Androphilia Paperback – September 16, 2012

Thank you Jack...Your manifesto so well articulates my 30 years of rantings about the community that I am a virtual prisoner of.In fact the 'community' has made me a political reactionary because it offers no solutions to the psychological & social cripples around me who believe they are entitled because they are victims.But things are changing...., books like this, Spike TV, and the growing political realization that the academic -lack- of or -deprecation- of a proper father/maculine image is the cause of so many of our socal problems with adolescent males.More and more even the gay dating boards are heralding this 'new' attitude with blatant rejections of the politcially packaged lifestyle handed them by academia and the media, as if it were some 'cult requirement'."Will and Grace" may be good comedy, but it is an affront to me as much as any homophobic epithet.I suggest any critic of Jack's manifesto pick any InterNet gay dating board, and do an honest statistical analysis of terms used in searches.... 'masculine' tops the list, followed by sports, gear, buddy, LTR, etc...You will -never- find the word 'effeminite', 'Madonna', or 'Drag'.As Jack so well alludes to.... the really popular gay porn is a celebration of the very masculinity rejected by academia and the media... talk about schizophrenia!I found myself nodding in agreement and identifying phrases in the book that I have used repeatedly in my life to the catch-all reaction of 'internalized homophobia'.Thank you for so well analyzing and formalizing a philosophy that has always been there since man first walked this earth naked.... simple masculinity.I like this new term 'AndroPhilia', and intend to promote it.Gene DermodySan Francisco

Androphilia Jack DonovanIf you are a man who is starting to deal with a bisexual or homosexual identity, I strongly urge you to proceed with caution. Although there are clearly hidden jewels throughout this book making it definitely worth the read, if taken at face value, it could be problematic for one attempting or in the beginning phases of forming a positive sexual identity, well at least one that is not exclusively heterosexual.As a male, previously married to a woman, currently married to a man and father of now three adult children I was very interested in reading the book, as I believe, like myself, most men wish to create better connections with men regardless of their sexual identify. In reading this book, it became clear that the author had this exact intent in writing it, but his ideas were undoubtedly clouded with psychological heterosexism due to not working all the way through his own internalized homophobia visibly laid out in his continual making of generalizations of men who identify as “gay” throughout the entire text. But it is not just that.The truly jagged piece of glass in this book that you have to constantly avoid as you are hunting for those previously mentioned gems is not buying into this idea of placing men with heterosexual identities on a pedestal. It becomes quickly clear that the subjective experiences of the author are completely out of line with objective reality. At times, it appears that the author is suffering from some sadistic form of Stockholm Syndrome where he finds some masochistic pleasure in pleasing his oppressor; one who can do no wrong and would appear always to have integrity over any man who would identify as gay.As a man who has previously identified with both a heterosexual and homosexual identity it becomes crystal clear as you progress through the book, that the author has not “done the work” to fully psychologically evolve, and because I have “done the work” I can see clearly where he previously bowed out and where I and many other men have courageously stayed the path – getting past our own projections of self-hate and by doing so are by his own definition one of the true characteristics of being a man. If you take the authors words as truth, there are very few men who identity as “gay” in this world who are successful and not a complete mess. Not likely.It is clear – that the author completely hates his feminine anima and projects this onto men who identify as “gay”. He psychologically rationalizes this and avoids his anima by aligning with his true oppressor. What I’m not really sure about is whether or not the author is a misogynist or truly lacks understanding what women bring to the table in relationship to even himself. The author constantly communicates what a man does and what he does not do and always with the idea that it is clearly opposite of a woman - but undoubtedly he has forgotten, or never psychologically understood, that it was his mother herself that taught him how to love. And for this he should get down on his knees and thank her every day because his ability to love his partner is a feminine aspect regardless, if it is, as in his own words, just “Making him a sandwich”.But I digress…..Regardless of my previous points, regardless that the opinions contained within the book at times are clearly in contradiction to scientific findings of Freud, Jung, Skinner, & Kinsey – they are just that; Opinions. But they are desires and dreams too, those of a clearly good man trying to build his own Utopia and trying to sell it to others hoping to make it a reality. If you can stomach the BS republican talking points and stay with it, you will eventually get to the point where you start finding the gems; those shiny diamonds that make this book actually worth reading. Most importantly, this is where you learn to start respecting the author.Although the author never specifically states this, Androphilia is but another form of a label of sexual identity and in reality, cannot be obtained through a group dynamic; one that gathers a set of men with rules and regulations because to do so would really become nothing more than another group of men that would become similar to those who identify as “gay” – separate of men themselves and then, what would be the point? Here lies one of the brightest diamonds that becomes flawless and apparent within this book– if you are a man, you are a man and as such you should congregate and socialize with other men; sexuality should not be any man’s defining characteristic. Additionally, other men can show you the way, but in the end it is your responsibility to do the work, to challenge yourself, demonstrate character and integrity at all times, respect others – and by doing so earns you the respect of other men.I challenge you to follow this treasure hunt and find the remaining rubies and sapphires within these pages. Although the author might cringe at my feminine use of adjectives, as a man, I stand by them!

Finally with the appearance of Androphilia an alternative vision of the gay perception of being homosexual has come out of the male closet. Indeed, the vision as a Manifesto is at times excessive; but, that said, the author has managed to express the feelings of perhaps the majority of non-movement gays who have been annoyed by the effeminate propaganda of the offical gay voice preaching and acting out the silliness of men seeking out the woman in us agenda. Finally, a man is speaking with a voice proud of being a man; acknowledging the variations of being homosexual, and choosing to celebrate the maleness of himself. I would criticize the excessess of maleness expressed at times in the book; but it is a choice, and as one choice among many, acceptable. Over the years I, among many, have cringed at the exaggerated effeminacy of much of the traditional gay movement. It is good and refreshing to read about a bit of manliness for a change.

Although homosexual, the author attacks the "gay movement" frontally. He admits, that homosexuality is a part of his personality - with a pronounciaton of "part", instead the "gay movement" makes an ideology of it, including feminism, victimism and political leftism. But why should a man who loves men, so the author, precisely admit an anti-male ideology? The author rejects the term "gay" for himself and replaces it by "androphile", thus emphazising his male qualities. One of the best books I've ever read - truly enlightening!

This is a great read for any man that doesn't identify with the "gay" culture. I like men. However, I see them as more than sexually viable options. If I'm to have my boundaries respected - I'm to respect the boundaries of my straight brethren. I just don't see the point in the current programming of men in the gay community to sell themselves short and identify solely on their sexuality. I'm so much more than what I choose to sleep with. I'm a well-rounded man. Not a preference. Enjoyed the read.

I have read other works by Jack Donovan, and his writings never cease to amaze. This manifesto is the reaction against mainstream unmanliness – not only from gay culture but from today's men.

Well presented, even the actual paper it was printed on was nice

Well worth a read​.