He inspired the "Mythopoetic Mens Movement". His work Iron John: A Book About Men (1990 ISBN 0201517205) is an international bestseller which has been translated into many languages.
Bly frequently does workshops for men with James Hillman and others, and workshops for men and women with Marion Woodman. He maintains a friendly correspondence with Clarissa Pinkola Estés author of Women Who Run With the Wolves. (ISBN 0345377443)
Bly is the University of Minnesota Library's 2002 Distinguished Writer. He has published more than 40 collections of poetry, edited many others, and published translations of poetry and prose from such languages as Swedish, German, Spanish, Farsi and Urdu. His book, The Night Abraham Called to the Stars has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award.
Among his many honors are the National Book Award for The Light Around the Body (1968).
In The Sibling Society (1997 ISBN 0679781285), a book about immaturity and neglect for the young he wrote, "Television is the Thalidomide of the '90s."
Robert Bly should not be confused with Robert W. Bly, a business writer.