A thoughtful guide for men navigating identity, purpose and healing through the lens of healthy masculinity.
South Africa (22 April 2026) – Celebrating men who make the world a safer place, Craig Wilkinson‘s book Force for Good – The Power of Healthy Masculinity, is a culmination of his work through Father A Nation (FAN), a non-profit organisation that addresses the widespread impact of fatherlessness, which often leads to gender-based violence and violent crime in South Africa.
His book serves as a guide for men struggling with the effects of troubled childhoods and how to break the cycle through acts of healthy masculinity.
I will be honest, reviewing a book dedicated to men felt hard because I cannot personally relate. I am not masculine, nor male, so much of the contents of the book was not intended for me, and that is ok. What I did glean from these pages was insight into the struggles men face, the changing world and how masculinity is perceived now.
What I also saw was a valuable tool for men who are struggling. For men who want to change and need a guide. Force for Good aims to help men find their footing in society, to choose both strength and sensitivity. To act with integrity and to embrace their emotions fully. The book honours men who want to become well-rounded.
“True masculinity loves, serves, protects, honours and provides”.
The book was released in November 2025, a month generally dedicated to growing moustaches in aid of testicular cancer awareness, International Men’s Day and in South Africa, the start of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. Craig feels that “strong, principled men are one of society’s greatest forces for good”. If men are equipped with the skills needed to be better men, then the rates of violence against women could drop significantly.
“A man who has not been fathered, mentored, or taught to channel his strength becomes destructive rather than protective. Whole, healthy men do not harm others; they protect them”
“When men understand that their role is to serve, not to control, they become agents for change. Every man has the capacity to choose – to use his strength to harm or to heal. The future of our nation depends on more men choosing to heal.”
So if you know of a young man struggling, this could be the tool to help guide him to become a Force for Good.
Back of the Book
Force for Good is a bold and refreshingly balanced exploration of positive masculinity, written to inspire men to become powerful forces for good in a world that desperately needs them to step into this role. The book challenges the extremes that often define the discourse around masculinity – aggressive dominance on one side and passive disengagement on the other. It offers a vision of true and healthy masculinity that is both strong and gentle, fierce and safe, confident and humble.
At its core is the conviction that men are made to be powerful forces, but only in service of what is good. Power, often misunderstood or negatively viewed, is essential. Without it, a man cannot fulfil his potential or meet the needs of those who depend on him. Power itself is neutral; how it is used determines whether it becomes a force for good or harm.
The book is divided into three parts – Being Man, Becoming a Force, and Doing Good – and builds a compelling case for the value of healthy masculinity. It explores the internal and external battles men face, the journey from boyhood to manhood, and the sacred responsibility to grow in strength and purpose.
Force for Good calls men to action, not against others but for the good of others. It is a timely, courageous invitation to be all that a man was made to be, because such a man will be a Force for Good.
If you would like to learn more about this book, visit the website here. It is available at all major literary retailers.
Interested in more proudly South African books? You can find more of our book reviews here.
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