- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Free Press (May 18 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0684869101
- ISBN-13: 978-0684869100
- Product Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.3 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 608 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#792,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #83 in Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > Men
- See Complete Table of Contents
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
You see them everywhere. With their bulging arms and deltoids and pecs, not to mention their rippling abdominal muscles, they appear on magazine covers, in underwear ads, in action movies. And American men have noticed them; after a generation of being bombarded by images of idealized male physiques, men are growing increasingly insecure about their own appearance.
The authors have studied everything from bodybuilders to Playgirl centerfolds and concluded that the images presented to men and women have gotten steadily more muscular. As a result of this bombardment of pumped-up male imagery, American men have been developing eating disorders, working out to the point of obsession, and taking steroids. None of this is for health or sports performance but rather to develop a physique that matches those seen on the cover of Muscle & Fitness or in the next squat rack over.
Another consequence is a condition the authors call "muscle dysmorphia," also known as "reverse anorexia" or just "bigorexia." In this, men who are large and muscular look in the mirror and see someone who is puny and frail. So they pump iron and eat and take steroids and swell to ever-larger proportions, while being too ashamed of their bodies to take off their sweatshirts at the beach.
The authors postulate that all this has to do with the rising power of women in society. To back this up, they produce timelines showing how women's-rights milestones correlate with increasing images of men as sex objects.
What's the solution? The authors list some Web sites to help men suffering from the Adonis Complex to find therapists familiar with the problem. Sometimes antidepressants can work. But for most people, the answer is to understand that the images of perfect male physiques they see are unattainable, and that no one really expects them to look like that anyway. --Lou Schuler
From Publishers Weekly
The impossible ideal of the Body Beautiful induces feelings of inadequacy not only among women and girls, claim the authors of this book, but, increasingly, among men and boys. Drawing upon their own clinical work, new studies and cultural observations, the authors--Pope and Olivardia teach at Harvard medical school, and Phillips at Brown University--make a compelling argument that growing numbers of males are exhibiting compulsive behaviors, chronic depressions and eating disorders, and are engaging in the use of dangerous steroids and "supplements." Although they ignore the nearly century-old popularity of Charles Atlas-like muscle-building "courses," the authors use a broad range of examples--including comparisons of the physiques of bodybuilders in the 1960s and the 1990s, a look at the evolution of the G.I. Joe doll's bulk and an examination of the nearly unobtainable body ideal that prevails among Chippendale dancers and Calvin Klein models--to make the convincing case that many men resort to dire actions to assuage their feelings of inadequacy. They bolster their claim with numerous interviews with men and a survey of the existing medical and psychological literature, and include tests by which readers can ascertain if they have an eating disorder or suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder. While some readers might take exception to the authors' assertion about the prevalence of the "Adonis complex," their book offers a provocative look at what has been, until now, a largely unexplored subject. Agent, Todd Schuster. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
It is 6 P.M. on a warm spring evening in a small city ten miles west of Boston. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
It is 6 P.M. on a warm spring evening in a small city ten miles west of Boston. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
kiddish,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys (Hardcover)
The book is repititive and it feels like the authors just wanna fill the pages. It is not an enjoyable read, and finally what is wrong with the man trying to be his best?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Science mixed with sensationalism,
By obediah (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys (Hardcover)
A lot of research has been put into this book. Unfortunately, the research is mixed up with anecdotes and conjectures. In extrapolating research data, the authors often make wild guesses as to what proportion of the population is affected by the Adonis Complex. There are also lots of case studies that focus on extreme cases. These amount to little more than sensationalistic journalism.The book does have a lot to offer. The fat free mass index is a great way to calculate your genetic limits with regards to lean body mass. Sample surveys are provided to help diagnose those who may be suffering from the Adonis Complex. The book seems to condemn an obsession with a lean, muscular body. However what people are willing to sacrifice to obtain their goals is just a matter of personal choice and the authors have no right to make judgements upon those who strive to better themselves. A lot of the information is eye opening but I wish they'd just stick to the facts.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
one sided, stereotypical, and ignorant.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys (Hardcover)
I am a 21 year old bodybuilder and I came upon this book in hopes that it would help me learn more about myself. However, it ended up trying to convince me that all of my effort that I have put in at the gym is worthless as I am just a person with low self-esteem that is just trying to make an image for myself. In actuality, I love lifting weights, getting stronger, and building my body. I do not do it to attract women, intimidate people, etc. I also believe that steroid use is a very personal decision and that it is alright as long as you are an adult who is knowledgable and aware of the risks associated with their usage. There is a difference between use and abuse, also. I found this book to be one-sided, stereotypical, and ignorant.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Disorders & Diseases > Physical Impairments
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Mental Health > Compulsive Behaviour
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Mental Illness
- Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help
- Books > Medicine
- Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Gender Studies > Men
- Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > Men
- Books > Science > Medicine
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
