This is a courageous and wide-ranging examination of how Western societies have shifted from balance to bias — specifically, from androcentrism to what the author terms “institutional gynocentrism”. The book argues that, since the 1980s, social, political, and cultural institutions in Anglo nations have increasingly favoured women while neglecting or demonising men and boys. Maywald’s tone is not one of bitterness but one of moral urgency, offering constructive reforms to rebuild harmony between the sexes.
The endorsement from Andrew Gray accurately echoes the main message about moving towards collaboration and away from combat:
“David’s message isn’t about division — it’s about healing.”
The first few pages of the book also include endorsements such as these:
•“It’s high time the relentless war on masculinity ended and we build a socially cohesive society where both sexes are equally cherished and where both can flourish.” — Karen Richardson (mother, clinical researcher, and advocate for women’s sex-based rights)
•“By standing in the shoes of boys and men, and offering a framework that helps them transform today’s challenges into strength, David shows the path to reclaiming a healthy, grounded masculinity.” — Ragini Prasad (regenerative changemaker)
Strengths
The book’s greatest strength lies in its clarity and courage. Maywald writes without academic obfuscation or rhetorical aggression. His framing is centrist and conciliatory, aiming for collaboration rather than grievance. The use of strong quantitative evidence — on education, suicide, family breakdown, and fertility — grounds the argument in data rather than ideology. The conceptual model of “The Four Horsewomen” (Misandry, Gamma Bias, Gynocentrism, and Gaslighting) is an original and memorable contribution to the discourse on gender politics. The work is also distinguished by its breadth of synthesis: it connects psychology, sociology, politics, economics, and faith into a coherent moral narrative. Its call for renewed respect for fathers and for masculine virtues rooted in service and integrity is both heartfelt and persuasive.
Stylistically, it is accessible to a wide readership — parents, teachers, policymakers, and ordinary people — without diluting its intellectual substance. The preface and closing chapter balance critique with hope, envisioning a society where men and women thrive together rather than compete with each other.
Weaknesses
The book’s rhetorical framing — a “war” on masculinity — may alienate moderate or sceptical readers before they engage with its content. Some sections generalise across Western societies without adequate differentiation (for example, to capture the varying legal and cultural dynamics between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand). At times, the tone slips into polemic, risking the same absolutism it critiques in radical feminism.
Comparative Assessment
Within its genre—books defending men and advocating gender balance—The Relentless War on Masculinity ranks highly. It is more solution-oriented than Warren Farrell’s The Myth of Male Power, more grounded in contemporary politics than Christina Hoff Sommers’ The War Against Boys, more accessible to read than Nancy Pearcey’s The Toxic War on Masculinity, and less incendiary than Jordan Peterson’s polemical style. Among current works on positive masculinity, it stands out for its tone of moral responsibility and social reform rather than nostalgia or resentment.
Verdict
A bold, lucid, and necessary contribution to restoring balance in gender discourse, The Relentless War on Masculinity will challenge entrenched narratives and inspire readers who care about fairness for both sexes. It deserves to be part of public policy and educational discussions in all English-speaking democracies. Among contemporary books on men, masculinity, and gender politics, this places it in the top tier for clarity, accessibility, and moral seriousness.
The paperback, e-book and audiobook versions of The Relentless War on Masculinity are available on Amazon, Booktopia, Dymocks, Google Play, Apple Books, Kobo, BorrowBox, Fable, and other platforms.
