Gods in Everyman

by M.D. Bolen, Jean Shinoda

In this challenging and enlightening companion volume to the bestselling Goddesses in Everywoman, Jean Shinoda Bolen turns her attention to the powerful inner patterns, or archetypes, that shape men's personalities, careers, and personal relationships. Viewing these archetypes as the inner counterparts of the outer world of cultural stereotypes, she demonstrates how men and women can gain an invaluable sense of wholeness and integration when what they do is consistent with who they are. Dr. Bolen introduces these patterns in the guise of eight archetypal gods, or personality types, with whom the reader will identify. From the authoritarian power-seeking gods (Zeus, Poseidon) to the gods of creativity (Apollo, Hephaestus) to the sensual Dionysus, Dr. Bolen shows men how to identify their ruling gods, how to decide which to cultivate and which to overcome, and how to tap the power of these enduring archetypes in order to enrich and strengthen their lives. She also stresses the importance of understanding which gods you are attracted to and which are compatible with your expectations, uncovers the origins of the often-difficult father-son relationship, and explores society's deep conflict between nurturing behavior and the need to foster masculinity.

In Gods in Everyman Dr. Bolen presents us with a compassionate and lucid male psychology that will help all men and women to better understand themselves and their relationships with their fathers, their sons, their brothers, and their lovers.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mythology, Philosophy, Spirituality, Religion, Self Help

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Arezu Wishka · Rating 5 out of 5]

این کتاب رو بعد از گذروندن دوره های روانشناسی یونگی دوباره خوندم. نظرم در مورد کتاب، ادراکم از حرف‌هاش زیر و رو شد و گرچه دو سال پیش خوندن این کتاب صرفا برام جالب بود، حالا خوندنش برام یه دید جدید و به شدت کاربردی ایجاد کرد. بعضی وقت ها ما آماده یکسری مفاهیم و کتاب ها نیستیم. خوندن کتاب ها توی دوره های مختلف زندگی می تونه معانی مختلفی براتون داشته باشه و برداشت های متفاوتی بهتون بده و برای همینه من دیگه نگران فراموش کردن داستان و مفهوم کتاب هایی که می خونم نیستم. دیگه می دونم اگه وقتش باشه من برداشتم رو می کنم و اگه دوباره وقتش برسه دوباره وقت خوندن اون کتاب می رسه.
هویت من رو کتاب هایی که می خونم تعیین نمی‌کنه، خردیه که از خوندن اون کتاب ها به دست میارم.

[Mb · Rating 3 out of 5]

فكر ميكنم براي كسي كه تا حالا كتابهاي سبك روانشناسي و روانكاوي مخصوصا از نوع كهن الگويي و يونگي نخونده (مثل من) جالب باشه..در كل يك اثر روانشناسي ساده و عاميانه ست كه تكرار هم زياد داره..همينطور ضد و نقيض زيادي داره كه اين البته به ماهيت روانشناسي برميگرده..
بيشتر كمك ميكنه با سرگذشت كهن الگو ها و ساكنين كوه المپ اشنا بشيد..😊😂
و اگه جايي لازم شد با يكي دو تا نگاه زيركانه كهن الگوي غالب مخاطبتون رو از پس و پشت روح و جسمش بكشيد بيرون و يه احساس غروري هم بكنيد 😂

[Salma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Dr. Bolen's 'sequel' to Goddesses in Everywoman. See my review on that for the premise that shapes both books. I enjoyed "Goddesses" so much that I picked this up, just for more insight into the other sex. This time, Dr. Bolen's categorization is simpler- Father and Sons. Here is- again, my brief, half in jest summarization of the modern men these archetypes represent.

Zeus- God of the Sky (Every President in the US ('cept that idiot GW))

Poseidon- God of the sea and turbulent emotion (That guy who gets into barroom brawls every Saturday night)

Hades- God of the Underworld (Goth dudes)

Apollo- God of the Sun (Preppy Yale boys)

Hermes- God of Communication- Trickster and Traveler (used car salesmen)

Ares- Warrior god (Army guys)

Hephaestus- God of Craft/Love (the sensitive, moody artist with the White Zombie tee)

Dionysus- God of Wine and Ecstasy (Jim Morrison)

Again, Bolen states that most men are a combination of the above stereotypes. She also states that women can have god and goddess energies, just as men have both goddess and god. So it's good for both sexes to read both books for increased self-awareness. I saw a bit of Hephaestus in me, so that was interesting.

[Algirdas Brukštus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Išmintinga knyga apie vyruose slypinčias jėgas, save išreiškiančias per graikų dievus. Savita vyrų tipologija. Akmuo į Alma litteros daržą: rimta knyga su gana šiaip sau viršeliais ir dar labiau šiaip sau pavadinimo vertimu.

[Mohammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتابی برای شناخت کهن الگوهای مردان
اگر به این موضوع باور داشته باشید می تونه مفید باشه

[فرشید قهرمانی · Rating 5 out of 5]

در این کتاب دکتر ژان شینودا بولن در باره‌ی ویژگی‌های درونی مردان و کهن‌الگوهایی که شخصیت و رفتارهای آنها را (در دنیای کار، روابط، درگیری‌ها و ...) شکل می‌دهد، سخن می‌گوید.
هریک از این کهن‌الگوهای اسطوره‌ای، ویژگی‌های خاص خود رادارد. زئوسِ سلطه‌جو،‌ پوزیدونِ احساساتی، دیونوسوسِ شاد، هادسِ درونگرا، هفایستوسِ صنعتگر، آرسِ جنگجو ، هرمسِ مسافر و آپولویِ مراقب ممکن است به تنهایی در مردی نمایان باشند یا ترکیبی از این کهن‌الگوها شخصیت او را شکل دهند. مردی که می‌داند کهن‌الگوهای غالب در شخصیتش چه ویزگی‌هایی دارند، آگاهیِ کافی از نوع شخصیت و رفتارهایش خواهد داشت.
این کتاب به زنان نیز کمک می‌کند تا به درک کامل‌تری از مردانی که در زندگی‌شان حضور دارند (نامزد، همسر، پسر و پدر)، برسند. این کهن‌الگوها حتی در وجود زنان نیز دیده‌می‌شوند و در زندگی‌شان نقش‌دارند.
داستان‌ها و تصاویر اسطوره‌ای در این کتاب، ما را به یاد نمونه‌هایی آشنا از کسانی که در زندگی می‌شناسیم می‌اندازد و رفتارهای آنان را به یادمان می‌آورد. با به‌ دست آوردن آگاهی بیشتر از این افراد، دچار شگفتی می‌شویم و همین آگاهی، زندگی‌مان را غنی‌تر می‌کند.
دکتر ژان شینودا بولن تحلیلگر یونگی و استاد رشته‌ی روان‌شناسی در دانشگاه کالیفرنیاست. او نویسنه‌ی کتاب‌های پرفروش دیگری به نا‌م « انواع زنان»، «تائوی روان‌شناسی» و «حلقه‌ی قدرت» است.

[Hengameh · Rating 3 out of 5]

بنظرم اومد به خاطر استقبال زیاد از کتاب قبلی اسطوره های زنان به زور این کتاب رو نوشته.

مطالبش مثل اون کتاب برای درک مفاهیم روانی به نظرم کامل نبودن.
مطمئن نیستم چه چیزی رو جا انداخته بود ولی من نمی‌تونستم آرکتایپ هارو به درستی تو اطرافیانم مقایسه کنم انگار یه سری زوایای روان بشر نادیده گرفته بشه توش.

منظورم اینه که دسته بندی پایه ای ای نبود. مثلا در کتاب اساطیر زنان هم یه آرکتایپ همه جوانب یک زن رو تعریف نمی‌کرد ولی به صورت کلی اون ۶ دسته میتونستن همه جوانب رو روی هم پوشش بدن.

شاید هم باید نگاه دوباره ای به کتاب بندازم بعدا و بیشتر فکر کنم بهش.

داستان های اساطیریش ولی همچنان جذاب بودن

[Ugnė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Labai norėčiau perskaityti šią knygą anglų kalba. Nes Goddesses in Everywoman ryte prarijau, o šitos skaitymas buvo trūkčiojantis: vis grįždavau prie pastraipų ir bandydavau suprasti, ką tais visais žodžiais norėta pasakyti. Tai ir nebežinau, ar čia vertimo, ar mano problemos.

Tačiau apskritai labai patiko ir sakyčiau, kad perskaityti reikia ne vien vyrams (ir ne vien tam, kad tuos vyrus pažintum).

[Farhad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read in conjunction with goddesses in every woman by the same author, the two books (separated for each gender) should be read as a single volume.
easy to read and a good startup / gateway book for anyone interested in newer more gentle Jungian philosophy.

[BookChampions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gods in Everyman is Bolen's follow-up to Goddesses in Everywoman, and I will certainly get to that one this year because this book was deeply insightful. I insist that it's damn near impossible to not see parts of yourself and every man and boy in your life in the eight Greek god archetypes explored in this text. I think I ended up aligning most with Dionysus, Hephaestus and Poseidon, and it was a lot easier to see the archetypes at work than one might think.

To get the most out of her vision, it may take at least a certain level of appreciation for psychoanalysis and the archetypal work of, say, Jung or Joseph Campbell, but this is a book that can speak to anyone, especially at a time when toxic masculinity is being unpacked so vigilantly and necessarily. A lot of that conversation holds men accountable without understanding why the men in our lives we love are the way they are. All men are not alike and when one man veers from the expectation, it isn't a case of "you are just an exception to the rule." Masculinity is much more complex than that. As a feminist text, Jean Shinoda Bolen's book critiques patriarchy but also aims to transform it. Instead, she guides men, straight and queer—as well as the women who love them—in finding wholeness, balance of spirit, responsibility to others, and psychological health.

I can't recommend this book more highly to male readers and anyone that wants to understand their sons, fathers, and/or partners. She even insists that women will find some of these archetypes at play in their lives. It's all in this book, folks! Now I can't wait to read about the Goddesses>.

[V Mignon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, Gods in Every Man is not a book on men. I could say the same for Goddesses in Every Woman. I believe Bolen is analyzing human archetypes, rather than gender archetypes. I have known some Athena men in my time and some Poseidon women. The myths that she analyzes apply to both men and women. The father myth is about how a patriarchy can destroy or ennoble a human. By trying to fit into the patriarchy, it can destroy the human. Buy by having the power to turn away from the patriarchy and become an independent can ennoble a human.

Bolen breaks up the gods into fathers, favored sons, and rejected sons. Aspects seen in Zeus are accepted by the patriarchy, with Hades and Poseidon acting as the Zeus archetype's shadows. Poseidon is the emotional aspect and Hades is the soulful aspect, which the patriarchy tries to contain. Apollo and Hermes (law and communication) are the accepted archetypes because they fall in the realm of the patriarchy while Ares and Hephaestus are the rejected sons. Both the Ares and Hephaestus archetype rely on emotions, which is why they're rejected. Ares depicted brute strength, but he was also incredibly passionate. He reacted on emotions immediately, in the world of the "here and now." Hephaestus utilized his emotions to create beautiful artifacts, and always stood by the matriarch. The myths inevitably tell what was accepted and rejected by ancient Greek culture. Sadly, I feel that these gender stereotypes are still in effect today.

"Male stereotypes also hold power over men, limiting who they can comfortably be by rewarding some qualities and rejecting others." When a society defines what a man should be, that instantly cuts out men who are outside of that definition. The same is true of women. I appreciated it that Bolen's books weren't necessarily applied to gender. I hate that whole "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" philosophy, as it only serves to make people think that gender stereotypes are accepted.

However, I didn't care for Bolen's comments on gay culture in the Ares archetype: ". . . the gay culture's acceptance of nonmonogamous relationships allows for the kind of relationship that Aphrodite and Ares had . . ." Perhaps it's a statement of the time the book was published, but whether people are going to be nonmonogamous or not has nothing to do with sexuality or gender or what a culture accepts.

Except for that one aspect, I really enjoyed this new look on psychology (well, to me it was new). I was fascinated with how Bolen related the father myth to Star Wars. I could probably rattle off ten more movies that utilize that myth, subconsciously or not. Her explanations of the sacrifice of Isaac and Iphigenia made a lot of sense. It made me want to read more Jung, actually.

Taking the ideas in this book into consideration, I found it funny that I received so many strange faces when asking around for this book. For some reason, Goddesses in Every Woman is an acceptable title, but Gods in Every Man is not.

[Jozsef Laszlo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never in my entire life accidentally touched such a biased, Jung's saboteur worthy, piece of flaming garbage of a paper collection named a book, rife with the feminist agenda to the point of vomiting!

If you can stomach the words "..in our patriarchal society..." or any constant derivative of the word patriarchy using it to distort any concept in contrast to exactly nothing, then props to you. Because I can't.
Indeed my expectations of this book were set high by being a Jung, Campbell fanboy coming to it excited for more KWML (by Robert Moore) style reading. Hoping that the fact that the author calls herself a Jungian analyst would make a great read, but NO, I get an extremist's view by someone who wants to sabotage Dr.Jung's legacy with her own agenda.

There is nothing loving, compassionate, thinking the reader's freedom or being yourself in this book. (because that's how Jung and his first "disciples" are.)

In this book there is only a very narrow minded angle, expressed through a shallow judgement of a person's suffering, they being presented as the victim by "the patriarchal society we live in" in contrast to some other non existent (idk, maybe matriarchal society from the bronze age?) perspective.

A very big sales pitch of a utopian worldview where men are suffering because dad was evil and how we would all be better off if mom (or any other woman at least) was in charge of our lives until we died and even after, preferably.

Disgusting, an insult to mythology in general, Jung's brilliant work and legacy.

Psychology is pro-freedom of choice, compassionate and free of bias; and it should remain so as long as it can be expressed in any way.

THIS BOOK and Any other attitude out there stating otherwise, is not aimed at one's own good, it's aimed at controlling and shaping them into little obedient servitors opposite to their authentic desires.

I gave one of the gods (Hades) a read which was okay, but then I decided I should read the chapters before it. When I finished the first chapter I dropped it like a rock!

[Olga · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for the same depth of analysis of an intersection between Greek mythology and archetypal psychology in mens' lives as the "Goddesses in Everywoman" was. I was disappointed. I had a feeling that the author lost her steam as she was writing, and that she was just not as imaginative with the interpretations of the myths of the Greek gods.

I liked the book, still, and I felt that it was an important companion to the Goddesses in Everywoman. I found "the missing piece" of the puzzle -- I was wondering how to connect some of my instinctual emotional responses to any of the goddesses, but when I read about Poseidon, I had an "aha" moment of recognition.

So this book is fine and useful, it just could have been so much more than it is.

[Pamela Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archetypes are a powerful tool for self-knowledge because they tap into the universal collective language we all share. Learning to become more aware of your own archetypes can help you see yourself, the bigger picture and is a good place to start creating solutions for yourself and others. This book is for men but women will benefit as well by integrating the masculine archetypes within themselves and to better understand the men in their lives. Jean Shinoda Bolen has also written a most wonderful book for women called "Goddesses in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women's Lives". Both of her books are keepers in my library and I refer to them often for reference in my own writing.

[Farzaneh · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب جالبیه و برای کسانی که میخوان خودشون رو بشناسن می تونه یاریگر باشه، اما به نظر من خودشناسی با این کتاب با نگاهی جزئی شکل می گیره یعنی به سرعت سراغ کوچکترین بخش های شخصیتی میره به همین خاطر به دوستانی که می خوان نگاهی سودمند و کارگر به درون خودشون داشته باشن پیشنهاد می کنم با کتاب «ماندن در وضعیت آخر» آغاز کنن.
دوست داشتنی ترین قسمت این کتاب برای من وقتیه که از اسطوره ی امروزی «صدمین میمون» می گه و همینطور این شعر تی اس الیوت که در پایان فصل 12 آورده

آنچه شروع می دانیم، خیلی وقت ها پایان است
به پایان رسیدن شروعی دوباره است
پایان همان جایی است که دوباره از آن شروع می کنیم

[Guoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One more must-reads for those who are eager to find themselves and their couples in a different way, sometimes even to explain some “didferent”, “ enadequite” behaviour. And now I know: this is because of the God sitting in that man. The God who influences his thougths, behaviour, dreams, amount of words per day and the way he loves and lives overall.
Highly recommended for men, but if they are not eager to read, extremely useful women as well.
The book itself could not be structures better!

[Suzie Quint · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was recommended to me as a book useful to writers for character building. While it refreshed a lot of what I'd forgotten about Greek mythology, it struck me a pop psychiatry and not terribly useful for my needs. Your mileage my vary.

[Keyser Soze · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you go beyond the author acid and far too present remarks about the seemingly always negative influences of patriarchy, the book is really good.

[Carrie Puckette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Goddesses in Everywoman first, and I talked to my Dad about it the entire time. So when I told him I was going to get Gods in Everyman, he expressed interest in reading it. When I eventually got it, Dad got his hands on it first, and I didn't see it for weeks before I finally snatched it away from him to read. Now that I finished it, I expect Dad is going to steal it away again for several weeks before I send it back to the library.
We've talked a little bit about it while he was reading it and he has told me that he has found it very empowering (he is a Hephaestus-type man), although he still has some questions that he might find some answers for as he reads it again. But this time, now that I've read it, I can talk about it more in depth with him, and add my own insights from both this book and Goddesses in Everywoman.

[ح جیمی · Rating 2 out of 5]

نسبت به کتاب انواع زنان از همین نویسنده خیلی ضعیف بود

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool book. I felt that it ran over its own course a bit too much which made it difficult to stick through all the gods. However, it makes remarkable insights into how most of us are living out or shuffling between a number of classic archetypes. Helpful to gain perspective on other males in one's life. Could have included far more information about gay men and homosexual relationships. The "everyman" of this book was a bit too "straight male husband heteronormative daddy."

[Zachary Overhulser · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to stop reading once she started presuming "patriarchal culture" as the source of all woes.
There's absolutely no historical evidence that "patriarchal" society ransacked and took over a once blissful "matriarchal" paradise. Stop treating "The Golden Bough" as a history book.

If you want a realistic depiction of power dynamics between male and female archetypes, watch "The Handmaid's Tale." If you want a decent Jungian analysis, this ain't it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read when you want to figure out your man... Learn all about mythology while you are secretly figuring out the psychological construction of your boo. Next to valuable and serious in-depth pshychology and the beautiful mythical stories of the Gods of the days of Wayback, this book might give you some clues about what to do with 'him'....

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Bolen puts into words what I'm sure many men are, as am I, confronted with in a patriarchal society. The myriad paradoxes and contradictions of "being a man" are called to examination in Gods in Everyman.

I am looking forward to reading Goddesses in Everywoman and exploring even further all (our) various relationships.

[Seyed Pourya Salehi · Rating 3 out of 5]

هرچیزی که مربوط به یونان باستان بشه برای من جذابه
دیدگاه جالبی بود که باهاش آشنا شدم
واقعن ارزش خونده شدن رو داره
پیشنهاد میشه

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, but so chock full of detailed information that it’s a book best read with breaks between chapters, or dipped into as a reference.

[Isadora Alexandre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devem ter coragem - ‪coragem, palavra vinda do francês “coeur”, que significa coração. Coragem é disposição para agir conforme o coração, deixar que o coração indique o caminho, sem saber o que lhe será exigido a seguir. (BOLEN, Jean. Os deuses e o homem, p. 411).‬

[Behnoosh E · Rating 5 out of 5]

برای شناخت مردانگی درون خود و شناخت بهتر تایپ‌های شخصیتی مردانی که با آنها در ارتباطیم کتاب بسیار خوب و کاربردی هست. ویژگیهای هر تایپ و نوع برخورد آنها با مسائل مختلف در دوره‌های مختلف زندگی بررسی و در بیشتر موارد راه‌حلهایی برای بهبود داده شده.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book but thought Goddesses in Everywoman was better. I still find this type of psychology very interesting and I find it easy to spot these patterns in people I know. I forgot to review this when I finished it and it’s been a few weeks since I read it but no specific reactions or reflections come to mind when recalling this book. I do remember think that the ending seemed out of place and slightly disjointed from the rest of the book.

[Alireza · Rating 1 out of 5]

به توصیه‌ی کسی این کتاب رو شروع کردم و به جرأت بیخودترین کتابی بود که خوندم. البته نتونستم تمومش کنم.