From the Core

April 25, 2022
Wineland, a men’s group facilitator, debuts with a lackluster program for reimagining masculinity. Contending that “the paradigm of masculinity we have inherited no longer works,” the author uses mindfulness practices and anecdotes from his professional practice to outline a new conception of masculinity “rooted in conscious awareness and unflinching responsibility.” One of the first steps, Wineland suggests, requires men to hold themselves accountable, such as when one of his clients in a passionless marriage admitted responsibility for allowing the relationship to deteriorate and worked with his wife to improve things. The author also urges men to be aware of others’ feelings, and to that end offers a deep breathing exercise that enhances one’s connection with one’s companions and surroundings. Other activities include communicating with one’s partner about how they’d like to divvy up responsibilities and practicing “embodied presence” by paying attention to one’s bodily sensations while standing. Abstract and jargon-heavy prose (“The Mystic law, the Infinite, the Present Moment—in nature, in the cosmos, in any human—has a latent and manifest aspect”), however, make the advice feel intangible and impractical. The result is a vague volume that will leave most readers scratching their heads.