About the Book
"Read this if you feel like you have made too many mistakes to become something amazing." -Shana Pryor, PhD, psychology fellow, LT, MSC, USN, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
"...an important narrative about interrupting the family cycle of violence and abuse." -Christopher Kilmartin, PhD, independent consultant, professor emeritus of psychology, University of Mary Washington
"Every chapter has useful life lessons stemming from a lifetime of personal growth and psychological knowledge." -Ryon C. McDermott, PhD, professor of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, University of South Alabama, past president of the Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities, Division 51 of the American Psychological Association
Why do men commit acts of violence, struggle to talk about their emotions, misuse their power, or take risks with their health? The Problem with Men offers a surprising answer. Dr. Ron Levant, a world-renowned psychologist, has spent his career trying to understand men like his abusive father as well as his own perplexing behavior. Using his lived experience as the backdrop, Levant takes readers on a gripping and, at times, heartbreaking journey of discovery, providing a rare front-seat glimpse at acid tests, threesomes, communes, state psychiatric institutions, jails, encounter groups, therapy sessions, wayward youth programs, fatherhood courses, and Berkeley protest movements. With grace, honesty, and insight, Dr. Levant reveals his own struggles to overcome his upbringing and become a better man in his quest to help readers understand the societal forces that shape men for the better-and the worse.
About the Author :
Dr. Ronald F. Levant is professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron and past president of the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Levant is one of the key people responsible for creating the new field of the psychology of men and masculinities, and his work led to the phrase "toxic masculinity." The Elsevier-Stanford University database ranks him among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world.
Review :
"Read this if you feel like you have made too many mistakes to become something amazing." -Shana Pryor, PhD, psychology fellow, LT, MSC, USN, Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan
"Epic story of overcoming setbacks and achieving success. Amazed at how much detail Dr. Levant remembers going back to his early childhood." -Martin H. Belsky, JD, dean and professor emeritus of law, the University of Akron
"Tells the remarkable story of a life of activism, research, and social contribution by an eminent psychologist and founder of the psychology of men, offering some life-lessons in resilience for all of us." -Joseph H. Pleck, PhD, professor emeritus of human development and family studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"This is an important narrative about interrupting the family cycle of violence and abuse. Trauma is too often passed down from father to son and then on to the next generation until someone like Ronald Levant gains the information and courage needed to end it." -Christopher Kilmartin, PhD, independent consultant, professor emeritus of psychology, University of Mary Washington
"This book is a must read for those who would like to understand the life of one of the most influential, if not the most influential person in the study of the modern American man. It is of particular value and inspiration for those who have struggled to overcome adversity and hardships in life." -Michael Andronico, PhD, private practice, Bridgewater, NJ, past president of American Psychological Association Divisions 49 and 51
"Dr. Levant weaves a compelling and brutally honest narrative of childhood trauma, grit, and resiliency. This book speaks to the traumas that so many young men experience from their fathers and bullies, the mental health conditions that men struggle with in silence, and the way those experiences can shape our lives. Every chapter has useful life lessons stemming from a lifetime of personal growth and psychological knowledge." -Ryon C. McDermott, PhD, professor of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, University of South Alabama, past president of the Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities, Division 51 of the American Psychological Association
"This book is a gift. I found myself so moved, and so deeply engaged, that I have just finished reading the entire book in one sitting. In lovingly and honestly capturing his own journey, Ron Levant brings us fully into the so-often unacknowledged prison we have imposed upon generations of men. He then beautifully illuminates the turning points that can create a pathway to living a full emotional life- some serendipitous, some powered by gritty determination, some thoughtfully constructed step-by-step, and many accompanied by loving friends, family, and colleagues. Both for my work as a psychologist and for my own intimate life, I'm grateful." -Patricia Papernow, EdD, psychologist, internationally recognized expert on "blended families"
