A Circle of Men: The Original Manual for Men's Support Groups

By Bill Kauth

Book Overview

A step-by-step guide for forming men's support groups discusses finding new members, running the first eight meetings, solving group problems, and creating rituals and activities that promote honesty and self-disclosure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312072473
• ISBN13: 9780312072476
• Release Date: April 1992
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.9" x 0.5" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Here's What This Book Gives You

HERE'S WHAT THIS BOOK GIVES YOU: This step-by-step manual grows out of Bill Kauth's two decades of experience with over 125 support groups. It will help the organizer or leader to start a group, find new members, solve group problems, and create rituals and activities that promote honesty, self-disclosure, and fun. [from the book of the back cover]

Review by life coach who does deep work with men

I think one thing that is lacking in our culture is permission for men to be vulnerable, have their feelings and reach out to other men in a deep way. At minimum, this is discouraged and doesn't fit with our model of a man as a lone cowboy or the stereotype of being strong and silent. This book talks about how man can have deeper more meaningful relationships with other men and how to run a men's group. It gives very useful, specific information and even provides good guidelines on organizing one. A CIRCLE OF MEN is well-organized and carefully thought out. Whether you are interested in forming a men's group or not, this book is good for learning about listening skills, communicating honestly, opening up and facing the types of wounds men tend to have in this culture.

Excellent Ideas in this book

Don't be shy about calling yourself a "MAN". In a group of men, don't say "we are a group of people", instead say "we are a group of MEN!" At the end of a prayer, don't just say "Amen", say "a-MEN!" This book emphasizes not only the step-by-step instructions on forming a men's group, but also how to recognize yourself as a MAN and everything that makes you a MAN. And yes, that includes what you "feel" as well as what you "think". I can't tell you how much I loved this book. While I am not the leader of a new group that is forming, this book has helped me to offer suggestions that were worthwhile in a men's group that I have joined. Sharing leadership, taking one's own initiative, these are things I was inspired to do myself from reading this book. You know, "men's groups" are not just limited to men who come together to learn about themselves and look to each other to support. They are much more than that, even in everyday life or work situations. They can be a group of men that you work with every day. While this book focuses on men supporting each other and the instructions on how to lead a men's group, it also helps a man to understand himself, and the very men he works with. While it may not always be appropriate for a man to follow the book's exercises and suggestions for men he already works with, the book is still provides good exercises for an individual man to follow himself, and realize who he really is on the inside. The men's group I am a part of is not about "support", it is simply a group of men who have a common objective of working together to achieve. We are proud to do our part, and this book has helped me to understand the male psyche better, especially men who think differently than I do, and it helped me take part in creating a harmonious atmosphere with the men I work with. Even if you are not planning to start a men's group, you just might consider it after you read this book.

This handbook works, I've used it in my own group

This is a great resource and starting point to gather your own circle of men. These processes and exercises have proven themselves in many groups that have started, using the ideas that Bill Kauth has gathered from years of experience. Your new group will be off and running with a solid foundation by using the wisdom in this book. Both practical and deep. Highly recommended.

a great place to start, and to linger...

Bill Kauth, co-founder of the wonderful New Warrior Training Adventure, has written an excellent resource for Men's Work. The processes and context presented here far surpass in depth and healing power most of what I was taught in my master's (social work) program. Men's Work is, first and foremost, about owning our Gold and Shadows. I am grateful to Bill Kauth for his long years of effort toward this liberating goal. Anyone who thinks this stuff is too 'touchy-feely' or not worthy of a real man's attention has obviously never done these processes. They reveal our depths, and many men spend their lives trying to run away from the vistas within. Have some balls and take the risk.