This book - through having the reader 'eavesdrop' on the conversations of five 'kiwi' men who meet regularly in a sports bar and talk about their relationships - provides a unique insight into the 'masculine empire' of superiority and entitlement. It shows how men approach intimate relationships, their allegiance to their like-minded 'mates', and the role these men play in bolstering each other's need to be in charge of their women and their homes, capturing women in oppressive situations. It flips explanations for violence from what is happening in the minds of individual 'bad' men to a broader exploration of the social world of men. It illustrates what can happen to both men and women when male oppression goes too far and looks at options men might take for turning away from their controlling and violent behaviour.
