The Way of the Wild Heart Manual: A Personal Map for Your Masculine Journey

by John Eldredge, John Eldredge

A map for the masculine journey.

Becoming the man God designed you to be, the man you long to be, and even dream of being, does not happen overnight. You know that. The path to manhood is a journey of discovery and experience, trial and adventure. In "The Way of the Wild Heart Manual," John Eldredge and Craig McConnell come alongside those men who long to have a guide to lead them through this rite of passage, this masculine initiation.

Filled with personal stories, illustrations from popular movies and books, and probing questions, this manual will set you on a heart-searching expedition to authentic masculinity through reflection, meditation, and experience. This vital companion to "The Way of the Wild Heart" is designed to help you know God as Father in a way you've never known him before. Guiding you through the six stages that all men must go through―the Beloved Son, the Cowboy Ranger, the Warrior, the Lover, the King, and the Sage―its discerning questions, key points, and exercises will help you discover the life that God intended for you as a man.

Ultimately, this is a walk "with" God. Let your Father Show you the way.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2006

About the author

John Eldredge is an American author, counselor, and lecturer on Christianity. He is known for his best-selling book Wild at Heart.

Reviews

[Adam Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been several years since I read Wild at Heart, and this book is meant to be read quickly after that. There are many concepts Eldredge expands on here that he introduces in the earlier book, but once read and understood, you'll never forget them, and I don't feel my reading was hampered by the long interim between books. I will say that I've grown up a lot between readings, and so certain concepts affected me differently than they had in Wild at Heart, most notably the "father wound". Eldredge says every man has one, this gaping hold left by the imperfection of their upbringing with their earthly fathers. Previously, I had assumed that he was really saying that every father is a failure, no matter how good he was, and therefore any man who says that he either doesn't have issues with his father or has learned to forgive has not dealt with it entirely. Now I know that I had misunderstood, perhaps because I had not entirely come to terms with my past. Since then, I have developed a deeper, closer bond with my father than I ever had before, and while he's not perfect, he did fine. I turned out great. And no father IS perfect. Eldredge says this is by design, for God means for us to find in Him what our fathers can't do for us, and our dads' role is to raise us to understand we are beloved and capable men, to build up our confidence while at the same time leading us to the One who completes the father's role where he falls short.

The Way of the Wild Heart is essential reading for every man. Whereas Wild at Heart was an intellectual, emotional, discussion-oriented book, its sequel is a book of action that will get you off your butt and headed for adventure. You can't sit still after reading this one. It's not what we're designed to do. Well done.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It motivated me to spend more time with my son and we even went packing in the Big Horns as an initiation. I was able to connect in many ways to the author's life as a son without a present earthly father, but also being able to see where God fathered me through other men in my life. I would definitely recommend all fathers with sons to give this book a read. This review is for the manual however. I was not able to get as much out of the manual as I was the book. The questions and discussion topics were okay, but I found it was easier to just discuss the book while reading it with others than to include the addition of the manual. It has some merits though, which is why I have given it a three star rating.

[Matt Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. As good if not better than Wild at Heart. I will reread this book, reference back to it and gift it to others. I really love Eldredge’s concept of The Masculine Journey.

[Clint Flatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A description of the stages of a man's journey through life and how moving from one stage to another affect the rest of his life. This is a sequel to "Wild at Heart" but they can be read independant of each other. I enjoyed this book and found it to be true in my life journey.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The manual goes with the book! Great stuff!