An Expanded Review of Justin Baldoni’s ‘Man Enough’ — and the Impact It Had on Me
A longer-than-usual book review by me, where I dissect the in-depth roller coaster I was taken on during this read
Last spring, actor/filmmaker/podcaster Justin Baldoni spent several weeks guest-cohosting CBS’s The Talk, while the program was transitioning between regular hosts. As I’d been previously unfamiliar with his film/TV work, this was my first real exposure to Baldoni through any entertainment-based venue.
Via his Spring 2021 appearances on The Talk, I learned about Baldoni’s newly-released book, Man Enough, where he reflects upon modern discourse related to masculinity. This written meditation is accompanied by a memoir-style overview of his life experiences. He hosts his own podcast of the same name, which features a variety of guests (discussing gender relations) from diverse and multifaceted backgrounds.
With the new year, I finally got the chance to read Man Enough. Baldoni’s commentary on The Talk was alternately inspirational and disheartening. His book followed that pattern. It had such a complex impact on me that, rather than writing a standard book review for it, I felt it warranted some expanded analyses.
