The Art of Manliness

Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man

By: Brett McKay, Kate McKay

Narrated by: Todd McLaren

Man Up!

While it's definitely more than just monster trucks, grilling and six-pack abs, true manliness is hard to define. The words macho and manly are not synonymous.

Taking lessons from classic gentlemen such as Benjamin Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, authors Brett and Kate McKay have created a collection of the most useful advice every man needs to know to live life to its full potential.

This book contains a wealth of information that ranges from survival skills to social skills to advice on how to improve your character. Whether you are braving the wilds with your friends, courting your girlfriend or raising a family, inside you'll find practical information and inspiration for every area of life. You'll learn the basics all modern men should know, including how to:

Shave like your grandpa
Be a perfect houseguest
Fight like a gentleman using the art of bartitsu
Help a friend with a problem
Give a man hug
Perform a fireman's carry
Ask for a woman’s hand in marriage
Raise resilient kids
Predict the weather like a frontiersman
Start a fire without matches
Give a dynamic speech
Live a well-balanced life

So jump in today and gain the skills and knowledge you need to be a real man in the 21st century.

©2009 Brett and Kate McKay (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

“This couple shows that you can be a man without being a jerk." (MDAA, Toronto Star.com)

But The Book

I loved this book! It was exactly what people my age need in their lives, but I felt kinda left out when it came to the visual aspect of this book. There were many how-to's and I feel like seeing the usual awesome illustrations that Brett McKay uses will help understand how to bring down an airplane to safety or how to pick a hat for my ugly mug.

If I were you, whom of which have not purchased this yet, buy the actual book. It's like buying a dangerous book for boys on here. You need to see the steps and the visuals to grasp what he is trying to convey.

Great Man Training

An excellent resource for learning how to be a great, well rounded man - prepared for many of life's situations.

A Must Read

Wow, this book is amazing. Every boy and man should be required to read this book. This covers pretty much everything a man needs to know.

Quick read, but full of wisdom

After finishing this book, I wanted to tell every man I know to read it themselves!

A must

I greatly loved this book. As a man who did not have a father to pass on manly virtues, this book helps with that missing piece. For a few years now I have learned to be a man through God's word and instruction. I find this book agreeing with the Most High, closely. The narration was superb, didn't miss a beat.

great book for men

fantastic book with laid out guidelines on how to be a man. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book

a little dated

some of the references were relevant when the book was written but are laughable now. overall good information; just funny at how much technology and the internet have advanced since this was published

A fun, light read ... that should be mandatory

I enjoyed it. In the book, the author states that the purpose of this book was to pass on sage-like advice to the younger generation. This generation is missing out on proven wisdom since the passing on of this information has gone out of common practice. If anyone has actually talked to anyone in the 16-23 age bracket, it's a hard assertion to argue with. So, I think the authors should know that they've done exactly what they set out to do. I picked up this book for those very reasons. As is pretty common for folks of my generation, I didn't have much of a relationship with my own dad. Same for my older brother. As a result, I always felt I missed out on some of the fundamental manly teachings that these authors address. Some tips were mundane (like how to tie a tie), while others (how to be a good husband and father) were ethical tips that mirror my own beliefs that definitely seem to grow exceedingly out of vogue with each new generation that comes across.

I wish I had this book when I was 15.

There were parts of the book that dragged a little (the parts about camping and how to help give birth were a little dry to me) and that was my main reason for not giving it a full 5 stars (if half stars were an option my true rating would be 4.5 stars).

It was a fun and interesting read, and was perfect to break up the sci-fi/fantasy rut I found myself in.

excellent book

the audiobook was excellent. I would recommend every man picking up a hard copy and listening to the audiobook. It is a must-read for every man.

Buy the physical book instead

Good book with good advice, though I think I would've liked it better as a physical read.