If we are to be successful we must also learn to navigate it properly, and for most of us, that consists of adhering to the image of the “real man”. But what is the real man in the first place? Well, Eric Metaxas attempts to answers that question in his latest novel, Seven Men.
To quickly explain, this appropriately-named book contains the biographies of seven different men (George Washington, Eric Liddell, William Wilberforce, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II and Charles Colson), each one being the example to follow for becoming perfect at one aspect of being a man.
To quickly explain, this appropriately-named book contains the biographies of seven different men (George Washington, Eric Liddell, William Wilberforce, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jackie Robinson, John Paul II and Charles Colson), each one being the example to follow for becoming perfect at one aspect of being a man.
For instance, one story teaches what it is like to be a good father, another one focuses on the husband aspect, the third one shows what a leader really is like, and it goes on like that. For those who are curious, according to Metaxas, there are a number of different facets to being a man in addition to the ones mentioned above, and these include brother, coach, counselor, change agent and wise man. The book also explores many of the values real men are expected to have, such as generosity, courage, honesty, charity, understanding, and more.
As weird as it may sound, the first term to describe this book that popped into my head upon finishing it is “the perfect man Frankenstein guide”. While each of the stories teaches you specific lessons about being a man in the modern world, when put together, they form the image of what today is considered to be the perfect man.
As weird as it may sound, the first term to describe this book that popped into my head upon finishing it is “the perfect man Frankenstein guide”. While each of the stories teaches you specific lessons about being a man in the modern world, when put together, they form the image of what today is considered to be the perfect man.
Now, to be honest, I don’t take these types of books very seriously, mainly because I know they are nothing more but products of the current era and will become obsolete in a few years when our definition of a real man changes yet again.
Nevertheless, I found that Metaxas made a lot of very interesting points in regards to the various roles men take up in life and how to best deal with them. For instance, I picked up a lot of good advice on how to be a good father (relatively strict, fair, open-minded, supportive…etc…etc…) and what to do in order to raise kids who will actually bring something positive to this world.
In addition to all of the advice offered in the book, I must say that the biographies were, for the most part, quite interesting to read. Though I do have some doubts as to the veracity of some of the stories (I guess it is hard to verify a story which happened almost three hundred years ago), it bore no impact on the read for the author knows how to keep a light-hearted and fun atmosphere.
Nevertheless, I found that Metaxas made a lot of very interesting points in regards to the various roles men take up in life and how to best deal with them. For instance, I picked up a lot of good advice on how to be a good father (relatively strict, fair, open-minded, supportive…etc…etc…) and what to do in order to raise kids who will actually bring something positive to this world.
In addition to all of the advice offered in the book, I must say that the biographies were, for the most part, quite interesting to read. Though I do have some doubts as to the veracity of some of the stories (I guess it is hard to verify a story which happened almost three hundred years ago), it bore no impact on the read for the author knows how to keep a light-hearted and fun atmosphere.
There are a few contradictions here and there between the knowledge each story is trying to impart on the readers, on the whole, I have to admit that reading this made for an enthralling experience… as a matter of fact, upon finishing it I already felt 30% manlier than before, so I guess there is something to it. I can recommend it to virtually any man who has ever wondered what it means to be a real man today.
 | Eric MetaxasPersonal site Eric Metaxas is an American speaker, Television host and writer who is most well-known, in the literary world at the very least, for the numerous biographies he dished out, including Amazing Grace about William Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy about Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In 2011 he added to his list of awards the Becket Fund's Canterbury Medal, and in 2013 the Human Life Review's Defender of Life Award. |
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