Eldredge says that when men are wounded in they typically go to two extremes or some combination of the two: angry men or passive men.

Eldredge calls this false self The Poser. This false self, or identity, feigns strength and courage while hiding cowardice and fear. He asserts that all men create a false self by which they display themselves to the world at large. In the second movement, Eldredge asserts that all men carry a wound that hits men in the area of their deep question. Movement Two: The Poser, the Wound, and the Healing The question goes like this: 'Do I have what it takes?'

Men are made to 'come through.' Eldredge asserts that all man carry a deep question that is uniquely a masculine question. Eldredge argues that the reason a man has the desires that he does and the reason why he is masculine is because he is, ultimately, an image-bearer of God.Īccording to Eldredge, men reflect God uniquely in this way: they demonstrate God's ability to 'come through' for his people. Wild at Heart is split into three sections, called 'movements.' The first argues that every aspect of a man, from his desires to who he is as a man, reflects God. Eldredge frames the book around his outdoor experiences and anecdotes about his family and references elements of pop culture such as the film Braveheart and lyrics from songs.Ĭontents Movement One: Reflecting God and the Masculine Question He urges men to take time out and come to grips with the desires of their hearts. Men often seek validation in venues such as work, or in the conquest of women, Eldredge observes. He challenges Christian men to return to what he characterizes as authentic masculinity without resorting to a 'macho man' mentality. From the back cover: 'In Wild at Heart, John Eldredge invites men to recover their masculine heart, defined in the image of a passionate God.'Įldredge claims that men are bored they fear risk, they refuse to pay attention to their deepest desires. Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul is a book by John Eldredge published in 2001, on the subject of the role of masculinity in contemporary evangelical Christian culture and doctrine.

Review of john eldredge wild at heart