Susan Faludi, Stiffed: The Betrayal of the American Man, Wm. Morrow, 1999.

Sometimes, in order to understand our kids, we have to try to understand ourselves. This week, we draw your attention to a fine new book that helps us look at whatever happened to the men we remember-- our fathers, our brothers, our uncles, our grandfathers --who came home from World War II proud and strong and sure of their manhood. And in looking at what happened to them, we may be able better to understand what's happening to our sons. The feminist author of Backlash moves to Southern California to interview the men laid off by the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Mc-Donnell Douglas and to attend therapy sessions for perpetrators of domestric violence and talks to the members of the infamous Spur Posse. Then she goes to Cleveland to talk with the fans and former owners of the Cleveland Browns. She talks to veterans of World War II and to their sons and grandsons. She is trying to find out what has happened: to the "average" American man who used to project confidence and quiet strength? What happened to Ernie Pyle's "dog faces," who won World War II by teamwork and devotion? What has happened to the "motherhood" brand of feminine values that Ernie Pyle's soldiers portrayed? How come our sons feel they have to be "stars" and have a "name"? What has happened to convince us that "image is everything?" And, given what's been done to them, why don't American men fight back?

These are the thought-provoking questions Susan Faludi attempts to address in this 600-page book that I couldn't put down. I think it's a masterwork of reportive journalism and very important for both mothers and fathers to read, who want to understand "what happened" to change the fathers and young men of our day.

The book is highly recommended.

Click to go to the amazon.com page devoted to Stiffed.

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