Be a Man

Product Information

Robert Augustus Masters was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1947. From an early age he was an avid artist, but in high school switched to the sciences, with which he stayed until he found himself at the age of 21 in a PhD program in biochemistry. Little more than a year later, only a few hours after a dream of dying, he left his doctoral studies, and began an odyssey of intense travel, initially outer, then inner. Robert Augustus Masters’ To Be a Man dissects the three words that echo in every man’s psyche: “Be A Man!” As a seasoned therapist, Masters identifies the accompanying shame men manifest and gives us a guide toward healthy, sustainable masculinity. To Be a Man is insightful, practical, and most importantly transformative for the healthy development of men. Other stories in this collection deal with coming-of-age and sexuality. Some are brief recognitions or glimps

Pyschologist Roy Baumeister flips the feminist argument that women have beenoppressedand exploited on its head and argues that it’s actually the other way around: men are the ones that society exploits. Baumeister argues that throughout history men have been seen as moreexpendablethan women; they’re ones who went to war, took the dirty jobs, and sacrificed their lives. A manly handshake is a firm one, even a steely one; a manly approach means, among other things, keeping it together emotionally, not losing one’s cool.

Flags / Cups / Air Fresheners

Alan Peterkin wrote a cultural history of facial hair in 1,000 Beards. In this follow-up, Peterkin focuses less on the history of beards and more on how to grow and maintain one. You’ll find advice on choosing the best facial hair style for your face and head shape as well as info on creating the the best shave kit. Peterkin does a good job injecting humor throughout the book so it’s a fun read.

Then, as anyone who knows me knows, I am an equal opportunity offender, so I turn to the groom, who usually likes all of this. Once I said to a groom, "That will cost you another hundred dollars", and he responded, "That would be the best one hundred dollars I ever spent!" But now it is time for the other shoe to fall. I then ask the groom, "You read the Bible every day, right?" He always responds, "No, Father." Then I ask, "Well, do you know what it says in Ephesians after 'Wives, be submissive to your husbands'?" The groom always shakes his head and says, "No." Then I continue, "It says, 'Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.' " Then I ask, "Do you know what that means?" I then continue kiddingly, "Your life is over!" Then I tell them that every day they need to be more concerned about each other than they are about themselves! That is what marriage is about! Every once in a while, not very often, a book shows up that illuminates what it means to be a man. To Be a Man is such a book for our new millennium. I believe Robert Augustus Masters is one of the essential wisdom teachers of our time. To Be a Man reflects his deep learning, humility, personal struggle and decades of experience as a therapist, clinician and healer. In the section of my library where I have a small collection of books about being a man, To Be a Man has moved to the top of my list. I enthusiastically recommend this book for any man who wants to wake up, grow up and show up…and for those who love us. Some things to highlight from this book is that to be a man is to be a man of prayer and a follower of Jesus Christ. Father Larry would then specify how and what aspect of being a man can we grow into in Christ. But nothing can truly compensate for what’s been lost through such disconnection and numbing. Dissociation from one’s soul — one’s individuated essence or core of being — is hell, regardless of one’s comforts and distractions, and all too many men are suffering this, doing little more than just getting by or dutifully “manning up.” After thirty years of pioneering men’s work, if I were to write THE classic handbook for men—this would be it. To Be A Man calls out the “warrior” to do battle inside, to find authentic masculine power, allowing truly intimate relationships with women, other men, and self.Many men tend to be at war — at war with life, with each other, with themselves, consumed by the fight to win at work and elsewhere. Bloodless war is still war, still an arena of battling with whatever weapons are at hand. A victorious athletic moment may not just feature some full-out exultation, but also sometimes a sense of standing over the defeated team as if on some bloody battlefield. Every once in awhile someone comes along and writes a masterpiece, and Robert Augustus Masters’ To Be A Man falls into this category. His book is a true hero’s journey of healing and awakening, one that encourages men to cultivate a deep and enduring intimacy with everything that they are for the benefit of one and all.