didn't Christ admonish Christians to turn the other cheek? That love, hope, and peace are the greatest commandments? That the laws of the Old Testament were fulfilled and made new? And that henceforth the Kingdom of God does not have to physically defend itself from Egyptians and Hittites and enemy tribes because it is, on account of Christ, open to anyone who believes in Him?

Even more disturbing yet is Eldredge's discussion of gender roles. He tells men that one of their main purposes in life is to "pursue a Beauty" who will fulfill him, and who he will "fill" in return (sexual references abound, actually, despite his intended Christian audience!). To make themselves desirable to this Beauty, men are supposed to be wild and full of life - it will be irresistible, Eldredge says. But what if it doesn't work? What if a man was born ugly? What if he is shy or insecure with women? What if he sets his sights too high in our search for the Ultimate Beauty? Or what if he settles for a woman who does not fulfill such unrealistic, story-book expectations? These are questions that must enter the mind of every insecure teenage guy who reads Eldredge's book, and yet Eldredge writes as if *everyone* should look and act like a Maximus or a William Wallace. This is rather disingenuous to any young man whose personality and disposition lead him to prefer, say, books over campfires, piano keys over pocket knives, and painting over hiking. Eldredge is basically suggesting that such "soft" young men can never be fully alive, can never even imitate the character of God, unless they act like a Braveheart. That is absurd and un-Christian.

More importantly -- and this is what every reader needs to consider -- what does this say about the Beauty herself? Does she have no purpose in life but to sit around waiting for her Prince Charming? What if she happens to have aspirations of her own and she doesn't want to be *just* her husband's plaything for those times between his many adventures? Is God's creation of Woman really supposed to be submissive and elusive, passively awaiting her suitor to rescue her from singleness?

In sum, Eldredge puts entirely too much stock in an out-dated, theologically naive, almost dangerous idea of a Warrior God, who is supposed to be the model to which all men aspire. So why is this book so popular? Why are people so attracted to the image of the Wild Man? While do people feel compelled to defend Eldredge's message as somehow more "Christian" than the reservations I have registered here? It is probably not very much of a stretch to say that this book is "successful" because it is telling Christians what they want to hear. It gives license to fathers who tired of their work, bored with their home life, and regretful about the opportunities they missed as young men -- to men, in short, who are approaching their mid-life crisis. It gives license to sons to bend (or break) the rules, or to do the dangerous things their parents forbid, all in the name of a "spiritual" treatise that claims such behavior is necessary to be "wild at heart" and to live in the image of God. It provides (however dubiously) a theological rationale for reasserting the manly prerogative. It reasserts the old ideals of what it means to be male or female. It depicts women as a submissive and passive creature whose greatest purpose in life is to fulfill Eldredge's 19th-century conception of how gender roles should work. Above all, it glorifies the image of Man as a dominant, aggressive, wild, untamed hero-like figure -- a William Wallace or a Gladiator, but nothing like our Christ.

"Wild man." "Warrior." These are terms that now, because of this book, make me cringe.(less)

47 likes · like · see review

Aug 23, 2007 Jason rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: religion

Eldredge took Robert Bly's splendid, groundbreaking, ennobling book Iron John: A Book About Men as his inspired point of departure & produced, in Wild at Heart, a Christian treatise on masculinity that is, ultimately, as dangerous & misguided a book as I've ever read. Where Bly understands the need to prevent the masculine longing for wildness (a longing that is vital, life-giving, necessary) from proliferating as aggression, Eldredge subscribes to the view that wildness & aggression...more

10 likes · like · see review

May 27, 2007 Joseph Reitano rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All men and many women

This book really helped me to understand who I am as a man in terms of creation. Why do I like to drive motorcycles, why do I love to travel the world where the average person dare not tread. Why at the gym I have the need to lift more weight and drive my heart that much harder? It's because that is how God made me. God has a wild and dangerous aspect to His personality. We can see it in creation itself and it's reflected in every man.

from ChristianBook.com:
Helping men rediscover their masculine...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2007 Letitia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know that this book is surrounded by vehement controversy. After my husband read it, it was as though he came alive for the first time. Curious, I picked up the book myself. Though there are sections that I would drastically edit (and so would my husband), I found the heart of Eldredge's message incredibly moving, necessary, and paradigm-altering. I was truly astonished that this "man's man" would have such a perfect grasp of women and their needs and desires. I have consulted with other women...more

24 likes · like · see review

Jan 08, 2008 Debbie Mcleman rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who enjoyed Captivating

A familiar title to many, wild at Heart is a popular book amongst male Christians. After hearing mixed views, I set myself the task of reading the book myself. This book explores the make up of the masculine heart, which appeals to me and I?m sure, to many other female readers out there.

One thing that is clearly highlighted throughout this book is this: you can take the guy out of the country, but you can?t take the country out of the guy. Let me explain.
The writer suggests that boys, sorry men,...more

6 likes · like · see review

Sep 25, 2007 Adam rated it 1 of 5 stars

I can honestly say that I find this book trite, over-espoused, and drastically overadored by a great many men and women that I generally like and enjoy spending time with. This doesn't make them dumb, bad, or idiots. It just makes them different than me. This doesn't make me smarter, good, or a non-idiot. It just makes me not a person who fits comfortably into any of the suggested roles that John Eldridge tells us that men secretly long for.
I don't want and never wanted to be a knight, saving fa...more

12 likes · like · see review

Mar 27, 2008 Justin added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: No one

Shelves: craptastic

What a sad excuse for a book's premise. I paged through this, after reading some of the ridiculous reviews, and came away as disgusted as I thought I would be. As soon as men stop attempting to ascribe to outdated theistic (and frankly trite) models of masculinity, the world will be a much safer, better place. I pity women who read this and think they may have come away with a greater understanding of men, as it's a false understanding of throwback, primitive males who have no place in a world c...more

10 likes · like · see review

Mar 26, 2007 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

Many of my male friends in college recommended this book to me, so i finally read it in the summer of '04, my first summer away from home. Those who recommended the book to me acted as though this book changed their life, so I might have gone into it with high expectations. I did not find it as "enlightening" as they did, though I did enjoy it. The author has some good insight into the mind's of Christian men, though I feel he over-dramatizes certain ideas in the book. I would recommend the book...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 11, 2007 Rock Rockwell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian-living

A great read for men to embrace biblical manhood and for women to realize just how wild men want/should be. WaH questions why our Christian society sets the standard of Biblical manhood with Mr. Rogers rather than William Wallace (Braveheart). WaH pushes the envelope for men to embrace the biblical role of being men on fire for God and living on the edge. Most women probably won't like this book (or for their man to read it), and even some men may think it is too radical. So, maybe it is time to...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2008 Beccabug33 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: no one

I hate this book so much.

4 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2008 Luke rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book and "Waking the Dead" were powerful influencing factors in my 17 year-old psyche, but now I'm not so sure I agree with the general feel of his book. For me and many of my guy friends this book was important in letting us accept our manhood and face the deep questions and wounds of our masculinity. I like that it got us to the table to discuss and wrestle through a topic that is usually hidden. I don't believe that this book appeals to all guys like it did to us already adventuresome "m...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2008 Russell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What I liked: 1. This book was an easy read. I like to alternate between something light and something challenging. 2. It is written from a Christian perspective. 3. If you are not completely a frozen popsicle inside, then the book tries to inspire you to be more fully alive - seeking out your dreams, the very nature of your existence - dare to explore, take risks, and find a true calling.
What I did not like: 1. The author repeatedly makes reference to fighting, like men are made to fight, physi...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 01, 2007 Mont'ster rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: any man.

I have read this book before and I am re-reading it again now. It is a really good read. This is worth the time investment (over 300 pages) for any man. Eldredge explains why we are the way we are and he gives real, practical information on how to become a better man. This book is not psycho-babble, it is good, solid material. This book also works well in a study group session - I first read it in as part of a small group study.

[Added after a third read] I have lowered my rating from 4 stars to...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 23, 2007 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All single men & women

Shelves: booksiread

This book gave me a different perspective of men and women. Although I've been single for awhile now, I already had in mind what kind of man I wanted in the future and made me think that I can always find someone better than the person in front of me. This book allowed me to focus what I wanted in a man in a way that was refreshing and much more focused on his natural abilities of being "wild at heart."
In the same way that men were created to be adventurous and seekers of challenges, Eldredge p...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 12, 2009 Paul rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theology

The book was a birthday gift from my daughter Alicia. I found it a bit repetitive and slow at the beginning. The end of the book is excellent. Men are created to be adventurous, face danger, take risks etc. God trains a man thru his experiences. Men should train their sons to be men. The "mid-life crisis" is symptomatic of the incomplete man. God wants men.
This is not a macho book. I think any woman would be delighted to have a husband that loves and cherishes her as Eldredge advocates.

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2008 Alexis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favs

Okay, I would definitely have to agree that if you have a son, if you are married to a man, if you have a brother or a father, or if you have ever had a conversation with a man you should definitely read this book!
It really was just so enlightening to what makes a little boy a little boy and how those things don't really change when that boy grows up. But it's not in a Men are from Mars sort of way (or maybe it is, I actually haven't read that book!). Anyway, I am very glad that I read it. I thi...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 24, 2007 Winston crawford added it Recommends it for: yes

Men are awesome (the converted man that is). There heart is not perfect, but if they pursue honesty and are willing to be vulnerable that will be adorable to the people in there lives and especially to women of worth and honesty. The book is a religiously based book and thus inevitably ticked some people off, it did me(some of the theology is not correct) but I just take the good and politely dispose of the rest without any fanfare, it was worth the time and all the $12 dollars for the two copie...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 11, 2007 B. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an awesome book. The book is intended for men, as they usually enjoy the outdoors more than women.... My friends know differently, atleast in my case! It really focuses on spirituality in a "man's" view. It involved nature and I learned something about men at the same time. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone, male or female. Although it is a Christian book, it really has lessons to be learned for all faiths. However, there are some portions that did not always make sense to me...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 13, 2009 Gordon Francisco rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-enjoyed

To live for an adventure, to rescue a beauty and to fight a battle. Sounds like a story...like a tale of dragons, ladies in distress and war for the homeland against the dreaded enemy...like all movies...great books...great tales...stories tell of woes, foes and overcoming great obstacles. These are all great truths, but are they any truer than your own life? But, does your life seem like you are just sliding through, getting by one-day-at-a-time? That's how most of us live, to survive for the n...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2013 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: motivational, philosophy, psychology, religion

I have to preface this review with the note that my rating is based on the authors ability to present a cogent argument. this is a philosophy book and a call to embrace a worldview. some will agree and some will disagree, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a valid topic, a good idea, and is argued and presented in a strong way. myself, I have mixed feelings, but I'm very glad I read this. in my view, listening to an argument is always a good thing. I'm not going to debate specific dif...more I have to preface this review with the note that my rating is based on the authors ability to present a cogent argument. this is a philosophy book and a call to embrace a worldview. some will agree and some will disagree, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a valid topic, a good idea, and is argued and presented in a strong way. myself, I have mixed feelings, but I'm very glad I read this. in my view, listening to an argument is always a good thing. I'm not going to debate specific differences in scripture, doctrine, or the nature of God, but rather the argument itself.

my brother in law recommended this to me, and after having finished it, I can see how this philosophical worldview (for that's what this is at heart), fits his personality like a glove. not so everyone, and that is my main disagreement with the author. he takes a lot of all or none stances, and that just doesn't hold up. very few things in my experience are always the same for everyone.

the main argument of this book--that boys and men have a universal desire for action, adventure, and to "win the beauty" is a good one. "most" boys and men crave adventure and to conquer. I've always said, give a boy a stick and something to poke or hit and he's good. I myself have this passion, and I believe most men do. however, the author takes an absolute view-that all men necessarily are this way. he eventually goes on to suggest that if you don't it's because, excuse the simplification, "your masculinity is broken".

this also leads into another absolutist and heavily deterministic view that all men will or have had their masculinity "wounded", and I quote "almost always by their father" and necessarily require a healing and a return to risk and aggression. he uses a lot of examples of fathers abusing, degrading, and neglecting their sons , which causes them to be shy, troubled, and to lose their purpose and passion. I kept waiting for less stark examples but that was all there were--some kind of abuse or neglect. yes that kind of treatment will do that (amongst many other things), but to imply that everyone suffers this in their life (if simply by failing to provide other examples or exceptions) is ridiculous. again, too much all or none. that's not how the world works.

one of the other big flaws in the authors reasoning is his neglect of the introvert. in a simplified manner, there are introverts and extroverts. the authors worldview works well for those wild, expressive, and charismatic men, whose desire for adventure is often translated into "doing" (I.e. climbing a mountain or leading a company). but what of the introvert? many are perfectly happy to be a follower, or the one who quietly creates so others can "do". speaking as a strong introvert, I can say that I have a strong desire for adventure (acknowledging his basic point), but I can honestly say that I am content to be passive in carrying that out. I get my adventure from hearing about it, watching a movie, or reading a book. this satisfies me but is an unresolved wound in the authors mind. I hate camping, and and I would never get pleasure from hunting. and the idea of cliffjumping or being a CEO disgusts me. Sandi despise aggression and have often told my wife I'd rather surrender to an intruder than shoot him with a gun--and I think that's okay. it's not because I'm broken or unhealed, and its personality. and to imply that I am introverted because of my father neglecting my masculinity is just not the case. I highly recommend reading the book "quiet" as a supplement to this book (and as good informative reading in general). it does great justice in explaining the mind of the introvert to the extrovert. our culture tells us that introversion is bad, and this book is the byproduct of a classic extrovert not understanding that not everyone thinks and feels and desires the same things.

there are a lot of ideas in this book and it will definitely make you think, and probably draw a strong reaction from you one way or the other, and in my mind, that's a good thing, no matter how you feel about it.(less)

like · see review

Apr 25, 2013 Connor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Human nature is still a curiosity to people even with advanced technology. Why we do the things that we do is interesting because there is a reason behind it. I picked up Wild at Heart because my church was doing a men’s study. This book follows the difference between women and men according to The Bible. The author, John Eldredge, uses examples from scripture to try to explain why men act the way that they do.

The behavior of men has always been distinctive since Adam was first created. Their in...more Human nature is still a curiosity to people even with advanced technology. Why we do the things that we do is interesting because there is a reason behind it. I picked up Wild at Heart because my church was doing a men’s study. This book follows the difference between women and men according to The Bible. The author, John Eldredge, uses examples from scripture to try to explain why men act the way that they do.

The behavior of men has always been distinctive since Adam was first created. Their interests and action have different drives than those of women. Wild at Heart does not go against women or any ideas such as this. Instead it strictly follows men’s behavior. With this being a Christian book, Eldredge relates stories from The Bible so other Christians can understand and learn easily.

The only way to tell about what the book fully teaches is to read it because using verses would give away part of the build up. Some of the ideas that the author tries to explain to reader are how men are attracted to nature and violence. Violence is a gruesome topic, but is a heavy influence in the Old Testament. He goes in depth to explain how men were designed to be able to defend themselves and are God’s Warriors. The nature side to the story explains why men are attracted to certain landscapes such as mountains, lakes, rivers, and other interesting parts of earth. Stories are told about men in the bible who would travel to areas that felt holy so they could grow closer to God. With examples such as these, this book became an easy read.

The author, John Eldredge, has written multiple Christian books and has done his research. I enjoyed that he focused on The Bible and used his thought based upon passages and stories. My only concern with the book is the powerful influence and persuading. Although I do believe men were designed to be warriors, the author stretches this to make it an extreme. He sounded as if men should use this more than they do today. I do not agree with this idea because just as we were made to fight, men were also made to show love and generosity towards others. This idea is missed throughout the entire book. Eldredge does bring up good ideas when he explains that men need to let off tension, but this does not have to be done in a violent manner.

When reading this book, I found it to be a fast and easy read. I enjoyed the author basing his information off of actual events, but I found holes and missing sections that should explain how men could be compassionate as well as warriors. I would recommend this book to any Christian who wants to learn more about men and why they feel the way that they do.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Dan Gunderson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like many works which espouse a religious or philosophical value, this book has its appreciators and its detractors. The implications of the book's message are immensely significant; gender issues are frequently at the forefront of discussion in the social arena of our society. It's essential to understand, therefore, that the stakes are high for this book, as you can probably sense from other reviews.

To me, it is noteworthy how stridently many of this book's critics attack it. If I don't like...more Like many works which espouse a religious or philosophical value, this book has its appreciators and its detractors. The implications of the book's message are immensely significant; gender issues are frequently at the forefront of discussion in the social arena of our society. It's essential to understand, therefore, that the stakes are high for this book, as you can probably sense from other reviews.

To me, it is noteworthy how stridently many of this book's critics attack it. If I don't like a book, I'll perhaps offer a few measured words of critique and then put it down and move on with my life. The fact that so many people have taken it upon themselves to disparage this book with such verbose ferver, to me, is something of a hint at its true value. This book is neither "dangerous" nor "naive," despite what others claim.

In offering my own critique, I will note that Eldredge's presentation of ideas has some rough edges that could stand to be smoothed and that a few of his minor conclusions probably ought to be taken with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, his overall premise rings very true to me. We live unwittingly in a world in which masculinity is increasingly losing its divinely-appointed bearings. John Eldredge speaks to this problem straight from his heart, and he provides a good number of moral gems in this book that both men and women can profit from.

Eldredge speaks against the spreading "conventional wisdom" that being a man is somehow inherently a bad thing, and he observes that men are increasingly struggling to find a sense of masculine affirmation. He notes that men are blessed with unique gifts and abilities that need only to find proper expression, and that insisting that men be docile, submissive, "domesticated," and even apologetic is not in harmony with their divine purpose. God created man to be strong and "wild at heart," Eldredge says, and this is not incompatible with his intended roles of husband, father, and spiritual seeker. While Eldredge's language may be somewhat overly idealistic, his assertions that each man needs "a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue" seem, at least in my judgment, to be generally pretty accurate and insightful. Overall, the book presents a truly thought-provoking message.

It must be acknowledged that, just like nearly any other book, Wild at Heart has a target audience and a niche that will probably appreciate its message more than others. Those who aren't looking for what it has to offer will not likely get as much out of it. But I think anyone who is earnestly looking to learn something will find something worthwhile in this book.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 01, 2012 Bob Price rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Words cannot describe the loathing I have for this book. Instead of going on a complete rant and diatribe that nobody would read, but might make me feel better, I will highlight some of my problems with this book.

1. Shoddy theology--as I read this book, I was wondering...has the author read the Bible? Are you familiar with your supposed source material? Some of the major problems include Eldredge's complaint that by placing Adam in the Garden, God already tried to 'tame' Adam. Eldredge also at o...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 17, 2012 Gavin Breeden rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books

So I'm about eleven years late in getting to the party here. I remember "Wild at Heart" being really big among guys (and some gals) 16-22 when it came out and I can see why. I'm also really glad I didn't read this at such an impressionable age. There are a few good things here: Eldredge recognizes that there is something of a male identity crisis in many parts of the Church. In other words, there is confusion about what biblical manhood and womanhood look like. He also accurately pinpoints some...more So I'm about eleven years late in getting to the party here. I remember "Wild at Heart" being really big among guys (and some gals) 16-22 when it came out and I can see why. I'm also really glad I didn't read this at such an impressionable age. There are a few good things here: Eldredge recognizes that there is something of a male identity crisis in many parts of the Church. In other words, there is confusion about what biblical manhood and womanhood look like. He also accurately pinpoints some of these problems as stemming from the absence of a father or having a poor father. Eldredge clearly has a heart to minister to men in the 21st century Church and for that he should be commended.

Unfortunately, there are some significant problems in his method and his message that make this an unhelpful and perhaps even a dangerous book. First, most of Eldredge's points come from films ("Braveheart" is a particular favorite of his it would seem), books, conversations with friends, Eldredge's own life experience, and moments of God speaking to him privately. Now, of course God can use movies and books and friends to communicate with us and that's fine. But God's primary way of speaking to his people is by His Spirit, through His Word. Unfortunately, most of the book's main points come from the former list of things and not the Bible. Eldredge then pulls Bible passages out of context, twisting and distorting them to fit his purposes.

One glaring example of this that is crucial to the book's central argument is that because Adam was created in the wilderness and *then* put into the Garden of Eden and Eve was created *in* Eden that this somehow accounts for why men crave adventure and the wilderness while women desire to be safe and sound in a domesticated place. This is an example of trying to pull WAY too much meaning out of an incidental detail. When taking the whole Bible into account, one quickly sees how misguided Eldredge's point here is. First of all, the wilderness is almost always seen as a bad place to be in the Bible (consider what happens immediately after the Fall: Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden and sent into the wilderness, in Moses' day the scapegoat is sent out into the wilderness according to OT sacrificial laws, in the New Testament Jesus' temptation takes place in the wilderness, and so on).

Furthermore, Eden is meant to point to the New Heavens and the New Earth. It's no mistake that John's description of Heaven at the end of Revelation bears more than a passing similarity with Eden. Another example of Eldredge reading his own ideas into the text comes with his treatment of the book of Ruth. According to Eldredge, Ruth teaches us that biblical womanhood involves a woman being a seductress and using her feminine charms to get what she wants (contrary to Proverbs 31 and every other biblical passage on womanhood. He goes on to say that this Ruth as seductress thing is a biblical example for "all women" to follow (191). These are just two examples of Eldredge's misuse and abuse of the biblical text.

Then there's the actual content of the book which is troubling on a number of levels. Eldredge's view of biblical manhood is that we should be wild and untamed. The problem with men, he argues, is that their mothers, wives, and the Church has tried to tame them and make them "nice boys," instead of the wild adventurers that their hearts crave to be. Again he tries to insert this idea into various places in the Bible. His primary argument for why men are this way is because men are made in God's image and He is wild, passionate, and untamed, too. Putting aside that this isn't how anyone in the history of the Church has ever interpreted what it means to be made in God's image, is Eldredge somehow implying that men are more in God's image than women? I'm sure he wouldn't state it in those terms but it sort of felt that way in this book and that's just one example of how the book often seemed kind of sexist to me. Eldredge continually emphasizes that men are supposed to be adventurers and women are supposed to be the beauties waiting to be rescued (or seductresses, according to his exegesis of Ruth). The problem is I know lots of godly men who aren't naturally adventurous and lots of godly women who are. Which leads to another big problem with Eldredge's argument.

Eldredge seems to have taken a particular type of man (outdoorsy adventurer who likes to take risks) and made that the definition of masculinity. That idea is not rooted in the Bible and it isn't true according to our experience either. Is the guy out hiking a mountain somehow more manly than the guy working 9-5 in the office to put food on the table for his family? What about the man who leads with quiet strength? There are different types of personalities and it seems very unhelpful to tell all men that they need to be like this one type of man and go take some risks in order to be a true man.

According to Eldredge's definition, manhood looks and sounds a lot like boyhood. Be wild, let your desires lead you, don't worry about making a mess or being a nice boy (at one point, Eldredge shares the story of his first grade son getting picked on at school and Eldredge then encourages his son to hit the bully as hard as he can the next time he is picked on, he then defends this advice by saying that his son's "soul was hanging in the balance" because he might have been emasculated by the bully and he goes on to say that Christians today have misinterpreted Jesus' instructions about turning the other cheek but he offers no counter-interpretation).

But manhood is not about letting your desires lead you into the wilderness or being a risk-taker. In fact, that's the exact opposite of biblical manhood, which has historically been viewed as having mastery over your desires and impulses. Little boys and young men are lead to and fro by their desires and whims, men should have self-control and mastery over these things. (Maybe it shouldn't be surprising that Eldredge clarifies more than once that men shouldn't leave their wives perhaps realizing his advice might give some men justification for doing so.)

I could go on noting other theological and exegetical problems but I've said more than enough about a ten+ year old book that has received tons of praise and criticism as it is. Ultimately, this book is contradictory, confusing, and only muddies the already murky waters of biblical manhood in the American church today.

It is also one of the most popular Christian books of the last decade.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2012 Stephen E rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So, I liked this for the most part, especially the second half. Listened to it on unabridged audio.

Eldredge has a lot to say about the role of men in Christian life, and fights against the church image of how the ultimate goal is to be "nice" (or "safe"), and I do think that the church in general doesn't seem to value traditional masculine values/preferences. (Other books talk about this as well.) He talks a fair bit about 'wounds' to a man's sense of his own masculinity and many of these rang t...more

like · see review

May 24, 2012 Bart Breen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Controversial to be sure, Which is a good thing!

I read this book about a year ago and I found it to be a strong helpful statement in my life.

Some have already compared it to Robert Bly's "Iron John" and that is a good comparison. The two books have a lot in common.

What is different about this book is it does more than appeal to the "caveman" archetype that appears from time to time. It reminds men that there are elements to themselves that are not "civilized" and frankly were never meant to be c...more Controversial to be sure, Which is a good thing!

I read this book about a year ago and I found it to be a strong helpful statement in my life.

Some have already compared it to Robert Bly's "Iron John" and that is a good comparison. The two books have a lot in common.

What is different about this book is it does more than appeal to the "caveman" archetype that appears from time to time. It reminds men that there are elements to themselves that are not "civilized" and frankly were never meant to be civilized.

Our society, as of late, has lost sight of that element of men and in fact has even brought scorn upon the "macho" chosing instead to favor the effeminizing of men to make them more a fit into civilized society. Try and pull any of that "macho stuff" and you're more likely to be compared to Homer Simpson and parodied and laughed at before you'll be encouraged.

Beyond that Eldredge take a Biblical layer and asks if there is something more to be said, and what do you know; The Bible doesn't particularly cast men as "whimps."

The purely masculine in our society is being rejected and men are asked to step back and be "nice" and "safe." We're paying a price for that in our society and in the Church.

I think this book has something to say and it's small wonder people either love it or hate it. It threatens the foundation of many sacred cows our society want to defend at any cost.

There's plenty of room for warnings as to what happens if this pendulum swings too far in the other direction. Balance is needed and true masculinity can be expressed and celebrated without diminishing the feminine and the legitimate expression there as well. In fact real men lift up, appreciate and rejoice in the feminine side of things. It's a symbiotic relationship. Not the battle of the sexes it unfortunately is too often cast as.

A problem at this point and time in our western society and the Church is that the pedulum is swung too far away from the legitimate, healthy expression of masulinity and it's time to bring it back.

Eldredge's book seen in that context is a healthy and needed call to men and to the church.(less)

like · see review

Feb 09, 2012 C. Hollis Crossman rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's not surprising this book became as popular as it did; it's full of the kind of faux masculinity our culture loves. Being Wild at Heart, it turns out, simply means being rambunctious, working on cars, saving a damsel in distress, yada yada yada. It's the same old story, poorly written, and fortified with examples from movies like Braveheart and Gladiator.

Who comes up with this stuff? Is Eldredge so confused as to the true nature of Christian manhood that he really thinks the William Wallace...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 23, 2011 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

John Eldridge has written a book on a subject that is getting further and further drowned out in modern society, and that being the masculine spirit. Society has pressured a large number of men to either (a) misinterpret masculinity in the form of being of violent, macho jerk, or (b) suppress it, taking the form of a nice guy who, when challenged by a situation, will not be equipped to take a stand.

I recently read in the news about a Scandinavian school that has forbidden use of the pronouns "hi...more John Eldridge has written a book on a subject that is getting further and further drowned out in modern society, and that being the masculine spirit. Society has pressured a large number of men to either (a) misinterpret masculinity in the form of being of violent, macho jerk, or (b) suppress it, taking the form of a nice guy who, when challenged by a situation, will not be equipped to take a stand.

I recently read in the news about a Scandinavian school that has forbidden use of the pronouns "him" and "her". I know why they're doing it - to promote the lack of gender status that has been male-dominated for so long. However, this solution is a snapshot of our culture: in the quest for social equality, we are denying the obvious physiological proof that men and women are different! There are unique qualities in the drives of men and women, and when we suppress them or encourage other to do likewise, we are tampering with nature.

This is a book from a Christian perspective, and a church is a perfect example where you can find a building full of passive males who are afraid to embrace their masculine spirit. Eldridge uses the Bible and several other sources (including science) to point out that the masculine spirit is something that men should embrace, understand, and temper with service and love for others. I wish I could explain it better, but it's not so simple that a brief review can define it properly. In a nutshell, this book reminds men to live freely, not to let the fear of the unknown hold you back, and to get in touch with what you were born to be. This book belongs on every man's bookshelf. Even if you are not a Christian, I predict that you will find very little if anything here that sounds false.

As a final note, my wife can affirm from what little I've read that the author accurately describes the feminine spirit in contrast. Masculine and feminine are not words that should be politically correct. They are biological concepts that we need to get back to understanding. This book is a great start.(less)

like · see review

May 11, 2011 Jeff Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Often times when reading Christian books I hit a spot where I have to "eat the meat and spit out the bones." There were a few of those moments in this book, but overall? Loved it.

I first heard of it from a former professor and the background story to why I wanted to read Wild at Heart is worth mentioning. I was helping paint the professor's house for some cash over the summer. In the middle of a hot August afternoon I attempted to kill silence by asking, at the peak of my a.d.d., the famous que...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chrisian

I read this book because I wanted to know how my husband's heart really worked (he isn't good at telling me in a language I understand!) It was fueled by a deep desire to pray for the matters of his heart. After raising 4 boys I did understand about the warrior need,the need for activity and of course food, constant fuelling. what I didn't know is how their hearts get wounded and how to pray specifcally for their healing. this book was tremendously helpful in not only understanding my own heart...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Should I read this book?	29	129	28 jan. 18:04

combine
Other Editions (47)

More editions...

Genres

Christian

264 users

Non Fiction

158 users

Religion > Christianity

89 users

Religion

68 users

Spirituality

65 users

Religion > Faith

43 users

Religion > Theology

34 users

Self Help

30 users

Relationships

24 users

Inspirational

21 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About John Eldredge

John Eldredge is an author (you probably figured that out), a counselor, and teacher. He is also president of Ransomed Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own heart in his love, and learn to live in his Kingdom. John grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles (which he hated), and spent his boyhood summers on his grandfather’s cattle ranch in eastern Ore...more

More about John Eldredge...

Books by John Eldredge

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God

Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

The Journey of Desire: Searching for the Life We Always Dreamed of

Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really.

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Wild at Heart: A ...

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Wild at Heart: Discove...

“I wasn't mean; I wasn't evil. I was nice. And let me tell you, a hesitant man is the last thing in the world a woman needs. She needs a lover and a warrior, not a Really Nice Guy.” — 44 people liked it

“And after years of hearing the heart-cry of women, I am convinced beyond a doubt of this: God wants to be loved. He wants to be a priority to someone. How could we have missed this? From cover to cover, from beginning to end, the cry of God's heart is, "Why won't you choose Me?" It is amazing to me how humble, how vulnerable God is on this point. "You will . . . find me," says the Lord, "when you seek me with all your heart" (Jer. 29:13). In other words, "Look for me, pursue me -- I want you to pursue me." Amazing. As Tozer says, "God waits to be wanted.” — 27 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
avg rating	preview: Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul Goodreads rating: 3.85 (21793 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1847.Wild_at_Heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348770626l/1847.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1847.Wild_at_Heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul by John Eldredge[/url]

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website