Title: Wise Husband

Author: Hagai Avisar

Genre: Self-Help

 

There is an adage that says “Happy wife, happy life,” but the harmony of a successful couple can’t exist in a one-sided dynamic. The breakdown in communication between husband and wife can lead to a rift in the couple’s relationship. Still, most divisions can be healed if the husband understands his spouse or attempts to understand her point of view. Despite the longevity of a relationship between husband and wife, the acquiring of knowledge is continuous.

Avisar concludes that changes in cultural norms have led to empowered women but conversely have led to diminished masculinity, which has led to a marginalized husband/father. Wise Husband details how the husband must shed any passivity and assume the roles of “King, Lover, Magician, and Warrior,” and by doing so, the husband obtains greater wisdom and can ensure stability in the household.

Author Hagai Avisar provides counsel to men who share in this school of thought and who may be struggling in their roles as husband and father. He approaches the subject with both tact and sympathy in illuminating how men can maintain order in the family and yet maintain the equilibrium between mother and father, husband and wife. His step-by-step guide comes from the heart of a compassionate educator who believes that many relationships can benefit from a little work. The author’s zeal is apparent from the initial chapter as his words encourage a voyage of discovery, perception, and maintenance.

One of the chief themes emerging from this self-help guide is respect. For a man to be a good husband and father, Avisar insists, respect from his wife as well as his children is vital. However, a man can’t be given respect if he doesn’t have self-respect. Ultimately, respect is a two-way street in how to receive it, and it must also be given. Avisar explains how a child could lose respect for their father if they see him as slothful, hypocritical, and/or disrespectful toward their mother. The author insightfully stresses how a father must maintain his integrity in words and actions.

Avisar explains that, in the past, the household was led by a dominant husband and father, and modern times have witnessed the balancing of the modern family with an equal partner as a wife and mother. These new family dynamics have led to a shift in the traditional roles, which can lead to disturbances in the relationship due to misunderstandings, real or perceived. The importance of understanding his wife’s perspective and expressing feelings through communication can’t be overstated. The author provides excellent examples of how the husband can express himself in ways that will defuse tension in misunderstandings, while also clarifying himself to his better half.

The path to becoming a stronger husband is made emphatically clear in this book. The author provides various vignettes wherein the various methods are utilized. However, the book’s impact could be strengthened with testimonials from those who have applied his teachings in real-time. While this guide could be beneficial to husbands who are seeking to reassert their role in a more traditional sense, the appeal may not be readily apparent to husbands comfortable in a modern-day marriage in which gender roles are not as clearly defined.

Wise Husband is a quintessential tutorial in cementing the role of husband, specifically for men who are trying to find their roles within their family. The author skillfully provides a framework for improvement that will resonate with husbands, both current and future. While the author is steadfast in his beliefs, it is ultimately up to the reader to decide which path to take.

 

 

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