The Five Marks of a Man: Finding Your Path to Courageous Manhood(Book for Men on 5 Traits of Godly Masculinity)

by Brian Tome

Introduction Boys to Men

[pg. 0 - 18 Summary] [Preface: Why Another Book for Men] When writing a book, appealing to a broad audience is often the author’s first intention. Brain shared that men do not represent a vast market when it comes to reading books; they are often a challenging audience to reach. His original inspiration for writing this was to introduce manhood to his son at an early age. However, he hoped it could serve as a compass for other men, guiding them towards manhood. American males are in facing crisis nowadays. Either men aren’t wired to exist in modern culture, or modern culture lacks what they need to thrive. Men today are facing challenges no other men, in any corner of the globe, in any period, have encountered. These include: New Expectations, Paranoid Assumptions, and Lack of Physical Skills. • New Expectations: Today’s current cultural expectations must be put into check. Maybe then we would be more likely to develop our soul instead of losing it. We need deep and vulnerable relational bonds with other men that provide emotional stability. We also need spiritual pursuits that give us a strength that can’t be achieved in the gym. • Paranoid Assumptions: Brain cites an example of this in his own life as an American Mega Church pastor, noting that many people assume he must be an overpaid, egotistical hypocrite who secretly beds other women. Such assumptions do not bring-out the best in him nor his fellow men. Negative assumptions, like people expecting the worst from you, often bring out the worst in anyone. Brain claims many males are weary to stand against the rising tide of pessimism in our culture, and have simply given up. • Lack of Physical Skills: A man is designed to be a physical force of nature. Something goes dead in a man if he can’t ever point to something physical he’s done, built, of fixed. A part of him fades when he isn’t creatively and physically engaged with other people.

[pg. 18 - 25 Summary] [Introduction: Boys to Men] The transition from boyhood to manhood isn’t marked by age; it’s marked by things that are much more substantial, such as your mindset and your actions, assuming responsibility for your place in the world, and stepping into a new reality – one defined by strength, purpose, and code of honor. As you read, you’ll find that every man you respect adheres to this code. Unfortunately, culture has buried this code beneath layers of enlightenment and progressivism, condemning many males to perpetual boyhood. He doesn’t want anyone to become just another boy victim. Brian never had a moment in his life when he was declared a man. Because of this, he felt he had to prove his manhood in whatever was our selfish “if it feels good do it” culture told him. He determined his son was going to have a different experience. Brain did a mental survey of the men in his life he aspired to be like. Though they all had different experiences and professions, different personalities and upbringings, every single one of them exhibited the five marks spelled out. 1. Be watchful. I began to see that men had a vision. 2. Stand firm. Men aren’t afraid to stand against the tide when they’re resolved in what they believe. Men take a minority position. 3. Act like men. Men are team players. 4. Be strong. Men understand that they’re wired to produce value. This means that men work. 5. Let all that you do be done in love. Things that are done in love are done for the sake of other people. This means that men are protectors. No matter where you are in life or what you’ve done, you can choose to be a man. You can embrace these five marks and begin a new path of strength and integrity. It’s time to man up.