The Relentless War on Masculinity: Does it Ever End?

A bold, data-backed challenge to today’s gender narrative, arguing that Western societies have drifted from balance into institutional gynocentrism. Clear, accessible, and solution-focused, it stands out as a top-tier book on men, masculinity, and modern gender politics.

Kendra Klein

35 reviews

I was fully prepared for a shouty, all-caps rant about “what’s wrong with the world today.” Instead, what I got felt more like a long, late-night conversation with a calm, thoughtful dad who’s been paying attention for a very long time and finally decided, “I can’t stay quiet about this anymore.”

What really struck me is how clearly Maywald names things I’ve seen but never had language for.
Boys slowly checking out of school. Male teachers quietly vanishing. University intakes skewing heavily female. Fathers becoming “optional extras” in their own kids’ lives. Men topping every grim statistic — suicide, homelessness, dangerous jobs, deaths of despair and somehow still being framed as the default problem.

He connects all of that to a bigger drift from genuine equality to something more like a gynocentric default, where male pain is either invisible, minimised, or turned into a punchline. And he does it without screaming, which honestly makes it land harder.

The thing that made me trust him was how fair he is. He doesn’t pretend women never had it bad. He doesn’t romanticise some imaginary golden age. He openly acknowledges the real gains of feminism, especially in those earlier waves, and never turns the book into a “let’s drag women back into the kitchen” fantasy. He’s clearly pro-woman, pro-family, and pro-partnership. His problem is not with women; it’s with systems and narratives that pretend men are always fine, even when they’re clearly not.

Some parts are genuinely painful to read. The sections about dads shut out of their kids’ lives, boys drifting through school with no one really claiming them, men cracking under pressure but being told they’re “privileged” — those got under my skin. I caught myself pausing, just to sit with how heavy that actually is.

But the book doesn’t leave you there. It’s not just a catalogue of misery. Maywald keeps coming back to the question: What would healing look like?
How would we change education if we actually cared about boys’ outcomes?
What would a health system that men actually use look like?
What would family law look like if we treated fathers as essential, not optional?
How would our day-to-day culture shift if we stopped casually trashing masculinity and started expecting the best from it instead?

Style-wise, it’s way more readable than this topic sounds. Short, clear sections. A warm, steady voice. Lots of research and stats, but never in a way that feels like a textbook. And the Appendix, where he points you to other thinkers and researchers in this space, makes the book feel like a doorway rather than a dead end.

I finished it feeling a complicated mix of sadness, anger, gratitude, and weird hope. Sad for all the wasted male potential. Angry at how normalised that waste has become. Grateful that someone took the time to pull all of this together in one place. And hopeful that if more people actually read things like this, the conversation around boys and men might finally grow up.

If you care about sons, fathers, brothers, husbands or just about fairness that includes everyone, this is a book you should honestly give a chance. It doesn’t scream. It doesn’t sulk. It humanises, explains, and gently invites you to help fix something that’s quietly breaking half the population.

Zane Abbott

59 reviews3 followers

I expected a book that was going to come in swinging, blame-heavy, and exhausting. But once I started reading, I realized David Maywald is doing something else entirely. This book reads like a long, steady conversation with someone who’s deeply worried about boys and men, but who still has enough maturity to keep the door open for everyone.

The core message (as I experienced it) is pretty simple: if a society keeps treating men as either “the problem” or “the punchline,” it shouldn’t act shocked when men disengage, burn out, or crumble in silence. Maywald walks through how cultural narratives and public policies have shifted over time, and then he keeps grounding it in outcomes that are hard to ignore: boys slipping in education, men’s health gaps, suicide and “deaths of despair,” the pressure-cooker of work and economic expectations, and the pain around relationships and fatherhood.

What really sets this apart is the way he organizes his argument. He introduces a framework he calls the “Four Horsewomen” (misandry, gamma bias, gynocentrism, gaslighting). Even if you don’t love the labels, the framework gives the book a clear spine: it’s his way of describing patterns he believes have become normal in public discourse and institutions. And instead of leaving it as theory, he keeps pushing it back into everyday reality, which made it feel less like a debate club book and more like a social diagnosis.

But the reason I’m giving this five stars isn’t because I nodded at every sentence. It’s because the author does something rare: he doesn’t ask you to hate women in order to care about men. He doesn’t argue for men to “win” at women’s expense. He keeps repeating, in different ways, that the goal is balance, fairness, and better outcomes for everyone, especially children. That’s a mature stance, and you can feel the intent behind it.

And the solutions section is where I warmed to him the most. He isn’t just tossing slogans. He talks about reforms and practical steps: education changes that actually suit boys, more male teachers and role models, healthier cultural messaging, family-court and fatherhood reforms, equal seriousness about male health and mortality, and a more honest public conversation that doesn’t punish people for acknowledging male suffering.

Emotionally, this book hit me in a quiet way. Not “tearjerker” quiet. More like… the kind of quiet you get when you realize how many struggles have been normalized and dismissed. There were pages that made me think of young boys who get labeled too early, men who are expected to “just handle it,” and families who pay the price when fathers are treated as optional.

Who should read it?
If you’re a parent, educator, counselor, policy-minded person, or just someone who’s tired of the gender conversation being an endless boxing match, this is worth reading. It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not trying to be universally agreeable, but it’s clear, structured, and (to my surprise) very human.

I finished it feeling both unsettled and grateful. Unsettled because the problems are real. Grateful because this book actually tries to repair something, not just shout about it.

Kate Hewwit

35 reviews

December 4, 2025

I really appreciated the honesty of this book.

From the title alone, The Relentless War on Masculinity sounds like it’s going to be pure provocation. And yes, it is provocative, it tackles feminism, gender politics, and male disadvantage head-on. But the actual experience of reading it is far more balanced and humane than the title suggests.

David Maywald’s main argument is simple but powerful: for decades, English-speaking countries have quietly tilted against men and boys. Fatherhood has been weakened, male disadvantage has been brushed aside, and masculinity itself has been treated as a problem that needs fixing. The result is not some secret “male privilege” paradise, but a very real crisis: boys slipping at school, young men disengaging, mental health struggles, falling birth rates, and fraying relationships between men and women.

What I really liked is that this isn’t just vibes or grievance. The book is data-driven but very readable. You can easily finish it in an evening or two, yet it still manages to cover a wide range of areas: boys’ education, men’s health and longevity, suicide, relationships, parenting, and more. And it doesn’t stop at diagnosis, there are ten concrete recommendations aimed at countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. You come away with a sense of “Okay, here’s what we could actually do.”

The part that surprised me most, though, is the tone. With a topic like this, it would be so easy to descend into pure anger or one-sided blame. Instead, Maywald very clearly pushes back against extremists on both sides. He doesn’t deny that many women have been harmed, and he doesn’t deny that many men have been harmed. What he refuses to do is stay stuck in trauma and victimhood. Again and again he returns to the same theme: we need sensible women and men to work together if we actually want healthier societies.

There’s also a strong emphasis on inclusion in the real sense of the word. The book explicitly says that if we’re serious about inclusion, we have to be willing to listen to all voices — including those of men, White people, and Christians, who are often treated as if their experiences don’t “count.” That will definitely make some readers uncomfortable, but it’s part of what makes the book honest.

Despite the heavy subject matter, this is an accessible, high-impact read. Busy parents, teachers, journalists, and policymakers could all get through it quickly and still come away with a lot to think about. It feels less like a culture-war weapon and more like a compact, urgent call-to-action: stop fighting each other, start fixing what’s broken, and build a future where men and boys thriving is seen as a gain for everyone, not a threat.

In short: provocative title, yes. But underneath it is a hopeful, healing message. As one of the endorsers puts it, this really isn’t about division, it’s about repair.

William Brown

73 reviews2 followers

David Maywald is basically saying: yes, history was heavily androcentric for a long time, but the “correction” has gone so far that boys and men are now quietly taking losses across systems that shape real life: school, health, work, relationships, and especially fatherhood. And he does NOT write this as “women vs men.” That’s the part that impressed me most. He keeps coming back to balance, fairness, and solutions.

The book is structured in a way that makes it easy to follow. First, he lays out what he means by a “war on masculinity” (not a war with tanks, but a cultural and institutional shift where masculinity is treated like a problem to be managed). Then he goes into how things evolved politically and socially over decades. After that, he introduces this memorable framework he calls the “Four Horsewomen” of modern feminism: misandry, gamma bias, gynocentrism, and gaslighting. Whether you agree with those labels or not, I’ll say this: it made me stop and think, because he connects the ideas to outcomes you can’t just shrug off.

Chapter 4 is where it really landed for me. He talks about boys struggling in education, men’s health and mortality gaps, deaths of despair and suicide, economic pressure, and the emotional toll that builds up when men feel disposable. I’m not being dramatic when I say a few pages genuinely made my chest feel heavy, because I could picture real people in my life inside those paragraphs. And that’s what this book does well: it pulls the issue out of abstract debate and puts it back into living rooms, classrooms, courtrooms, and families.

What I appreciated most is that the author doesn’t just diagnose. He proposes actual reforms: more male teachers, boy-friendly learning environments, family court reforms, equal health funding, and a cultural reset that stops treating masculinity like it’s automatically toxic. He also talks about what men can do, and what women and society can do, which kept the tone from turning into blame.

By the end, I felt strangely hopeful. Not because everything is magically fixed, but because the book pushes for a future where respect goes both ways and we stop pretending one gender’s suffering is “fine” as long as it fits the narrative.

If you’re the kind of reader who wants something thoughtful, practical, and human (not just hot takes), this is worth your time. I’d recommend it to men, women, parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about where society is heading.

Hope Ross

35 reviews

December 6, 2025

If you’ve ever looked at the stats on boys in school, male suicide, or collapsing birth rates and felt, “Something is really wrong here, but no one will say it out loud,” this is that book.

The Relentless War on Masculinity is not a tantrum about “men’s rights,” but a calm, tightly argued examination of how Anglo-Western societies have drifted from genuine equality into what David Maywald calls institutional gynocentrism, a system that routinely favours female concerns while treating male disadvantage as invisible, exaggerated, or deserved. He links this shift to very real outcomes: falling education results for boys, disengaged young men, rising mental health struggles, family breakdown, and strained relationships between men and women. It’s a confronting thesis, but he presents it with a mix of moral seriousness and human warmth that makes it hard to dismiss.

What sets this apart within the men’s-issues genre is the blend of data, synthesis, and constructive intent. Like The Boy Crisis and Of Boys and Men, the book is anchored in research on education, health, suicide, fertility, and family structure. But Maywald goes further in tying these threads into a wider civilisational story—where fatherhood, faith, and purpose are treated as non-negotiable pillars of human flourishing, not relics of a bygone era. He’s explicit about the cultural, political, and institutional forces that have sidelined men and boys, yet he consistently resists bitterness; the book’s emotional centre is a call for reconciliation and repair, not payback.

Equally important, this is a solutions book. Maywald doesn’t stop at diagnosis. He offers ten concrete reforms across schools, health systems, family law, and public policy, all aimed at restoring balance and rebuilding collaboration between women and men. The tone is accessible—short chapters, clear prose, minimal jargon, making it an easy but thought-provoking read for parents, teachers, policymakers, and general readers alike.

If you’ve appreciated titles like The Toxic War on Masculinity, The War Against Boys, or Manhood and you’re looking for a concise, hopeful, and reform-focused next step, The Relentless War on Masculinity deserves a place on that same shelf. It challenges comfortable narratives without descending into rage, and it insists persuasively that when men and boys thrive, society as a whole is better off.

Ultimate World

776 reviews50 followers

January 1, 2026

**Book Review: *The Relentless War on Masculinity: Does It Ever End?* by David Maywald**

In *The Relentless War on Masculinity*, David Maywald delivers a provocative and deeply considered examination of what he sees as a growing crisis affecting men and boys in Western societies. Drawing on social data, cultural analysis, and impassioned advocacy, Maywald argues that modern institutions and narratives have moved beyond equality and into a framework that marginalizes masculinity—with far-reaching consequences for families, education, mental health, and social cohesion.

The book tackles difficult and often polarizing questions head-on. Maywald explores declining outcomes for boys in schools, the erosion of fatherhood, rising male disengagement, and the widening emotional and relational divide between men and women. Rather than framing these issues as a zero-sum gender conflict, he positions them as shared societal challenges—ones that harm everyone when left unaddressed.

One of the book’s strengths lies in its insistence on collaboration rather than blame. Maywald emphasizes the importance of restoring balance through renewed respect for fatherhood, purpose, faith, and male contribution, while advocating for policies and cultural reforms that support both sexes. His call for a “new social contract” is grounded in the belief that men and women thrive best when working together, not in opposition.

While some readers may find the book’s conclusions challenging or confrontational, *The Relentless War on Masculinity* succeeds in sparking necessary conversation. It invites readers to question prevailing assumptions, consider overlooked perspectives, and engage in honest dialogue about how modern societies can better support boys and men without diminishing the progress made for women.

Ultimately, this book is a bold, timely, and thought-provoking contribution to the gender discourse—one that will resonate with parents, educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned about the long-term health of families and communities. Whether readers agree with every argument or not, Maywald’s work makes a compelling case that when men and boys flourish, society as a whole benefits.

Karen Baumgart

1 review

December 2, 2025

Any experienced policymaker knows how easily one can spin data to confirm a narrative. Not all evidence is created equal, and I’d suggest this book would have benefitted from a more discerning approach to research.

By intentionally avoiding reputable sources such as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Our Watch and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the text doesn’t meaningfully engage with the prevailing body of evidence on domestic and family violence. The author even evaluates some of his evidence sources in terms of their ‘likes’ or ‘views’, relying on pseudo-experts from podcasts, books, YouTube or Twitter/X.

A critique of the ways in which men and women are characterised, condemned or supported, requires expertise and experience across broad-ranging areas of social policy and human services. Unfortunately, the author does not seem to keep in mind the notion that ‘I don’t know what I don’t know’. Perhaps, a more humble approach would have deferred to experts in senior roles across fields such as the judicial system (including family law), education and health research.

I’d also have liked to see more consideration of how lived experiences of culture, disability, disadvantage, and sex and gender identities intersect with male/female ideologies. The book’s focus on the benefits of nuclear, heterosexual families and traditional gender roles dismisses the experiences of people who don’t neatly fit into boxes such as ‘male’, ‘female’, ‘husband’ and ‘wife’. Surely, a compassionate voice for change should always make space for these diverse perspectives?

Nial James

63 reviews

This book reminded me a lot of Christina Hoff Sommers in one key way: it’s trying to carve out a space where you can talk about boys and men without immediately being shoved into a cartoon villain role. Sommers is known for arguing that boys’ struggles are real and often dismissed, and Maywald taps into that same “hey, look at the outcomes” impulse. The difference is that Maywald feels less like a cultural critic and more like a systems-and-reform guy who’s saying, “Okay, now what do we do about it?”

He starts from the premise that the pendulum swung from a historically male-centered society to something he describes as gynocentric, where male disadvantage is minimized or treated as deserved.

His “Four Horsewomen” framework (misandry, gamma bias, gynocentrism, gaslighting) is the most

Whether you buy all of it or not, it’s undeniably sticky. You can see why some readers will latch onto it immediately.

Where Maywald really separates himself is in the way he lays out the real-world pressure points: education, health and mortality gaps, deaths of despair, work and economic strain, relationships and fatherhood.

My overall read: if Sommers is the person calmly pointing at the scoreboard and saying, “Boys are losing ground and nobody wants to say it,” Maywald is the person building a practical roadmap and saying, “Here’s how we stop pretending this is fine.” He’s not trying to win a gender war. He’s trying to end the war mindset.

Sneha

342 reviews32 followers

December 21, 2025

The Relentless War on Masculinity is the kind of book that makes you pause, look up, and go, “Okay, this is uncomfortable, but also kinda true.” David Maywald jumps straight into a conversation most people avoid and asks a simple question: when did masculinity become something that constantly needs fixing?
 What works here is that this isn’t just feelings and opinions flying around. The book is packed with stats, trends, and real-life outcomes, boys falling behind in school, men checking out of society, mental health issues piling up. It’s the kind of data that quietly hits harder than shouting ever could.
 One thing I appreciated? This book doesn’t turn into a men vs women debate. David keeps bringing it back to balance, strong men, supported boys, healthier families. Fatherhood, purpose, and responsibility aren’t framed as outdated ideas but as things we’ve maybe been way too quick to dismiss.
 And no, this isn’t a doom-scroll in book form. The second half focuses on solutions, how culture, education, and policy could do better if we actually wanted long-term results instead of quick slogans. It feels more like a “let’s fix this together” conversation than a finger-pointing session.
 If you’ve read The Boy Crisis or Of Boys and Men, this will feel like the next bold step in that discussion. You might nod, you might argue with the pages but you definitely won’t read it passively.

Emily Maya

59 reviews2 followers

Read

December 7, 2025

I really liked this book for how fair and human it is. It stands up for boys and men without turning into an angry anti-woman rant, and that balance made me trust it. The arguments are backed by solid data on education, suicide, fatherhood, and policy, but the writing stays very readable, short chapters, clear flow, and a warm, conversational voice that never feels like homework. I also loved that it gives you ideas you actually remember (like the “Four Horsewomen” and the shift to institutional gynocentrism), and then moves beyond “here’s the problem” into “here’s what we could actually change” in schools, health systems, family law and culture. The only thing I didn’t love is that the “war” framing in the title might put off exactly the moderate readers who would benefit most from the nuance inside.

Daniel Evans

29 reviews3 followers

Felt like someone finally put subtitles on things I’ve been feeling for years but couldn’t name: boys drifting, dads sidelined, men falling apart quietly while the story outside still says, “Relax, you guys are on top.” Maywald connects all of that without ranting, without hating women, and without pretending the past was perfect. That mix of courage + calm really got to me.

What moved me most is how solution-focused it is. It doesn’t leave you in “everything is broken” mode. It asks: okay, how do we fix schools, health systems, family law, culture, together? I closed it thinking less “men vs women” and more “wow, if we don’t heal this, our kids pay the price.”

Short, gutsy, weirdly hopeful. I’m still thinking about it.

Soren

71 reviews2 followers

Supporting Men, Strengthening Society – David Maywald’s book highlights the overlooked struggles of men and boys in modern societies, showing the consequences of cultural and institutional bias. The Relentless War on Masculinity combines data, historical context, and practical recommendations to restore fatherhood, purpose, and collaboration. Thoughtful, courageous, and solution-focused, it challenges stereotypes and encourages societal reform. A timely and essential read for parents, educators, and policymakers, the book demonstrates that supporting men is integral to building stronger, healthier, and more balanced communities for all.

Theo Van

58 reviews

Masculinity in Perspective – The Relentless War on Masculinity provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges men face, from education gaps to mental health issues. David Maywald blends evidence, advocacy, and practical solutions to address systemic sidelining while emphasizing fatherhood, faith, and purpose. Thought-provoking and actionable, the book encourages collaboration between men and women to rebuild thriving families and communities. Insightful, courageous, and urgent, it reframes the conversation around masculinity, offering hope and guidance for creating a society where both sexes can flourish together.

Rafael

61 reviews

The Future of Fatherhood – In this powerful work, David Maywald examines how societal shifts have weakened the role of men and fathers, with consequences for families and communities. The Relentless War on Masculinity combines research, historical insight, and advocacy to propose actionable reforms. Emphasizing fatherhood, purpose, and collaboration, the book encourages dialogue, challenges stereotypes, and offers practical solutions. Thoughtful, provocative, and deeply human, it provides a roadmap for rebuilding balance, supporting men and boys, and fostering healthier societies for future generations.

Selene Kavanagh

54 reviews1 follower

Masculinity Reexamined – David Maywald’s The Relentless War on Masculinity courageously explores male disadvantage in modern Western societies, examining education, mental health, and family dynamics. The book blends research, analysis, and advocacy with practical recommendations for restoring balance and collaboration between men and women. Insightful and urgent, it challenges cultural assumptions while proposing solutions that strengthen fathers, families, and communities. A vital read for parents, educators, and policymakers, it demonstrates that supporting men and boys is essential for societal health, resilience, and a flourishing future for all.

Elias Beaumont

63 reviews1 follower

November 28, 2025

Reclaiming Balance – The Relentless War on Masculinity is a bold and timely examination of the social challenges facing men and boys in Western societies. David Maywald combines rigorous research with heartfelt advocacy to highlight the sidelining of fatherhood, masculinity, and purpose. The book explores cultural, political, and institutional forces while offering practical solutions for restoring balance and collaboration between men and women. Insightful, provocative, and solution-focused, it challenges stereotypes, sparks honest dialogue, and inspires readers to rethink social structures. A deeply important read for anyone seeking a healthier, more equitable future for families and communities.

Adrien Moreau

74 reviews2 followers

November 28, 2025

David Maywald’s book shines a clear light on the crisis affecting men and boys today, from falling educational outcomes to rising mental health struggles. Through data-driven analysis and heartfelt argumentation, he examines how Western societies shifted toward gynocentrism and marginalized masculine roles. Beyond critique, the book offers actionable reforms to rebuild fatherhood, purpose, and social collaboration. Thought-provoking and courageous, it challenges cultural narratives while inviting constructive dialogue. Essential for parents, educators, and policymakers, this work combines advocacy with practical insight, showing that when men are supported and respected, society as a whole benefits.

Amara Lef

59 reviews1 follower

November 28, 2025

Restoring Fathers, Flourishing Families – In The Relentless War on Masculinity, David Maywald highlights how modern societies have undervalued men, resulting in disengaged youth, fractured relationships, and societal instability. The book blends research, historical context, and policy analysis to explore the consequences of sidelining masculinity while presenting practical solutions to restore balance. Emphasizing fatherhood, purpose, and faith, it argues that men and women working together can rebuild thriving communities. Bold, urgent, and deeply human, this book challenges prevailing assumptions and offers a roadmap for meaningful reform. A must-read for anyone invested in social health and future generations.

Chiara Mancini

46 reviews9 followers

Some chapters are tough to read emotionally, especially when he talks about dads cut off from their kids and men slowly falling apart with no one really noticing. But the overall tone stays hopeful. He spends a good chunk of time on “Okay, so what now?” Schools, health systems, family law, policy, culture. It’s not just doom.

Also, it’s very readable. Short sections, simple language, no jargon wall. You can pick it up after a long day and not feel like you’re opening a textbook.

If you’re tired of the usual gender shouting matches and want something sane, researched, and genuinely human, this is a solid, worthwhile read.

Elara Montreux

82 reviews3 followers

David Maywald’s The Relentless War on Masculinity is a courageous, data-driven look at the challenges men and boys face in contemporary Western societies. From falling educational outcomes to mental health struggles and fractured relationships, the book explores systemic causes while providing practical solutions for restoration. By emphasizing fatherhood, purpose, and cross-gender collaboration, it reframes the narrative from blame to constructive action. Insightful, urgent, and solution-focused, it is essential reading for parents, educators, and policymakers seeking to rebuild social structures where men and boys can thrive alongside women.

Anya

70 reviews3 followers

The Male Crisis – In The Relentless War on Masculinity, David Maywald addresses the social, cultural, and institutional trends that have marginalized men and boys. The book combines research, advocacy, and actionable reforms to restore balance and collaboration between genders. Emphasizing fatherhood, purpose, and social cohesion, it provides a roadmap for healthier families, schools, and communities. Insightful, provocative, and solution-oriented, the work challenges stereotypes and sparks meaningful dialogue. Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding gender dynamics and building societies where both men and women can flourish.

Robert Benjamith

42 reviews

December 9, 2025

Short, punchy, and absolutely crackling with energy. In a couple of hours it blew up all the lazy clichés about men and calmly laid out what’s actually happening to boys, dads, and families—and then said, “Okay, here’s how we fix it together.” It’s bold, gutsy, wildly honest, and still somehow hopeful. If you want a fast read that hits like a slap and a hug at the same time, this is it.

ETHAN HUNT

23 reviews

The Pursuit of Happyness, but zoomed out from one man’s struggle to an entire generation of boys and men. It has that same human, aching, hopeful energy: the sense that the system is stacked against them, yet the story is ultimately about dignity, responsibility, and finding a way to rebuild a life (and society) that works for everyone.

Anderson James

60 reviews