Male Mystique

Appetizer (Quote) - Understand oneself before you judge others.....
Main Dish (Book) - "The Male Brain" by Louanne Brizentine
Spoonful Rating - 4 1/2 Spoons
Dessert (Featured Dish) - Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice
Drink (Desired Beverage) - Strawberry Lemonade

Learning is a life long lesson, where maturity and development are subsets of the growth process. Rarely do you find learning, maturity, development, and growth intertwined in one source, and oftentimes than not, one has to choose between the options. In "The Male Brain," the reader experiences all four (4) perspectives at the expense of delicate, academic objectivity without biases --- even more rare phenomenon.

Through the multiple stages of a male's life --- youth, adolescent, mature, seasoned, and andropausal --- he continues to discover, define, and develop his sense of self in his eyes, as well as, the eyes of others. The process of stretching himself socially, financially, and politically become second-nature to his life long journey in becoming a man, and his ability to transform the many learning episodes of his life into tangible benefits may (to some) determine where he ranks in the grand scheme of societal pecking order. To this end, his learning curve is both biologically and psychologically-driven. The endless tug-a-war between hormonal defenses and external societal pressures will shape his male mold, and if successful, he will gain 2nd and 3rd degree residual benefits through the learning stage.

Maturity will come as a sacrifice. As the male continues to grow mentally and physically, a complex cocktail of hormones will drive his decisions and mental perceptions --- whether accurate or falsely. This stage enables the male to stretch himself and challenge conventional wisdom, but he will need constant reassurance from the female population until he grasps the internal hunger to make an impact and leave a legacy behind. While no male is an island, the male brain is a sophisticated, mean-problem solving machine that requires little to no emotional support baggage. It is in this stage of the male's life that he defines and redefines his boundaries as he sets to leave his mark in society.

Development is continuous, and through many failures, set backs, and costly choices, the male will uncover intangible but necessary characteristics of who he is, and why he does what he does. No excuses or apologies will best explain the fully developed male brain, but one can ascertain a better appreciation for the myriad of differences --- not in size but complexity --- that shape the male brain. Unlike his counterpart's make-up [the female brain], there are fewer emotional connections driving the decision-making, instead more analytics and logical pattern-making. The simple landscape of the male brain at this stage resembles the 6-lane highway traffic heading in one direction, full speed ahead with limited cautions.

Having survived the previous stages, the growth dynamic is dual-fold: 1) it is a pragmatic puzzle; and, 2) it is a meticulous time machine. The male brain biologically is formed similar as the female brain; however, the distinct preferences for structure and less fuzziness helps one see how every calculating molecule, synapses, and/or connection is apart of the overall puzzle and time machine.

While I do not subscribe to the notion that the differences between men and women can be summed up in the simplicity of biological and varying reactions to hormones, there is something to be said for the acute dynamics that shape the minds of men and women, especially when it comes to the decisions made and choices preferred. If one gains nothing more than a greater appreciation for the way in which the male brain processes information and responds to different stimuli, then the reader has fulfilled one goal of the author. The best attribute to reading both The Female and Male Brain collection is delving deeper into the male mystique, if there is a such.....

Bon Appetit!

Curry Chicken & Jasmine Rice
4-6 oz. of chicken quarters and/or thighs
2 ripe tomatoes
3 med. red potatoes
1 red onion
1-2 bunches of green onions
1 carrot
2-3 pieces of ginger
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups of water (H2O)
2 tbsp. of yellow curry spice
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. of celery salt
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp Spanish or Indian paprika
Dash of salt & pepper (to taste)

Prepare chicken quarters separately, and cook rice as directed. Combine spices together in coriander. Heat olive oil over high heat and add seasoned chicken. Cook over high heat until brown, stir in water, adding tomatoes, red potatoes, onions, carrot, and slices of ginger. Repeat heating and stir vigorously over medium heat until chicken is soft & tender. Combine spices and sprinkle water to make paste. Mix ingredients and cook w/ top over slow heat for additional 30-minutes. Serve hot over jasmine rice.