To live for an adventure, to rescue a beauty and to fight a battle. Sounds like a story...like a tale of dragons, ladies in distress and war for the homeland against the dreaded enemy...like all movies...great books...great tales...stories tell of woes, foes and overcoming great obstacles. These are all great truths, but are they any truer than your own life? But, does your life seem like you are just sliding through, getting by one-day-at-a-time? That's how most of us live, to survive for the next weekend, to get that job done...all struggle, little reward, and we get to get up the next morning and do it all again. But, there is more to our lives than duty, obligation and being the nice guy. But are we as men equipped to go on adventures, strong enough to rescue the lady in distress and brave enough to fight the foes for those we love? Most are not.

If you think, want and hope and desire for more to life...READ THIS BOOK. There is more, plenty more, and, you have everything needed to live life with freedom, excitement and purpose. What keeps us from the real life we would like to have? A lot, this book is a key to help unlock men from their hearts of quiet desparation and how to be a vibrant, valiant man. There is a cost (personal efforting) but what of true value doesn't require commitment and dedication.

For yourself, your significant other, for your children and all of those in your sphere of influence...READ THIS BOOK...there are people just waiting for you to come alive...and so are you.

John Eldridge is the perfect example of a person with hegemonic masculinity and toxic masculinity disorders. He is one who, “practices legitimizing men’s dominant position in society and justifying the subordination of the common male and female populations”.

We need counselors, authors, pastors and other men in leadership positions to be more vulnerable and stop trying to be so macho by, “reproducing archaic masculine attributes such as violence, dominance, aggression, and toughness”. By the way, it was the women who worked in the factories and ran this country when the men went to Europe to fight a war almost 75 years ago.

John Eldridge’s own life experience has made him believe that what he is saying is the “gospel“, but it’s far from it. Most of his examples came from movies and what he did quote from the Bible was mostly out of context.

Wild at Heart was a reminder of why conservative, right wing religious thinking should be obsolete in the 21st-century.

Blah, blah, blah, glad that experience is over with.

I hover between 2 and 3 stars here. I remember enjoying it with some skepticism, for it seemed to me to be a product of insightful navel-gazing, aspirational imagination, stylized writing, and a rather severe lack of research. And yet, for better or worse, it hasn't stuck with me at all. I remember almost none of it. I do, however, retain the impression that Eldredge's definition of manhood was quite narrow, and a little obliviously self-referential.

Wild at Heart was, in certain Christian circles, all the rage for several years in the mid- to late- 00's. I suspect, like many "inspirational" books, that it lacked the substance required for staying power. But I'd have to reread it before placing that bet.

I started this book, but wish I hadn’t. 4 chapters was too much for me... I strongly disagree with eldredge’s view of masculinity. I agree that Christian men are to be passionate and “fierce” but Eldredge belittles portrayals of Jesus that make him seem like mother Theresa, or soft spoken, or gentle, and by implication- humble. Eldredge exalts characters like William Wallace over the character of Jesus himself. Also, he glorified the character of Samson when Samson’s character exists in the Bible to illustrate the corruption of Israel’s. Bad biblical scholarship. I think this philosophy alienated a huge portion of men and women from who they are called to be. I could continue, but I shouldn’t. Not a fan.

Ok um if you ever have a son, or a husband, or a father, or a brother, or a guy friend, or any dude in your life, read this in order to understand and love them more! Or if you’re a guy and want to know more about yourself. Or heck if you’re a woman and want to know more about yourself through the complementarity of men and women.
Point being, you should read this. A tad repetitive at times but drives home one heck of a point.

I tried to read this but couldn't get out of the first chapter. I hate quitting books but this guy just is too caught up in being overly masculine. I've always been seen as a "manly" man but this guy takes it way too far. The world is different than it was 300 years ago and some additional skills are needed like for men to be able to communicate and express ourselves. Eldredge just simply states that that is "womanly" and that there are and should be distinct roles and behaviors for men and women. The guy is stuck in the past and delusional. Don't bother. Read some Hemingway instead.

UHG! no no no! This book is bad news. John teaches a man to live according to the wild nature of his flesh, rather than according to the grace and love of the Spirit of God. As if a man can be spiritually free if He's emotionally free and wild? This is not the message of Christ, nor His gospel.

Christ didn't come with an attitude of macho-ism. He came in meekness gentleness and love. He is an all powerful God, and He is not a containable God, but that doesn't make Him wild like the nature of the flesh! This book is down right blasphemous!

I'm kicking myself at this point for not burning the book while I had the chance. Instead I just threw it out.

Do yourself a favor, and do the same.

Really challenging/thought provoking ideas about manhood. The first third was particularly evocative for me.

I had to read this book for a class, counseling men and boys. I am not sure I would recommend this book to anyone. I will spare a rant, but just want to say that I was offended frequently by the author's worldview.

Okay, I would definitely have to agree that if you have a son, if you are married to a man, if you have a brother or a father, or if you have ever had a conversation with a man you should definitely read this book!
It really was just so enlightening to what makes a little boy a little boy and how those things don't really change when that boy grows up. But it's not in a Men are from Mars sort of way (or maybe it is, I actually haven't read that book!). Anyway, I am very glad that I read it. I think that in a way masculinity has been the sacrifice of the feminist movement. Guys just are not allowed to be guys as much now and that is certainly not how I want to raise my son. I want to raise a warrior.

The book is so powerful that I had to put it down for a time after page 6 for, in those first few pages I knew precisely why I went to Sea and why I will go back...a reason which makes so much sense to me now and was clouded by confusion. It's funny to me now as I write this, I thought I had the reason I love taking off on an adventure figured out, but there was always something missing in my reasoning...this book helped me to solidify my thinking.

The author calls us out in our thinking as men and women. You can agree with him or not, but I guarantee the words and the way they are written will make you think about your life and how you are living it. None of us are perfect, certainly not me. All of us have been bored at some point in our lives, I have. I would be willing to bet that most of us have had the urge to get "out there" and face a Challenge or two, but something always keeps us back. We can rationalize so many things in life, but the author will challenge you to think deeply and honestly about your own life...if you can take it...facing your fears of what you might find. If you are up to the Challenge, then read the book. Otherwise, go slump on a comfy couch, watch some TV or play video games and let someone else have the adventures you dream about while you exist in self-imposed mediocrity.

I am giving this book 5 stars. Not because it is perfect...nothing humans create is perfect. I am not giving the book 5 stars because I agree with everything the author declares to be Truth. I do not agree exactly with his interpretation of why humans do the negative things we do. He seems to want to not take responsibility for his own actions and blame all the "bad" stuff on a Evil Force outside of himself...to me that is incredible weakness from a man who professes Strength. I am giving the book 5 stars for the same reason I give any book 5 stars. "Wild at Heart" created deep thinking within my Being on many levels. So much so, that I had to put it down and think. I took notes in the margins with my own thoughts and arguments. The book helped to solidify my own thinking about God, Christianity, why I went to Sea, who I am as a Man, how I relate to women and why I still wish to be "out there" in the world on a continuous adventure...why I will go back to Sea alone, exploring the wonders of this planet(well, I will be taking my dog next time, so not completely alone. :))

I wish every man and woman would read this book. No, we are not all the same on the surface...but deep within our Souls...we all come from the same Source...and it is there that we are the same...Love.

3.5/5 - There is a lot of really good stuff in here. I think the strongest sections are on wounds, sexuality, and a man's longing for his woman. I do find that most of the references to outdoor activities (hunting, fishing, rock climbing, etc) work best as an allegory for adventure in a man's life... a man can work in a cubicle and have tame hobbies and yet be a strong man of God. A man doesn't have to be into fishing to be wild at heart. The core tenet is to fight for what's worth fighting for, and chase your passions, never get caught in the mundane. A sense of achievement and adventure are important parts of being a man. Contrary to what the author suggests the world does not need more "dangerous" men, the world needs kind and patient men that will fight for their families, pursue their passions, and make their relationship with God the first priority.


P.S. - I did knock some points off the rating because of the author's clear lack of knowledge on first-century Judaism, especially pertaining to Paul and Pharisees. No, Paul was not disillusioned with his Jewish faith and practice. Nor are Pharisees "weasels". That is clear anti-Jewish sentiment, their faults in the Gospels are some of the same things many of us today are guilty of as well. I think the author could use a history lesson on early Judaism but I digress. Good book nonetheless.