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Apr 27, 2007

Elena rated it:

This book is aimed at a male reader however I think it's insightful for women as well. Some people may take offense to some of his gender stereotypes however I believe that the author makes very relevant claims about the nature of men and women. He clarifies that obviously not everyone is the same; some women a have more masculine essence and vice versa.

In a time where men are encouraged to be more emotional and take on feminine qualities and women are encouraged to take on more ma More...

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Jan 05, 2009

Jim rated it:

Wow. So this is a very controversial book. It was introduced to me by a friend of mine just going through a divorce, and feeling like he'd suppressed his masculine side for 20 years (of which I actually witnessed the final few years). It wasn't that he was emasculated by his wife so much as he was willing to bury a part of him resulting in him not exploring his full potential, and living a life true to his nature. He was living this book like a paint-by-numbers guidebook. BUT... it was work More...

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Apr 19, 2009

Brad rated it:

Typical, new age bunk. Takes a truth from the Bible (gender roles) and harps on it like there was no other point to life (there is). Obsessed with sex. What a waste of paper. No real inventive thought here at all.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 22, 2012

Millionaire rated it:

Every now and then I read a book that makes me go "where the hell has this book been my entire life". In “The Way of the Superior Man”, David Deida provided the best relationship advice I’ve read since Bertrand Russell’s’ “Marriage and Morals” or “Mating in Captivity” by Esther Perel, the best advice on male sexuality since Mantak Chia’s “The Multi-Orgasmic Man”, and not since Viktor E. Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” has a book made me “check” myself and reevaluate my actions mor More...

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Jan 14, 2012

John rated it:

I wish someone had given me this book as a young man, not as a middle-aged one because I might have become a half-decent person sooner in life. David Deida explains how men and women each run masculine and feminine energy but rarely make peace with these complementary life forces. Our society does a poor job of helping us embrace our masculine and feminine sides, and often celebrates sexuality at the debasement of the gifts of each of the gender archetypes. Too often the attraction of the radian More...

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Oct 18, 2011

melissabee rated it:

the casual reader misunderstands deida and wrongly characterizes him as stereotyping genders. this is not at all what he is doing. listen deeper. he writes/teaches about masculine and feminine energy, which is present to varying degrees in all men and women. when he describes feminine energy, he is not describing women, and when he describes masculine energy, he is not describing men. this is an important distinction. as he says, even places have masculine and feminine energies, e.g., hawaii has More...

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Aug 08, 2011

Deepak rated it:

Awesome book everyone should read it even girls. The book is written by a guy for guys but it explains masculine and feminine energy which is possessed by both men and women and its good to understand that even if you have feminine energy just so you can understand others and yourself. This is a very mature book and not intended for people who have not experienced much yet there was a lot in it that I at 27 can not relate to or critique but the bits could relate to were very good and has improve More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Mike rated it:

Having read the author's 2005 novel "Wild Nights" ("Superior Man" was published 2004), I was expecting this book to be just as full of new age-y gibberish and half-baked ideas. I was therefore quite surprised and impressed to find "Superior Man" to be clear, understandable, and compelling. Deida says we have to move away from the '50s man who was all spine and no heart and from the '90s man who was all heart and no spine to a "superior" man who combines More...

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Sep 03, 2010

Andrea rated it:

I liked it! Yes, his wording is a little New Agey at times, but ultimately, he gives solid advice for men and "masculine" women on how to deal with work, "feminine" women, and sexual desire. Basically: live with purpose; don't put up with bullshit; stay in your center; and quit trying to control people--make your true self your priority. (that's MY wording ;-) I agree with his view of masculine and feminine natures, how they can both work in the world, and the importance of p More...

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Sep 19, 2010

Umugaba rated it:

Stop hoping for a completion of anything in Life:
most men make the error of thinking that one day it will be done.
Do what you love to do, what you are waiting to do, what you've been born to do, NOW.

Live with an open heart even if it hurts

A free man is free to acknowledge his fears, without hiding them, or hiding from them.Live with your lips pressed against your fear, kissing your fears, neither pulling back nor aggressively violating them.

Never More...

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Apr 21, 2008

Justina rated it:

This book is for any guy who has ever tried in vain to understand women. And for any woman who is interested in how men and women complement, and therefore frustrate, each other. I have never felt so explained before, in a way that I could never have done myself.

At times a bit condescending, and there was some profanity I thought unnecessary, but overall an incredible book.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jul 05, 2010

Jerry rated it:

I would say that the best thing that I learned from this book is the "inhale down the front, exhale up the back" breathing technique. It's very relaxing and I especially like doing it while I'm at the gym; I think it makes my abs firmer which make me look fitter.

I thought it was funny how the author basically makes it seem like most women are crazy and emotionally unstable. According to him, that's what makes them beautiful. Made me wonder if he knew some of the same girls More...

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Jan 20, 2012

Yianni rated it:

I have a few reservations about this book. It's bits and pieces of good advice scattered amongst new age sexist drivel. And that's coming from me, and I'm not the politically correct type.

David's good points include:

-Live from your core.

-Live with an open heart, even if it hurts to do so.

-Learn from other's criticism.

-Your personal mission will be more important to you than any particular relationship. This is both normal and desirable; and to de More...

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Oct 25, 2011

Adam rated it:

I read this book cover to cover in two days. It was extremely powerful in its directness and acceptance of what it is to be masculine, encouraging the masculine man (the intended audience) to stop resisting things that will never change and begin truly living out a real purpose.

The book is broken up into very short sections, usually 1-2 pages, and its structure lends itself to easy integration if it fits or a simple moving on if it doesn't.

I would definitely recommend it to m More...

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Sep 06, 2009

Douglas rated it:

An excellent book on the finer points on exhibiting masculine energy properly and the finer points on polarization between masculine and feminine energy.

Honestly, this book went a bit over my head at some points. Its like when i read men are from mars and women are from venus before my first girlfriend. You hear the concepts but until you have had enough experience, they are still foreign to you.

My friend from Tony Robbins recommended this to me. Its a worthwhile read More...

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Feb 01, 2011

Noah rated it:

This book was amazing. It's been a couple of months since I finished it, so I've had some time to try to put the ideas into practice. I have to say that I think he's right. I think it can be summed up pretty easily: no more whining, guys. Yes, it really is all about you. It challenges us to take responsibility for ourselves and not blame those around us.

I can't believe that I never realized the things he writes about. I felt like I was being given the keys to the kingdom. It seems so More...

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Dec 26, 2010

Will rated it:

I have a problem with books like this, in that no matter how much good advice they present (i.e. take responsibility for your life), they do so from an incorrect perspective -- that you have a "masculine" or "feminine" energy (which I object to in itself, as it confuses personal spirituality and morality with gender roles) and that the best thing you can do is try to be the best "man" that you can. Which, coincidentally, Mr Deida can tell you all about, and can eve More...

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Oct 23, 2010

Leo added it

I’m new to spiritual guidebooks. If the quality of this genre, which I would describe as “pseudo-spiritual self help” is consistently at this level then I shall never revisit it. The book, the Way of the Superior Man, is written by David Deida, one of thousands of self-styled guru shaman pervo-types from the picturesque capital of all things Uber Spiritualastic - Boulder, Colorado. My unfair stereotypes of Boulder residents are now only worsened by this poorly written, grammatically laughable More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

May 18, 2010

Polina rated it:

Listened to the book a second time, this time more thoroughly. Curious to have read my own review from a few years ago. The review this time is that the book is truly one of a kind and is extremely relevant to these times of confusion of male and female roles and resulting frustrations within relationships. It has been as invaluable to me in understanding myself and experiencing more of my feminine nature as it was to my male friends in helping them understand their role in a partnership and the More...

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Jan 17, 2009

Taka rated it:

Good!

Unsatisfied and unhappy with your relationships? Want to improve yourself? Be more confident? More alpha?

This is book is for you.

If you're a man, buy this and study it. I had to disagree with some of the advice, but overall, the general framework it presents of how a man ought to be is as solid as steel and as brilliant as gold. It also offers good explanatory concepts on how the female mind works in contrast to the male mind and how they create relations More...

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Nov 16, 2009

Marshall rated it:

This book could be called "the tao of masculinity." It tries to be a celebration of the masculine, its polar antagonism with the feminine which author David Deida believes is important for sexual and spiritual growth. Much of its advice is the combination of a watered-down version of tantra and the standard spiritual cliches like being fully present and remaining devoted to our life's mission. I had high hopes for this book because it was recommended by multiple people. Maybe that' More...

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Jun 29, 2010

Niniane rated it:

I got this book as a birthday present. The sections about women are really true: that we wish the guy will be lighthearted when we are moody, that track record doesn't matter when the guy screws up, that our complaining usually stems from feeling unloved, and that praise works better than criticism. I am pleased that my behaviors which I previously thought were troublesome (and that should be controlled) are labeled by this book as powerful feminine energy. I feel highly validated!

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Jun 17, 2009

Marc rated it:

This book can be fundamentally life changing for adult men. In this modern world where ritual indoctrination into manhood has been cast aside as a barbaric practice, where fathers and sons are often seperated by long work days or divorce, and with the increasing emasculation of male figures and role models on television, how does a boy know how to become a man, and what does that man look like? This book teaches not only how to be a real man, but how to be the best man you can be.

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Jan 25, 2009

Timm added it

Not for men only. Deida is a tantric genius and this book is about cultivating the masculine. Geared and written for Men yes, it is no less the most profound, direct, and practical statement of the masculine that lies waiting to be cultivated within all human beings. This book will teach the art of dying while offering your deepest gifts, by the meditative inquiry and answer to the question....what do I need to do or become today, so that I can die complete?

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 30, 2011

Alexander rated it:

This book is like a true friend. It'll offer you guidance and not necessarily the words you might wanna hear, but perhaps some you might need to hear. My advice is that when you read this book, try to remember any of your past relationships and think this reading into how it was all acted out. I read this book while as a relationship was falling apart and I believe it helped me in my recovery. I guess my attempt is to try and watch the world unfold as a flower.

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Jun 01, 2010

Pamela rated it:

This is a book that I highly recommend to my female friends who are having difficulties with their mates. David empowers men with this book and he has an incredible in depth understanding of male and female psychology and what men really need to grow in order to throw off their mother complex and be the kind of men they were meant to be. He also explains to men where they should draw the line when with women who have failed to mature themselves into a deeply loving relationship that has room for More...

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Nov 09, 2011

Kimberly Laura rated it:

David Deida does a bang up job as your new best friend.

Giving men an opportunity to be heard, affirmed and admonished by one of their peers. Giving them the sort of challenge that only another man can pose.

His blunt simplicity in tackling the real issues men face when moving into their 'full man strength' - as my girlfriends and I call it - is as educational as it is entertaining.

And just when you are comfortable with this book as an Oprah-era self help tome, More...

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Jun 27, 2008

Daniel rated it:

A book like this really had to happen, after the dreadful (and deserved) nosedive that the whole "new man" idea has taken in recent years. Deida's premise is that some kind of new archetype is needed for men, a combination of heart and spine. And it is a good premise. As for his observations and advice, well, I find them useful, indeed there are more than a few places where I found myself realising that I had come to similar realisations myself in the past.

That said, I can' More...

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Jan 29, 2009

Steve rated it:

This is so far beyond anything I have ever encountered on this subject that it would not be a stretch to say it is the ONLY thing I have ever read on this subject. This gets to the reality of a man, his sexuality and how he truly relates sexually to a woman in a manner so advanced, so conscious, so deep it is almost unbelievable. I recommend this book to every man and woman that I know.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 26, 2011

Julien rated it:

A must read for every person, man or woman, young or old, gay or straight. All of us can, and should, learn something from this book. For people who feel that they are going through the worst stage of their lives, or just of their relationships, it is most recommended because this is actually one of those books you hear about all the time that changed lives. Enjoy.

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