What Do Men Want? Masculinity and Its Discontents

Bracingly original ... a refreshingly sympathetic view of men and masculinity -- Louise Perry ― The Times Published On: 2022-01-15

A series of very congenial but devastating shots at contemporary gender politics ... Power seeks to carve out a new path in the relationship between men and women - one where neither side is stripped of its distinct humanity ... a refreshing take on sexual politics -- Jarryd Bartle ― Critic

Hopeful ... By peppering her book with humour, Power rehumanises the gender debate -- Tim Stanley ― Daily Telegraph

Power is brave ... she writes like a dream -- Christina Patterson ― Sunday Times

Forceful and rather unusual ... Power's argument is that the all-out assault on men has gone too far ... men need to be heard. Simply shutting them out of the most important cultural conversations because of their perceived privilege only increases resentment between the sexes -- Jay Elwes ― Spectator

Distinctive, rooted in a refusal to regard men and women as forever locked in warring positions. This perspective is combined with a humanistic approach to her subject that takes suffering in all its forms seriously ... creating space for nuance and reflection -- Mary McGill ― Irish Independent

I have been moved by Nina Power's new book What Do Men Want? She searches for a more rounded take on the battle of the sexes ... Power strikes a warning note which all of us could heed -- Ian Harrow ― Spectator

Provocative and rigorous ... she refuses easy essentialist answers about toxic masculinity or any simplistic notions of patriarchy -- Tim Adams ― Observer

[Power is] less interested in the sins of the fathers and more concerned with the potential virtues of the sons ... her conclusion ... points to a more positive future in which the war of the sexes gives way to a playful peace. -- Julian Baggini ― Literary Review

This book is both significant and timely ... insightful and sharply focused ... Power invites reflection on fundamental issues of human goodness, desire and suffering, going beyond culture wars. -- Tina Beattie ― The Tablet Published On: 2022-04-02

A provocative new book ... traverses taboos ... brave -- Ani O'Brien ― New Zealand Herald

It has never been less fashionable to be a man. Masculinity is routinely damned as inherently "toxic" - yet "men are frequently trapped in systems of other men's making", as feminist philosopher Power points out... with humour and empathy -- Tim Stanley ― Telegraph

Makes the case for a more generous and humane feminist discourse -- Zoë Heller ― New Yorker

Nina Power is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Roehampton. Her interests include philosophy, film, art, feminism and politics, and she has written regularly for the Guardian, Wire, frieze, Strike! and Radical Philosophy, amongst other publications. She is the author of One-Dimensional Woman (Zer0, 2009), which the New Statesman called 'a joy to read'.