45 Moments With Men: Stories and articles for and about men Contributor(s): Bradbury, Philip J. (Author) |
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ISBN: 099543980X ISBN-13: 9780995439801 Publisher: Philip J Bradbury OUR PRICE: $26.07 Product Type: Paperback Published: November 2016 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Fiction | Short Stories (single Author) |
Series: Commuter |
Physical Information: 0.34" H x 5.06" W x 7.81" (0.35 lbs) 158 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Short stories and articles about and for men. The Women's Liberation Movement burst into our living-rooms some thirty years ago with a strident, demanding, angry, divisive and separatist energy. And that's as it should be for it was about women reclaiming their masculine (yang) energy. While it is recognised that the public persona of the Movement was probably the tip of the iceberg, with most women just asserting themselves in a quiet (and often unsupported) way, it came across as a Women's Movement with masculine energy. Ask people today about the Men's Movement and most don't know it exists. Men are understanding if you can understand them ... if they can understand themselves. Men have served our civilization well - they have discovered new worlds, tilled the soil, defended their people, invented great machines, formulated healing medicines, created beautiful and uplifting artworks, fathered gifted and happy children, inspired and soothed us with their songs and their writing, provided for and protected us in our daily lives. These things have not always been done the way you wanted, but they were done and they were done the best way men knew how. Most people on this planet are not evil and will do the best that they can, from their current level of understanding. You will look back on events of your life and know that if you had your life to live over again, you would do it differently, better. This is not to excuse the men of this world who have raped, destroyed, murdered, disempowered, abused and lessened in any way. They have done these things and we must not walk away from that truth. They have, however, also done many great, inspiring, creative and loving things and we must not walk away from that truth. For whatever reason, the actions of men are generally more public than those of women - men are usually the more "out there" of the species and in times past, their achievements have been lauded loudly from high places. The time seems to have come when the balance is restored and when the evils of men are being lauded loudly from those high places. This is the time we are living in at the moment and it is, therefore, a time that many men are feeling very unwelcome and uncomfortable as participants in the human race. This is not altogether healthy for the growth of our Earth family, for we were created with two sides, two sexes, and one cannot grow without the other. Most of the stories are articles written for magazines. Some are about a real men (Ordinary Adventures, for example) and the rest came out of my head, somehow. These stories are an attempt to help explain (not to excuse) the ways of men. In that understanding, I seek to help us all to grow in love and strength, and to all run this race, this human race, together. The other reason is that I just love writing stories. |
Contributor Bio(s): Bradbury, Philip J.: - "Personal voyage: In New Zealand I experienced life as an accountant, credit manager and company director, shepherd, scrub-cutter, tree pruner, freezing worker, plastics factory worker, saxophonist, army driver, tour bus driver, stage and television actor and singer, builder, lecturer, facilitator for men's groups, reporter, columnist, magazine editor, publisher, writer ... In South Africa as an AIDS workshop co-facilitator ... In the Australian bush as a barman, horse and camel trekker and stock-whip teacher ... In England as a contract accountant, corporate trainer, estate manager, lecturer, singer/songwriter, website editor/writer and freelance writer ... Back in Australia I'm renovating houses, teaching and writing ... and wondering what's next! Professional voyage I write in every genre - non-fiction, novels, novelettes, short stories, flash fiction, poetry and songs. I believe the written word is a vehicle to help us find our peace, to find our place in the world and to rediscover the parts of ourselves that we may have lost somewhere along the way. At least that is what the process of writing does for me and I would be honoured to be a part of that journey with you. As human human beings, we are compelled to follow our passion, spread our wings and take on the life we were born to experience. I spent twenty years in the wrong occupation. One year of accounting and I knew we didn't fit each other. But I stayed. Why? Years later, I realised I'd stayed bored and desperate to please my father, and, later, to please my wife. They were people I could not please. We can only please ourselves. Once I'd realised I was in a rut - a grave with the ends kicked out - I felt stuck. I didn't know what else I could do and, besides, the good money provided for my family. I had responsibilities and had to go on. I couldn't let them down. But I let me down. My father's anger and abuse came from his feeling of entrapment and in not allowing his spirit to soar ... and not knowing how to release himself from his self-built prison. I'd followed his example - sticking with a job that sucked me dry - and became more and more angry and depressed. But spirit will have its day, if we give it its say when we get out of our way. There was no great sea-change event work-wise, though the divorce was traumatic, sad and releasing. Work-wise, I quietly slipped sideways, inching my way into teaching and then, because of my twenty wasted years, started facilitating personal development courses and running men's groups. It took me no time to realise I was a lousy accountant and a long time to realise I was a helluva' good teacher. I loved it and, twenty years later, still do. Between them, accounting and teaching have taken me to many countries, to many experiences and to many amazing people. Nothing is for nothing and everything counts. For a time, I popped back into doing accounting to pay the bills but, when I did, I became such a horrible person to live with that my wife now forbids me from ever doing it again. As always, I totally agree with her! So I stick with teaching accounting - not doing it - along with teaching business development and personal development. The teaching I do comes in many guises - corporate training, university lecturing, school teaching, personal development seminars, all the books I write and who I'm being in every minute of my life. So, to you. If you're in the wrong space - work-wise, relationship-wise, location-wise or just unwise - you won't be able to give your best and receive your best till you get wise about the choices you're making ... the choices in your actions, words and, most importantly, your thoughts. I sincerely hope my words can help bring you back to wisdom, back home and back to the peace you know is there. The dream I've realised for myself is the dream I have for you. I write for both of us." |