Type of bind: Paperback
EAN num: 9780380720682
ISBN number: 038072068X
Label: Avon Books (P)
Manufacturer: Avon Books (P)
Quantity: 1
Printing Date: 1993-05
Publishing house: Avon Books (P)
Sale Popularity Level: 1122342
Studio: Avon Books (P)
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Rated by buyers 
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Students of Dr. Moore have eagerly awaited this part of his continuing series that explores the mapping of the human personality. The complete series with even my partial understanding of theory has illuminated my reading of classical text, theology and brought an understanding of modern events. Dr. Moore's work is not for the casual psycho pop fan and critical to the serious student of personality and faith.
Rated by buyers 
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When this book was very first published in 1992, I admired it, and I also admired the four other books by Moore and Gillette that came out about the same time. If you have not already read it, it is worth the time to read, as are the other four books by the co-authors.
However, I am disappointed by the 2007 edition. To be sure, it includes many more graphics. But so what? In my estimate, this book would be improved by the deletion of all the graphics. What the book needs are detailed discussions of a few concrete examples. The authors might even start such a discusion of concrete examples by discussing themselves to a certain extent.
The authors profess to admire Erik Erikson's work. Fine. Erikson wrote a short book entitled _Young Man Luther_ and then a longer book entitled _Gandhi's Truth: On the Origins of Militant Nonviolence_. By studying two historical personages in detail, Erikson enabled us to see how his ideas about personal development could be used to help us understand two historical figures.
Now, could the ideas developed by Moore and Gillette help us understand certain historical figures? Perhaps they could. But Moore and Gillette have not undertaken to study any historical figures in depth. As a result of the lack of detailed discussions of actual historical figures, their ideas seem rather abstract and visionary and utopian. If convincing examples of the positive versions of the masculine archetypes of maturity can be found no place in this world, then the visions of the positive forms are utopian (Greek u = no, topos = place).
The authors dedicate this particular book to King David. However, when David's son Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar, King David does not punish Amnon, even though David's job as king involves upholding the law and punishing offenders. To his credit, David was angry about what Amnon did. But his anger did not move him to take any action against Amnon. This example and other examples from the biblical account of King David suggest that he embodies the "shadow" form of the King archetype that Moore and Gillette refer to as the Weakling King, not the positive form. So why dedicate the book to a "shadow" form of the King archetype?
In the United States, the president comes close to being an elected king for four years or whatever the length of his or her term in office. I've read enough now about John F. Kennedy to think that he came close to embodying the positive form of the king archetype of maturity, despite his illicit sexual escapades (which manifested the "shadow" form of the lover archetype discussed by Moore and Gillette). David Talbot's book _Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years_ (2007) brings home certain qualities of JFK that I find deeply admirably.
On a more personal level, I recently reread the newspaper story that my mother clipped and saved about her uncle that was published at the time of his death in 1970. He was born on July 4, 1885, and he became a millionaire in the construction business during the Great Depression. Even though the newspaper story described his business sucess, the story detailed his generosity to charities and an honor he had received from the Vatican. He was very kind to me with his time and attention when I was a young boy growing up, and I would consider him an example of masculine maturity.
Because there are numerous other examples of masculine maturity in the history of this country, I would urge Moore and Gillette to found the American Hall of Fame of Mature Men who deserve to be remembered and honored.
--Thomas J. Farrell, author of Walter Ong's Contributions to Cultural Studies: The Phenomenology of the Word and I-Thou Communication (Media Ecology)
Rated by buyers -
Robert Moore and Doug Gillette published 5 books (that I know of) on their theory of 4 male archetypes. The very first is an overview entitled: "King, Warrior, Magician, Lover." They followed up this fine introductory work with a book on each of the 4 archetypes. This one is, of course, on the King Archetype. Each of the 4 books has a completely redundant section (worth reading once, anyway), but also has much material on the particular, titled, archetype. The names of the archetypes are defined a bit differently than society might define them--moving the descriptions into the worlds of psychology and mythology which the two authors are well-versed in. If you read one, you "should" (I dislike that word, but what can you do?) read all of them. Otherwise, you get a skewed view of the archetypes, the authors' works, and the theory they propose. I like "The King Within" very much. It provides not only description of the archetype but some ramifications and ideas as to how to implement or invoke it. I found the book uplifting and see the glass as half full. The authors provided the rationale and some means of implementation of the Mens' Movement. Not only are these books valuable to men, but they are, perhaps, even more valuable to women who wish to interact and support men. They are a wonderful addition to the literature and to humans understanding themselves and each other.
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