“The maelstrom is the seaman’s nightmare, but the “malestrom” poses an even greater threat to men than the hidden dangers of the open seas…. It isn’t overstating things to say there isn’t a man or boy alive who isn’t a target. The malestrom’s global currents can be violent and overt, but also come in subtle, even benign forms that catch men unawares. The malestrom is the particular ways in which the fall impacts the male of the human species—causing a man to lose himself, his identity and purpose as a man, and above all to lose sight of God’s original vision for his sons. The repercussions of such devastating personal losses are not merely disastrous for the men themselves, but catastrophic globally.”
AWARDS:
Christianity Today 2016 Book of the Year—Her.meneutics Category
“For all the progress we’ve made in valuing women, in our society and our churches, a portion of the population still suffers silently: men. Whether they are falling victim to unrealistic stereotypes of masculinity, suffering from a ‘father wound,’ or feeling marginalized by the riptides of culture, men need the loving guidance and support of God’s people. Without a doubt, Malestrom will encourage men and women alike to value and promote a healthy, biblical view of manhood.”
—Jamie A. Hughes, managing editor of In Touch Magazine
Missio Alliance—Best 10 Books of 2015
ENDORSEMENTS:
“Women aren’t the only ones bombarded with conflicting and harmful messages about their identities. More than ever men face an onslaught of expectations, both from the culture and the church, about what it means to be a ‘real man.’ Through this treacherous landscape, Carolyn Custis James proves a trustworthy guide. With her characteristic warmth and wisdom, she examines manhood through the lens of Jesus Christ and offers a better way forward for men, a way characterized by partnership, joy, and humility. There are few writers who bring as much clarity and conviction to their work as Carolyn Custis James. This book is biblically faithful, immensely timely, and delightfully readable. Every last page is charged with healing power.”
“This is the book I’ve been waiting for—as a wife, as a mother of a son, as a woman committed to the Blessed Alliance God intended between men and women. This book will be healing and restorative for so many. It’s a beautiful invitation to manhood in the Kingdom of God.”
“God’s intention for the appropriate flourishing of human life has been severely thwarted by culturally captive expressions of masculinity that have oppressed both women and men. Malestrom offers us a reminder from Scripture that God’s intention for men was not for a dysfunctional masculinity that devastates the image of God within us. Thank you, Carolyn Custis James, for your historical and theological insights that will reshape how I live out my faith in the world. Thank you for a book that benefits both my son and my daughter.”
—Peter Enns, Ph.D., Abram S. Clemens Professor of Biblical Studies,
Read more endorsements here and here
REVIEWS & BLOGS:
Henk-Jan van der Klis Review
David Swartz Review: Dissecting Patriarchy and Biblical Manhood
Life is Story—Josh Olds
JesusCreed—Scot McKnight Series:
“Caught in the Malestrom?”
“Is our world a man’s world? “
“Targeting Gender”
“Patriarchy Matters”
“The Rise of Women”
Table of Contents
FOREWORD: Frank A. James III
INTRODUCTION: The Malestrom
CHAPTER 1: The Genesis of the Malestrom—Adam
CHAPTER 2: Patriarchy Matters—Abraham
CHAPTER 3: The Father Wound—Judah
CHAPTER 4: The Rise of Women—Barak
CHAPTER 5: The Power of Power—Boaz
CHAPTER 6: The Marginalized Man—Matthew
CHAPTER 7: Gender Role Reversal—Joseph
CHAPTER 8: The Manhood of Jesus
CHAPTER 9: Liberating Men from the Malestrom—PaulDISCUSSION QUESTIONS with each chapter
Carolyn Custis James 