Being a man in the lousy modern world

I loved Robert Twiggers' other books, but this one was a little weak. He seems to try to create a theory of manhood that is essentially that real men continue the life they learned on the playground. At one point, he discusses the interest he and his friends had as children in the derring-do of sailors, which I guess is his way of saying that little boys know more about being men than "safe" older men. However, he can't seem to distinguish this sense of risk from the adolescent tricksterism of skate-boards and dirt bikes. At other times, he seems to be describing some sort of Euro-dismal mid-life crisis, and his dislike of strutting men in the gym locker-room comes across as insecurity about his physique and "physique" rather than real criticism of modern views of men's bodies. My impression is that Twigger has a clear sense that the modern world is in total antipathy to masculinity (and it is) but that he has bought into too many of the theories and habits that underlie the emasculation to understand where the problem lies.

Twigger's wife is heavily pregnant and he reflects over our modern society in general and over Masculinity in it, especially.The book starts with this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of it's members"Twigger states that in modern mainstream society there are no special male virtues left. Human virtues, yes, but no exclusively male ones.In diary entries (I get some useful writing tips for my own diary writing) you take part of his thoughts and actions one day or so before the child is born. There are interesting everyday reflections over timetypical phenomena, paradoxes, like tattoos and lip enhancements in our Unisex culture.From the book I bring with me and ponder over the roll and function of ROP:s, rites of passages and also this sentence: We live in a society that actively promotes safety over danger, pleasure over pain, dependence over self-reliance, living for the future rather than for the moment.Twigger's sharp observations of our time isn't always so flattering to it, but very thought provoking, indeed.

A series of inteligent, insightfull and often funny observations on "What it is to be a man in this lousy modern world" All linked together with a thinking mans engagement in an unusually varied series of experiences. One of my favourite books; it easily lives up to the expectations generated by reading Angry White Pyjamas. Despite its eclectic cast of individuals and situations it runs into a well constructed narative and is a real and worthwhile pleasure.

I think I have read everything that Twigger has published and this is currently my favourite because it showed me thoughts I had been having without being very aware of. Twigger has that knack in all his writing of focusing on things that I pass by. He shows me how much more there is to be seen in the commonplace - as well as taking you to some decidely unusual places.Highly reccommended

I found this book very funny and strangely, unexpectedly, helpful. So many books like this (by which I mean of the apparent self-help variety, because no one really writes books like Twigger) pitter-patter away at the surface of the subject with lots of words in clever-sounding sentences. In this book Twigger gets to the heart of the subject in a way that resonates truly.

Robert describes well what it's like to be a man, particularly in the descriptions of his childhood tests of nerve e.g. swimming to an offshore island in Brittany, doing 100mph in an old car after several pints. As a middle aged bloke the book is resonating with me in these confusing times when masculinity is easily deemed toxic, rather than a benefit in a strong society.

Interesting musings and anecdotes from the author of "Angry White Pyjamas". This is a more philosophical work - while still grounded in stories from Twigger's everyday life. It's a stimulating read from an original thinker, and one that I will read again.