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A More Complete Beast
A More Complete Beast is men's writer Jack Donovan's third book in a series that started with the runaway cult hit, The Way of Men. The second book, Becoming a Barbarian, showed disconnected modern men - men born into the anti-identity "Empire of Nothing" - how to think tribally.
In A More Complete Beast, Donovan picks up Friedrich Nietzsche's thoughts on nobility and master morality and uses them to guide men through an "upside-down" modern world, avoid the trap of hateful ressentiment, and overcome adversity through creativity. In Donovan's hands, Nietzsche's words are rasps and chisels to help men refine a strength-based ethos, reveal their highest and noblest selves and become more complete men. And, as Nietzsche reminded us, man is a beast - so to become a more complete man is always to become a more complete beast.
In A More Complete Beast, Donovan picks up Friedrich Nietzsche's thoughts on nobility and master morality and uses them to guide men through an "upside-down" modern world, avoid the trap of hateful ressentiment, and overcome adversity through creativity. In Donovan's hands, Nietzsche's words are rasps and chisels to help men refine a strength-based ethos, reveal their highest and noblest selves and become more complete men. And, as Nietzsche reminded us, man is a beast - so to become a more complete man is always to become a more complete beast.
120 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2018
145 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
Jack Donovan
7 books481 followersJack Donovan has been writing and speaking about masculinity, masculine philosophy and spirituality for over a decade. His foundational book, The Way of Men, has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide and has been translated into French, German, Portuguese, Spanish and Polish.
Donovan is an occasional speaker and often appears on podcasts to discuss masculinity and the challenges faced by men who want to live masculine lives in the 21st Century.
He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he has constructed an “experimental pagan ritual space” called “Waldgang,” somewhere in the hinterlands.
Donovan is an occasional speaker and often appears on podcasts to discuss masculinity and the challenges faced by men who want to live masculine lives in the 21st Century.
He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he has constructed an “experimental pagan ritual space” called “Waldgang,” somewhere in the hinterlands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 10, 2019
So how is it that I find myself this year reading the collected work of controversial "masculinist" author Jack Donovan? Well, that's because, after being blown away earlier this year by Chuck Palahniuk's newest novel Adjustment Day, I learned that during Palahniuk's interview tour for that book, he called Donovan the smartest writer on masculinity working today; and that alone made me curious enough to pick up his three full-length books, even though I identify as a left-leaning moderate and typically don't read radical philosophy on either the left or the right. Unfortunately for me, though, I accidentally started with what is his newest book, which apparently builds on the fundamentals laid out in the previous two, so you'll have to forgive me if my review seems a bit incomplete and doesn't address either The Way of Men or Becoming a Barbarian. (Rest assured, reviews of these will be coming later this summer.)
And indeed, this book does in fact feel a bit incomplete if you take it on as your first Donovan read; essentially a contemporary response to the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, A More Complete Beast mostly concerns itself with the issue of how an authentic man should actually behave out in the real world of the 2010s (a world he cleverly calls the "Empire of Nothing"), but assumes that you already know what defines an "authentic man" because of having already read The Way of Men which is entirely devoted to the subject. That said, the biggest surprise of this book is how rational and measured it actually is, given how much he is worshipped within alt-right and white-nationalist circles, and given that he runs a chapter of a masculinist organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as a hate group. Donovan's main point here is in fact a very sensible piece of advice that all of us could benefit from following, no matter what our particular politics; that one of the main factors that drives negative behavior is resentment, the idea that we are "victims" of an "other" that is "inherently evil" merely because we disagree with it, and that our best way of dealing with it is by defining our actions in opposition to their own.
Instead, Donovan argues, we're all better off by simply embracing the things we believe in as an end unto itself, and simply living our lives according to those principles without regard to what other people think of it, or what those people might do to try to hinder us. I 100 percent agree with a statement like that, and furthermore think it's advice that can be adopted by liberals, feminists, and anyone else who has ever unhealthily adopted a "victim mindset" towards the world. In this, then, Donovan is actually calling for the end of such embarrassing displays as the tiki-torch-wielding demonstrations of 2017 Charlottesville; those solve nothing, he argues, and merely encourages men to define themselves in terms of how they're being "held back" by the rest of our modern emasculated society. But that said, Donovan definitely visits Crazy Town at certain points here, in a way that makes me suspect that he lives there much more permanently in his previous books; and that would make sense, since his first two books are about how to define an "authentic man" in a perfect, hermetically sealed theoretical world where everything goes right, while this newest book is about the complications of that authentic man living in the messy real world that you and I all occupy. Plus he's also guilty of the same thing most radicals are guilty of, both on the left and right, of making contradictory statements and then not acknowledging the contradiction or trying to resolve it; just for one telling example, he argues that what we know of the distant past is filtered through the romantic propaganda of writers with an agenda to push long after the fact, and therefore inherently shouldn't be trusted, but then turns around and defines a modern authentic man through this exact romanticized propagandic language. (An authentic man is a "barbarian;" an authentic man is beholden only to his "tribe;" an authentic man is a "predator" who kills wolves and "wears their head" as a trophy.)
Ultimately whenever I read a book like this, I always tend to ask myself, "How does it compare to Roxane Gay?" Gay, for those who don't know, is essentially the version of Donovan for radical liberals, by which I mean that the polemic statements she makes in her books are warmly embraced by her most hardcore fans, but held at arm's length and viewed with a lot of skepticism by pretty much every other person on the planet besides her most hardcore fans. In this book at least, I didn't see anything Donovan was saying that was any more outrageous than the things Gay says; and if you want to live in a world where Gay has the right to publish new books and gain new fans, then by definition you're required to live in a world where Donovan also has the right to publish new books and gain new fans, because freedom of the press doesn't mean "freedom just for the people you agree with." This balancing of radicalism across the spectrum earns the book a middle-of-the-road 3 stars; the fact that Donovan expresses his radicalism much more intelligently than I expected is what earns it the extra 4th star I'm giving it today.
But that said, I acknowledge that there are more troubling parts of Donovan's personality and life that aren't addressed in this book; see for example this eye-opening 2017 piece by The Cut, in which the slippery relationship he has with violent white nationalists is more fully explored. (It's also worth noting that Donovan is gay, although he defines himself as an "androphile," meaning "someone who loves masculinity so much that he has sex with men," in an attempt to distance himself from the liberal victim politics of the modern LGBTQ community. This adds a whole new layer of complexity to the coldly dismissive attitude in A More Complete Beast he has towards the very idea that woman might have anything worth saying that a man should bother paying attention to.) It's important to acknowledge these things when taking a critical look at any political or philosophical writer, because no writer lives in a perfect vacuum, especially when the only thing you know about them are their own books which of course paint them as the most wonderful and perfect person who exists. Rest assured that I will be keeping all of these real-world issues in mind when doing my next Donovan dive, this time into his first book, the 2012 modern masculinist manifesto The Way of Men.
And indeed, this book does in fact feel a bit incomplete if you take it on as your first Donovan read; essentially a contemporary response to the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, A More Complete Beast mostly concerns itself with the issue of how an authentic man should actually behave out in the real world of the 2010s (a world he cleverly calls the "Empire of Nothing"), but assumes that you already know what defines an "authentic man" because of having already read The Way of Men which is entirely devoted to the subject. That said, the biggest surprise of this book is how rational and measured it actually is, given how much he is worshipped within alt-right and white-nationalist circles, and given that he runs a chapter of a masculinist organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as a hate group. Donovan's main point here is in fact a very sensible piece of advice that all of us could benefit from following, no matter what our particular politics; that one of the main factors that drives negative behavior is resentment, the idea that we are "victims" of an "other" that is "inherently evil" merely because we disagree with it, and that our best way of dealing with it is by defining our actions in opposition to their own.
Instead, Donovan argues, we're all better off by simply embracing the things we believe in as an end unto itself, and simply living our lives according to those principles without regard to what other people think of it, or what those people might do to try to hinder us. I 100 percent agree with a statement like that, and furthermore think it's advice that can be adopted by liberals, feminists, and anyone else who has ever unhealthily adopted a "victim mindset" towards the world. In this, then, Donovan is actually calling for the end of such embarrassing displays as the tiki-torch-wielding demonstrations of 2017 Charlottesville; those solve nothing, he argues, and merely encourages men to define themselves in terms of how they're being "held back" by the rest of our modern emasculated society. But that said, Donovan definitely visits Crazy Town at certain points here, in a way that makes me suspect that he lives there much more permanently in his previous books; and that would make sense, since his first two books are about how to define an "authentic man" in a perfect, hermetically sealed theoretical world where everything goes right, while this newest book is about the complications of that authentic man living in the messy real world that you and I all occupy. Plus he's also guilty of the same thing most radicals are guilty of, both on the left and right, of making contradictory statements and then not acknowledging the contradiction or trying to resolve it; just for one telling example, he argues that what we know of the distant past is filtered through the romantic propaganda of writers with an agenda to push long after the fact, and therefore inherently shouldn't be trusted, but then turns around and defines a modern authentic man through this exact romanticized propagandic language. (An authentic man is a "barbarian;" an authentic man is beholden only to his "tribe;" an authentic man is a "predator" who kills wolves and "wears their head" as a trophy.)
Ultimately whenever I read a book like this, I always tend to ask myself, "How does it compare to Roxane Gay?" Gay, for those who don't know, is essentially the version of Donovan for radical liberals, by which I mean that the polemic statements she makes in her books are warmly embraced by her most hardcore fans, but held at arm's length and viewed with a lot of skepticism by pretty much every other person on the planet besides her most hardcore fans. In this book at least, I didn't see anything Donovan was saying that was any more outrageous than the things Gay says; and if you want to live in a world where Gay has the right to publish new books and gain new fans, then by definition you're required to live in a world where Donovan also has the right to publish new books and gain new fans, because freedom of the press doesn't mean "freedom just for the people you agree with." This balancing of radicalism across the spectrum earns the book a middle-of-the-road 3 stars; the fact that Donovan expresses his radicalism much more intelligently than I expected is what earns it the extra 4th star I'm giving it today.
But that said, I acknowledge that there are more troubling parts of Donovan's personality and life that aren't addressed in this book; see for example this eye-opening 2017 piece by The Cut, in which the slippery relationship he has with violent white nationalists is more fully explored. (It's also worth noting that Donovan is gay, although he defines himself as an "androphile," meaning "someone who loves masculinity so much that he has sex with men," in an attempt to distance himself from the liberal victim politics of the modern LGBTQ community. This adds a whole new layer of complexity to the coldly dismissive attitude in A More Complete Beast he has towards the very idea that woman might have anything worth saying that a man should bother paying attention to.) It's important to acknowledge these things when taking a critical look at any political or philosophical writer, because no writer lives in a perfect vacuum, especially when the only thing you know about them are their own books which of course paint them as the most wonderful and perfect person who exists. Rest assured that I will be keeping all of these real-world issues in mind when doing my next Donovan dive, this time into his first book, the 2012 modern masculinist manifesto The Way of Men.
April 5, 2019
A much needed book for us on the right
As a political conservative, I found myself becoming bitter and black pilled on the fate of America. Fortunately, “A More Complete Beast” shined light and hope into my soul. Jack Donovan saved my spirit from the depths of ressentiment and he showed me the path leading to my power as a creator.
As a political conservative, I found myself becoming bitter and black pilled on the fate of America. Fortunately, “A More Complete Beast” shined light and hope into my soul. Jack Donovan saved my spirit from the depths of ressentiment and he showed me the path leading to my power as a creator.
December 2, 2018
I seriously applaud Jack Donovan for undertaking this challenge. His is giving voice and expression to the oft misunderstood, and equally necessary, Masculine aspect of life. This is no simple feat given the public-discourse beatings the masculine has taken over the last 40 years. Demonizing masculinity through extreme shaming to the point where it is no longer recognizable is almost too easy and now one of the few socially acceptable ventures. This is a mistake, the trendiness behind equating masculinity with evil is as obnoxious as it's inverse and is usually undertaken by those who feel threatened by what they don't understand or fail to appreciate. The author seeks to clarify those misunderstandings by attempting to capture just what the Masculine is, drives it and it's ultimate end.
His thesis is that Masculinity is a force that finds its highest fulfillment in aggressively conquering life's obstacles through the discharge of 'tactical virtues' of physical strength, courage, honor and mastery. That through this the masculine craves to create, to build, to re-shape it's external world. A near monopoly on physical violence is one of the tools masculinity has long used to achieve those ends until it was delegated to modern Governments (which ironically use violence to contain violence).
I did appreciate his divesting the attribution of good and evil of it's moral high ground and instead replacing it with 'consequences'. As humans, we attribute meaning to all events in life and so we're ultimately the ones who decide when something is good or evil, which even changes over time. Divorced of this human attribution, actions just have consequences and so one must instead always carefully way the prices and sacrifices they're willing to make. Everything has a cost in consequences, whether big or small.
In this book he relies a lot on the concepts introduced by Nietzsche to make his point. This is a bit of a delicate balancing act as well since Nietzsche's words have long been misconstrued and misinterpreted. He carefully avoids political-trigger verbiage so his point doesn't get lost by those looking to be easily offended, but he also doesn't apologize for his ideas he is advocating.
I doubt he would take it as a compliment if his works were labelled as "masculine studies" but that is essentially what his work is, hahaha.
His thesis is that Masculinity is a force that finds its highest fulfillment in aggressively conquering life's obstacles through the discharge of 'tactical virtues' of physical strength, courage, honor and mastery. That through this the masculine craves to create, to build, to re-shape it's external world. A near monopoly on physical violence is one of the tools masculinity has long used to achieve those ends until it was delegated to modern Governments (which ironically use violence to contain violence).
I did appreciate his divesting the attribution of good and evil of it's moral high ground and instead replacing it with 'consequences'. As humans, we attribute meaning to all events in life and so we're ultimately the ones who decide when something is good or evil, which even changes over time. Divorced of this human attribution, actions just have consequences and so one must instead always carefully way the prices and sacrifices they're willing to make. Everything has a cost in consequences, whether big or small.
In this book he relies a lot on the concepts introduced by Nietzsche to make his point. This is a bit of a delicate balancing act as well since Nietzsche's words have long been misconstrued and misinterpreted. He carefully avoids political-trigger verbiage so his point doesn't get lost by those looking to be easily offended, but he also doesn't apologize for his ideas he is advocating.
I doubt he would take it as a compliment if his works were labelled as "masculine studies" but that is essentially what his work is, hahaha.
November 10, 2018
Nietzsche-lite. Not terrible, but, I'd rather read the OG. In fact, I'm doing it now.
July 20, 2022
It is the desire of the noble man who wants to change the world to first start by changing himself. Not only that, he understands that everything he needs resides within himself. This is the main message that Jack Donovan delivers in his book "A More Complete Beast".
Jack Donovan has been writing and speaking about masculinity and its role in the world (& creating new worlds) for over a decade. His perspective on what masculinity is and how it looks in action is a MUCH NEEDED perspective in today's day and age!
What an affirming and motivating read this was! SO many great takeaways and perspectives to be gained! Men, read this book and learn of your divine and primal nature. Understand that they do not work against each other, but WITH each other and that only by embracing both and taking actionable steps with each role in hand can you become a more complete beast!
Jack Donovan has been writing and speaking about masculinity and its role in the world (& creating new worlds) for over a decade. His perspective on what masculinity is and how it looks in action is a MUCH NEEDED perspective in today's day and age!
What an affirming and motivating read this was! SO many great takeaways and perspectives to be gained! Men, read this book and learn of your divine and primal nature. Understand that they do not work against each other, but WITH each other and that only by embracing both and taking actionable steps with each role in hand can you become a more complete beast!
November 9, 2018
Random but just read this book in 20 minutes... 😂 In the one hand I realise the author's views on feminism and homosexuality, which doesn't fit into political correctness, on the other hand enjoyed his Nietzsche references and analysis with the crisis that most men face when faced with sterility or domestication. The fact that "empowerment" has negative or positive forms when faced with the onslaught of the various tentacles of the media or when partaking in most academic circles. The great part as well is that it is also a warning not to descend into victimhood or get into a mindset, which many teenagers and young men to fall into, they view everything around them as wrong. Donovan rightly says this is also wrong and you should hold your head up strong and get on with things while not falling for traps laid down by those with different values or the slobs as he boldly puts it. I chuckled there because life is full of them, content to do sod all to change or make anything. Slaves to an old system which cannot be changed by silence or inactivity or just willingly ignoring the constant erosion of our identity which involves pleasing everyone.
Also looking at neo-nazis who are obsessed with jewish people and how some jewish activists are obsessed with doing the same but towards those they deem as "enemies/agitators." Donovan says why can't these people put all that energy into something else that is creative and productive? An obsession that is more likely to stagnate rather than be purely a matter of self defence/protection. I suppose he has a point when looking at social media or real life.
The mythologies and look at the "noble" as a sort of archetype for a man and his ongoing development/struggle was also in tune with anyone who has looked at these histories, mythologies and religions. The real man is one such as Spartacus or Alexander. I read some random stuff sometimes and this was an intelligent reminder to man up and not feel bad about it. 😂
“The tension of soul in misfortune which communicates to it its energy, its shuddering in view of rack and ruin, its inventiveness and bravery in undergoing, enduring, interpreting, and exploiting misfortune, and whatever depth, mystery, disguise, spirit, artifice, or greatness has been bestowed upon the soul—has it not been bestowed through suffering, through the discipline of great suffering? In man creature and creator are united: in man there is not only matter, shred, excess, clay, mire, folly, chaos; but there is also the creator, the sculptor, the hardness of the hammer, the divinity of the spectator, and the seventh day—do ye understand this contrast?”
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
At the end too: Why not be the creature who creates himself?
Longer review in progress as well...
Also looking at neo-nazis who are obsessed with jewish people and how some jewish activists are obsessed with doing the same but towards those they deem as "enemies/agitators." Donovan says why can't these people put all that energy into something else that is creative and productive? An obsession that is more likely to stagnate rather than be purely a matter of self defence/protection. I suppose he has a point when looking at social media or real life.
The mythologies and look at the "noble" as a sort of archetype for a man and his ongoing development/struggle was also in tune with anyone who has looked at these histories, mythologies and religions. The real man is one such as Spartacus or Alexander. I read some random stuff sometimes and this was an intelligent reminder to man up and not feel bad about it. 😂
“The tension of soul in misfortune which communicates to it its energy, its shuddering in view of rack and ruin, its inventiveness and bravery in undergoing, enduring, interpreting, and exploiting misfortune, and whatever depth, mystery, disguise, spirit, artifice, or greatness has been bestowed upon the soul—has it not been bestowed through suffering, through the discipline of great suffering? In man creature and creator are united: in man there is not only matter, shred, excess, clay, mire, folly, chaos; but there is also the creator, the sculptor, the hardness of the hammer, the divinity of the spectator, and the seventh day—do ye understand this contrast?”
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil
At the end too: Why not be the creature who creates himself?
Longer review in progress as well...
October 18, 2018
Good observations on the trajectory of today's society but not good news...
The author paints a fairly accurate picture on how values and beliefs have shifted over time and not necessarily for the better. The goes a bit extreme at times but largely got things right. What was good is now bad. Strength is seen as a bad thing. Success is seen as a bad thing. The trends in these and other areas are not promising. We are not the warrior society we were once close to being. We ate now prizing weakness and laxity as virtues while our society turns its back on the values and virtues that made us great in the world. Very disappointing turn of events highlighted well by the author.
The author paints a fairly accurate picture on how values and beliefs have shifted over time and not necessarily for the better. The goes a bit extreme at times but largely got things right. What was good is now bad. Strength is seen as a bad thing. Success is seen as a bad thing. The trends in these and other areas are not promising. We are not the warrior society we were once close to being. We ate now prizing weakness and laxity as virtues while our society turns its back on the values and virtues that made us great in the world. Very disappointing turn of events highlighted well by the author.
July 19, 2021
I find his writing a struggle to wade through. While the concepts are interesting, articulating ideas with which many may agree, there are too many places where the stream of ideas stumbles over themselves. There are polished parts of this and the second book, where wordsmithing is obvious. But all of the first and much of the next two have passages that are repetitive, either too widely focused to be able to process, or too finely focused on concepts that are understood in detail only by the author and his brotherhood.
He does take time to explain some of the backstory to his groups' mythological leanings, but the connection to his other writing is tenuous at best.
Overall, I am disappointed in the struggle it took to parse through less than 300 pages in 3 books. I was hoping for a more cogent delivery. However, the heart of the message rings true, to me at least.
He does take time to explain some of the backstory to his groups' mythological leanings, but the connection to his other writing is tenuous at best.
Overall, I am disappointed in the struggle it took to parse through less than 300 pages in 3 books. I was hoping for a more cogent delivery. However, the heart of the message rings true, to me at least.
April 7, 2025
Una Bestia Más Completa es un ensayo filosófico y motivacional que combina el pensamiento de Friedrich Nietzsche con las ideas propias de Jack Donovan, autor de The Way of Men y Becoming a Barbarian. Dirigido a hombres que se identifican como "reaccionarios" o descontentos con la modernidad, el libro critica la pasividad y el resentimiento, proponiendo en su lugar un camino de autosuperación basado en valores como la fuerza, el coraje, el dominio y el honor. Donovan argumenta que, en un mundo donde la masculinidad tradicional es considerada innecesaria —a lo que denomina “El Imperio de la Nada”—, los hombres deben elegir voluntariamente cultivar su potencial para trascender la mediocridad y convertirse en "bestias nobles".
La obra desarrolla conceptos clave como la trampa del resentimiento, donde se analiza cómo la mentalidad victimista y reactiva —inspirada en la “moral de esclavo” de Nietzsche— paraliza al hombre moderno. En contraste, presenta la figura de la bestia noble, un ideal masculino basado en la autoconfianza, la creatividad y la acción proactiva, alineado con la “moral de amo”. Propone además la ecuación noble, que redefine valores tradicionales y plantea una equivalencia entre lo bueno, lo noble, lo poderoso, lo hermoso y lo feliz, promoviendo la autoafirmación y el amor propio.
Otro eje central es el principio de acciones y consecuencias, donde se promueve un enfoque pragmático ante la vida, evaluando riesgos y beneficios más allá de los dogmas morales tradicionales. Asimismo, en criatura y creador, explora la dualidad entre instinto y razón, instando al hombre a trascender su condición mediante la creación y la imposición consciente de su voluntad.
El libro está plagado de referencias a Nietzsche —especialmente La genealogía de la moral y Así habló Zaratustra—, así como a mitologías indoeuropeas y ejemplos históricos que refuerzan su tesis. La integración entre el “Donovanismo” y el nietzscheanismo resulta coherente, ofreciendo una visión práctica de conceptos abstractos como la voluntad de poder. A diferencia de textos filosóficos puramente teóricos, Donovan ofrece herramientas aplicables a la vida cotidiana, como evitar la queja y centrarse en la creación. Su estilo contundente, casi como el de un sargento motivacional, resuena con lectores que buscan un llamado a la acción. Además, el diseño y la numeración de secciones facilitan la consulta, y la traducción al español mantiene la fuerza retórica del original, aunque algunos términos técnicos (como ressentiment) podrían requerir contexto adicional.
Sin embargo, no está exento de controversia. Su crítica al feminismo, a las instituciones modernas y a la “cultura de la victimización” puede resultar polarizante, especialmente para lectores progresistas. Donovan tiende a tildar lo “femenino” de debilitante, lo que simplifica y polariza el complejo debate sobre género. Además, su idealización de una masculinidad tribal y aristocrática ignora aspectos opresivos de esas estructuras históricas. Su énfasis en superhombres y bestias nobles podría también interpretarse como una validación de actitudes narcisistas o autoritarias.
Aun así, Una Bestia Más Completa es recomendable para hombres interesados en una filosofía práctica, especialmente aquellos que se sienten alienados por la cultura contemporánea; lectores de autoayuda masculina que buscan un enfoque más intelectual y menos comercial; y estudiosos de Nietzsche interesados en ver aplicaciones modernas de sus ideas. No es, sin embargo, apto para quienes rechacen de plano las perspectivas críticas hacia el progresismo o busquen un análisis equilibrado de género. Su valor reside más en provocar reflexión que en ofrecer respuestas universales.
Jack Donovan logra un texto provocador que, pese a sus controversias, invita a repensar la masculinidad en un mundo en crisis. Más que un manual, es un manifiesto que desafía al lector a elegir entre la resignación y la grandeza. Como él mismo advierte: “La utilidad es un dios para las almas desecadas”.
La obra desarrolla conceptos clave como la trampa del resentimiento, donde se analiza cómo la mentalidad victimista y reactiva —inspirada en la “moral de esclavo” de Nietzsche— paraliza al hombre moderno. En contraste, presenta la figura de la bestia noble, un ideal masculino basado en la autoconfianza, la creatividad y la acción proactiva, alineado con la “moral de amo”. Propone además la ecuación noble, que redefine valores tradicionales y plantea una equivalencia entre lo bueno, lo noble, lo poderoso, lo hermoso y lo feliz, promoviendo la autoafirmación y el amor propio.
Otro eje central es el principio de acciones y consecuencias, donde se promueve un enfoque pragmático ante la vida, evaluando riesgos y beneficios más allá de los dogmas morales tradicionales. Asimismo, en criatura y creador, explora la dualidad entre instinto y razón, instando al hombre a trascender su condición mediante la creación y la imposición consciente de su voluntad.
El libro está plagado de referencias a Nietzsche —especialmente La genealogía de la moral y Así habló Zaratustra—, así como a mitologías indoeuropeas y ejemplos históricos que refuerzan su tesis. La integración entre el “Donovanismo” y el nietzscheanismo resulta coherente, ofreciendo una visión práctica de conceptos abstractos como la voluntad de poder. A diferencia de textos filosóficos puramente teóricos, Donovan ofrece herramientas aplicables a la vida cotidiana, como evitar la queja y centrarse en la creación. Su estilo contundente, casi como el de un sargento motivacional, resuena con lectores que buscan un llamado a la acción. Además, el diseño y la numeración de secciones facilitan la consulta, y la traducción al español mantiene la fuerza retórica del original, aunque algunos términos técnicos (como ressentiment) podrían requerir contexto adicional.
Sin embargo, no está exento de controversia. Su crítica al feminismo, a las instituciones modernas y a la “cultura de la victimización” puede resultar polarizante, especialmente para lectores progresistas. Donovan tiende a tildar lo “femenino” de debilitante, lo que simplifica y polariza el complejo debate sobre género. Además, su idealización de una masculinidad tribal y aristocrática ignora aspectos opresivos de esas estructuras históricas. Su énfasis en superhombres y bestias nobles podría también interpretarse como una validación de actitudes narcisistas o autoritarias.
Aun así, Una Bestia Más Completa es recomendable para hombres interesados en una filosofía práctica, especialmente aquellos que se sienten alienados por la cultura contemporánea; lectores de autoayuda masculina que buscan un enfoque más intelectual y menos comercial; y estudiosos de Nietzsche interesados en ver aplicaciones modernas de sus ideas. No es, sin embargo, apto para quienes rechacen de plano las perspectivas críticas hacia el progresismo o busquen un análisis equilibrado de género. Su valor reside más en provocar reflexión que en ofrecer respuestas universales.
Jack Donovan logra un texto provocador que, pese a sus controversias, invita a repensar la masculinidad en un mundo en crisis. Más que un manual, es un manifiesto que desafía al lector a elegir entre la resignación y la grandeza. Como él mismo advierte: “La utilidad es un dios para las almas desecadas”.
February 22, 2021
This is a more inspiring book than his others, it is a response to the current crisis in the West such as rampant feminisation, eradicating free speech and an apologetic and culture=less universalist hellhole that looks to be transpiring at record rates.
I very much enjoyed the closing chapters which focus on remaining positive and recreating the world we see around us, instead of navel-gazing and resenting those that fall in line with the problems we see.
I think Mr Donovan is right, we need the barbarian spirit back, and we need it alive. In the same vein in which caused Rome to fall. The barbarians need to come back out of the woodwork and recreate a world worth having again, where we live in congruence with our nature and noble values.
There are too many create quotes in this book to share. I would suggest starting with his earlier books and working your way up to this one.
I do feel a little disillusioned in that it seems near impossible to start a tribe and find strong men these days, and I do actively try to do this, especially in times of a pandemic. People are too disconnected, depressed and this especially includes men. Often I have conversations with my girlfriend about the demise of men or with my dad. But it seems futile, as nobody really understands it or can change it. I think the best I can do is be the best person I can be and remain hopeful and active in finding my tribe of strong and supportive men to aid me in my mission and me aid them in theirs.
It would be fantastic if he released some practical steps to find these barbarian tribes he speaks of, or even just a healthy tribe of men for support these days. But both seem very difficult, so I am all ears in terms of advice for doing this.
It is up to us men.
"If you cannot see the way, make the way. If you despise the world around you, do not lament the passing of a dream you never knew — dream the world that you want NOW. Begin from where you are. Dream a new world and impose it from above. Thrust your hands into the decaying soil, scoop it up and sculpt it — give it shape with all of your strength. Life was never fair and creation was never easy. Take the world you have and make the one you want. Be the god that gives it life." -Donovan
I very much enjoyed the closing chapters which focus on remaining positive and recreating the world we see around us, instead of navel-gazing and resenting those that fall in line with the problems we see.
I think Mr Donovan is right, we need the barbarian spirit back, and we need it alive. In the same vein in which caused Rome to fall. The barbarians need to come back out of the woodwork and recreate a world worth having again, where we live in congruence with our nature and noble values.
There are too many create quotes in this book to share. I would suggest starting with his earlier books and working your way up to this one.
I do feel a little disillusioned in that it seems near impossible to start a tribe and find strong men these days, and I do actively try to do this, especially in times of a pandemic. People are too disconnected, depressed and this especially includes men. Often I have conversations with my girlfriend about the demise of men or with my dad. But it seems futile, as nobody really understands it or can change it. I think the best I can do is be the best person I can be and remain hopeful and active in finding my tribe of strong and supportive men to aid me in my mission and me aid them in theirs.
It would be fantastic if he released some practical steps to find these barbarian tribes he speaks of, or even just a healthy tribe of men for support these days. But both seem very difficult, so I am all ears in terms of advice for doing this.
It is up to us men.
"If you cannot see the way, make the way. If you despise the world around you, do not lament the passing of a dream you never knew — dream the world that you want NOW. Begin from where you are. Dream a new world and impose it from above. Thrust your hands into the decaying soil, scoop it up and sculpt it — give it shape with all of your strength. Life was never fair and creation was never easy. Take the world you have and make the one you want. Be the god that gives it life." -Donovan
February 14, 2024
Masculinity
Here are my top takeaways:
In the absence of external pressure, masculinity either fails to develop in the first place, or slowly atrophies.
Great men are not remembered for being prudent or for doing what they were told was necessary. They are remembered for going above and beyond what is merely necessary for survival. Great men are remembered for decisive vision and daring action. They are remembered for founding new orders, building new worlds around themselves, and creating great beauty.
When someone argues that masculinity is no longer necessary, what they are saying is that your masculinity is not necessary to them, and that it inconveniences or threatens them in some way, so you should consciously limit your potential to allow them to realize their potential or find joy and fulfillment in whatever way pleases them. If you confine yourself to this spiritual reservation willingly and of your own free will, you deserve the tiny, wasted life of subservience and dishonor that your owners have assigned to you.
masculinity must be aroused, instigated and fostered.
Winners don’t focus on losing, even when they lose.
when you are tempted to luxuriate in lamentation over some loss — and we all are, occasionally — start looking instead for the next win. Shift your focus forward.
Here are my top takeaways:
In the absence of external pressure, masculinity either fails to develop in the first place, or slowly atrophies.
Great men are not remembered for being prudent or for doing what they were told was necessary. They are remembered for going above and beyond what is merely necessary for survival. Great men are remembered for decisive vision and daring action. They are remembered for founding new orders, building new worlds around themselves, and creating great beauty.
When someone argues that masculinity is no longer necessary, what they are saying is that your masculinity is not necessary to them, and that it inconveniences or threatens them in some way, so you should consciously limit your potential to allow them to realize their potential or find joy and fulfillment in whatever way pleases them. If you confine yourself to this spiritual reservation willingly and of your own free will, you deserve the tiny, wasted life of subservience and dishonor that your owners have assigned to you.
masculinity must be aroused, instigated and fostered.
Winners don’t focus on losing, even when they lose.
when you are tempted to luxuriate in lamentation over some loss — and we all are, occasionally — start looking instead for the next win. Shift your focus forward.
December 11, 2020
This is the third instalment of Donovan's series on Masculinity, which takes an interesting perspective on the matter.
While "The Way of Man" took an anthropological approach and "Becoming a Barbarian" had some activist undertones. "A More Complete Beast" takes a philosophical approach on masculinity, firmly grounded on Nietzsche's writings.
Donovan bases his arguments on three important works "Beyond Good and Evil" "The Genealogy of Morals" and "The Birth of Tragedy. Many of Nietzsche's predictions have come to pass with astounding accuracy and Donovan makes a compelling argument for the practice of masculinity in an era where these important writings couldn't be more relevant.
I've been studying Nietzsche for years and I have to say this is a very interesting condensation of his ideas within the framework of masculinity. Far from a dry academic book (Nietzsche himself can be tough to follow) this is a practical piece that makes philosophy accessible to anyone.
I feel that in this day and age, everybody needs some philosophy to survive and thrive the craziness of modernity.
I urge you to pick this book up in order to straighten your thinking, acquire some wisdom and live a meaningful life.
While "The Way of Man" took an anthropological approach and "Becoming a Barbarian" had some activist undertones. "A More Complete Beast" takes a philosophical approach on masculinity, firmly grounded on Nietzsche's writings.
Donovan bases his arguments on three important works "Beyond Good and Evil" "The Genealogy of Morals" and "The Birth of Tragedy. Many of Nietzsche's predictions have come to pass with astounding accuracy and Donovan makes a compelling argument for the practice of masculinity in an era where these important writings couldn't be more relevant.
I've been studying Nietzsche for years and I have to say this is a very interesting condensation of his ideas within the framework of masculinity. Far from a dry academic book (Nietzsche himself can be tough to follow) this is a practical piece that makes philosophy accessible to anyone.
I feel that in this day and age, everybody needs some philosophy to survive and thrive the craziness of modernity.
I urge you to pick this book up in order to straighten your thinking, acquire some wisdom and live a meaningful life.
August 8, 2019
This book was difficult for me to really grasp alot of its concept due to the fact that it was written in such a way that makes it tough to understand in one go. I assume I might have to give it another read to fully give it a fair review
The book is very "red pill" for sure. The books idea didn't really hold my attention like some of my other favorites becuase the theme is nothing new I would say. I was hoping that the theme and what I would learn would be more significant considering the books great review. But overall I would say its average.
Again maybe after going through it one more time I'll be able to dig deeper with the books concepts. Do I recommended this book? Truthfully there's other great book out there that is more significant that this one
The book is very "red pill" for sure. The books idea didn't really hold my attention like some of my other favorites becuase the theme is nothing new I would say. I was hoping that the theme and what I would learn would be more significant considering the books great review. But overall I would say its average.
Again maybe after going through it one more time I'll be able to dig deeper with the books concepts. Do I recommended this book? Truthfully there's other great book out there that is more significant that this one
December 31, 2024
Friedrich Nietzsche in the modern world.
This is the third book in what you could call the masculinity trilogy. I didn't find it as strong as the other two, as it covers some of his previous works with some Nietzsche sprinkled on top.
I did find this more open to modern times. We can't "go back to the way it used to be" and have to adjust instead of blaming or wishing for something unattainable. Instead, we should make the best of our world in this empire of nothing.
I implore all men to read these books. Through Donovan's growth and teachings in each book, you will discover a level of self-improvement within this imposed anti-masculine world and learn more about what is expected of you as a man.
This is the third book in what you could call the masculinity trilogy. I didn't find it as strong as the other two, as it covers some of his previous works with some Nietzsche sprinkled on top.
I did find this more open to modern times. We can't "go back to the way it used to be" and have to adjust instead of blaming or wishing for something unattainable. Instead, we should make the best of our world in this empire of nothing.
I implore all men to read these books. Through Donovan's growth and teachings in each book, you will discover a level of self-improvement within this imposed anti-masculine world and learn more about what is expected of you as a man.
May 25, 2019
This short and sweet memoir on masculinity had some salient points but I felt some ideas weren't fully understand without reading the background material.
I've been trying to understand what masculinity is in an age where it is largely unnecessary for survival.
The book's main idea is that it can be easy to wait for a revolution, or blame the system, but these are not true solutions.
At the end of the day we have to each define what masculinity is to ourselves and strive to be the best man we can. These include always performing, competing with other men, and providing for the ones we love.
I've been trying to understand what masculinity is in an age where it is largely unnecessary for survival.
The book's main idea is that it can be easy to wait for a revolution, or blame the system, but these are not true solutions.
At the end of the day we have to each define what masculinity is to ourselves and strive to be the best man we can. These include always performing, competing with other men, and providing for the ones we love.
July 29, 2021
A follow-up to "The Way of Men" and "Becoming a Barbarian", "A More Complete Beast" is heavily influenced by Nietzsches ideas of "more complete men".
Donovan focuses on how men can recreate themselves in the modern day where masculinity is optional, to come closer to the ideal of being "more complete beasts". He also discusses the master/slave mentalities (Nitzche again), resseintiment, and also creativity as a way to influence the world.
Aside from Nietzche, Donovan also uses pagan religions to illustrate his points.
Good read overall (though again controversial to many), just a bit too short.
Donovan focuses on how men can recreate themselves in the modern day where masculinity is optional, to come closer to the ideal of being "more complete beasts". He also discusses the master/slave mentalities (Nitzche again), resseintiment, and also creativity as a way to influence the world.
Aside from Nietzche, Donovan also uses pagan religions to illustrate his points.
Good read overall (though again controversial to many), just a bit too short.
September 24, 2022
A great addition to the first two books with a very powerful message that every man should become a more complete beast, a Noble Beast.
This book resonated with the noble beast within me. Every sentence was like a confirmation of my beliefs and it added fuel to the ancient fire within me.
"The Noble Beast believes himself to be good and noble and beautiful and happy and loved by the God, or the gods, or favored by fate."
This is not a book for weaklings who read Ryan Soyliday and believe that "ego is the enemy".
This book resonated with the noble beast within me. Every sentence was like a confirmation of my beliefs and it added fuel to the ancient fire within me.
"The Noble Beast believes himself to be good and noble and beautiful and happy and loved by the God, or the gods, or favored by fate."
This is not a book for weaklings who read Ryan Soyliday and believe that "ego is the enemy".
April 2, 2024
saved my life
I was in jail.
And I was being assaulted.
This picture popped up in my head.
I pictured the circular part spinning. And my fangs showing. My eye popping out.
As if I was using my third eye.
Beautiful book. Well done.
I love every bit of it.
Working on my own.
Unsure if I will go the masculine route.
Mine is about the points system.
I kept thinking. What was this book. Which book was it. Finally coming out. I got too read again. This is definitely one of my favorites.
I was in jail.
And I was being assaulted.
This picture popped up in my head.
I pictured the circular part spinning. And my fangs showing. My eye popping out.
As if I was using my third eye.
Beautiful book. Well done.
I love every bit of it.
Working on my own.
Unsure if I will go the masculine route.
Mine is about the points system.
I kept thinking. What was this book. Which book was it. Finally coming out. I got too read again. This is definitely one of my favorites.
January 10, 2025
A life Changing Read
Jack Donovan has brilliantly captured the essence of what a man should strive to become in this book. No longer do I shy away from life’s hardships; instead, I’ve learned to embrace them as valuable gifts. This book has profoundly transformed my outlook on challenges, helping me see them as essential tools for achieving fulfillment as a man and leaving a lasting impact. It’s a book I’ll undoubtedly revisit—a must-read for any man aiming for greatness in his life.
Jack Donovan has brilliantly captured the essence of what a man should strive to become in this book. No longer do I shy away from life’s hardships; instead, I’ve learned to embrace them as valuable gifts. This book has profoundly transformed my outlook on challenges, helping me see them as essential tools for achieving fulfillment as a man and leaving a lasting impact. It’s a book I’ll undoubtedly revisit—a must-read for any man aiming for greatness in his life.
November 11, 2018
This book is less concerned with the tribe and more with the self than Jack's other two standalone works, this time Jack is a shaman breathing new life into those ancient, primal coals that reside somewhere deep inside every man. At every point I started to think about how a particular passage related to me I found my thoughts being addressed in the next passage, which tells me Jack probably knows the Noble man inside me better than I do, and perhaps I should listen up. Well worth the read.
April 24, 2019
Defense. A playbook with explanations
I’m occasionally aggravated by the seemingly continuous attack on white males as the source of every wrong in the Universe. In “A More Complete Beast” I hear my own frustrations. Donovan shares philosophical underpinning to the sense of separateness I feel. This book is about individual accountability as much as it is masculinity.
I’m occasionally aggravated by the seemingly continuous attack on white males as the source of every wrong in the Universe. In “A More Complete Beast” I hear my own frustrations. Donovan shares philosophical underpinning to the sense of separateness I feel. This book is about individual accountability as much as it is masculinity.
November 24, 2019
Beast!
We are the creators of own world like Jack Donovan said, wonderful book this was though it talk a lot about Norse Religion and the Indo-Europeans. Becoming a better a man, I’ve notice that I must be open minded to any philosophical ideas, mysticism, and spirituality even if I’m a traditional Hispanic with catholic background. The key role is to become good at being a man.
We are the creators of own world like Jack Donovan said, wonderful book this was though it talk a lot about Norse Religion and the Indo-Europeans. Becoming a better a man, I’ve notice that I must be open minded to any philosophical ideas, mysticism, and spirituality even if I’m a traditional Hispanic with catholic background. The key role is to become good at being a man.
January 24, 2020
Exemplary!
As usual, Jack presents a unified way at looking at manhood (vir) -- being a good man and being good at being a man. I specially like his presentation of Nietzsche as well as ancient world cosmogonies, some of which I would have never known if it were not for this book.
Kudos Jack!
As usual, Jack presents a unified way at looking at manhood (vir) -- being a good man and being good at being a man. I specially like his presentation of Nietzsche as well as ancient world cosmogonies, some of which I would have never known if it were not for this book.
Kudos Jack!
August 27, 2020
Honestly I have no idea what's this book about. So confusing I wish I was 'smarter' to get it I guess.
HOWEVER: it did have some very bold ideas about current manifesto of how our society works with some rebellious and maybe even anarchical ideas.
Not sure if I would recommend this book though; it's light enough to be read in couple of hours.
HOWEVER: it did have some very bold ideas about current manifesto of how our society works with some rebellious and maybe even anarchical ideas.
Not sure if I would recommend this book though; it's light enough to be read in couple of hours.
January 3, 2024
Thought provoking and inspiring as a man who wants to do and be better. The authors view are completely relevant to where society is today with masculinity. Some will find this overbearing but if you truly read and understand where he is coming from, you will see where men, in current times, are losing their purpose and way in this life. I enjoyed this read and finished it in about 4 hours.
February 7, 2021
This a good book to read but I like his other books more mostly becoming a barbarian that's a great to read. I like way author thinks very interesting in this book most of his ideas comes fredrick nietzsche
October 14, 2018
It's a short book that I recommend. It's better if you read the first two books: the way of men and becoming a barbarian, in order of better understanding of this book.
October 16, 2018
Short book but full of Donovan thoughts and ideas. If a fan of Donovan this will be a nice quick fill.
November 19, 2018
Definitely eye-opening!!
It made me evaluate my own motivation as well as giving insight to how others behave. Jack is a master at putting the right words together!
It made me evaluate my own motivation as well as giving insight to how others behave. Jack is a master at putting the right words together!
November 27, 2018
VIGOROUS!
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