The Book of Man

For the past several months, my dad and I have been part of a fellowship of men at church who have been meeting every week to build each other up in our manhood journeys. This program called Men’s Fraternity has facilitated times of talking about our past, discussing struggles and successes, praying for current situations, and looking to affect the future with positive change. All in all it has helped each one of us to see a larger picture of God’s design for us as men and leaders. In addition to listening to the lectures from Robert Lewis, I’ve supplemented the study by reading through an anthology of quotes and literature entitled “The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood” compiled by William J. Bennett.

This hefty volume is divided into six main sections: man in war, man at work, man in play / sports / leisure, man in the polis, man with woman and children, and man in prayer and reflection. Each section is nearly 100 pages of biographical sketches, speeches, poems, or excerpts of classic literature showcasing the type of courage a real man must have—courage to stand up and fight for what he believes. As I read through the book, I was struck with the relevance of its passages—several of them I had just come across earlier that week, whether it was brought up in the pastor’s sermon, Men’s Fraternity, or another book I was reading.

One aspect I appreciate about this book is that every selection was meant to teach a different attribute of manhood. I can learn as valuable a lesson from a soldier as I can from an ancient philosopher as I can from a basketball coach as I can from a president. Nobody here claims to be a perfect example or to have all the answers—and for answers, the best place to go is the Bible—but still, each one is valuable for “in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14b).

I am very pleased to have this book on my shelf from here on out. I can see myself coming back to this book again and again as I continue on my quest for authentic manhood.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Book of Man through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.