How To Debate Politics Like A Gentleman
September 21, 2008
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Kate grandpa’s is fond of repeating the mantra he and his fellow sailors repeated while serving aboard the USS Indiana during World War II. “Never discuss politics or religion.” And he always adds, “So what does that leave to talk about? Girls, of course.”
Gramp’s advice is certainly appropriate if you’re going to be trapped on a ship with the same guys for months on end. And it’s a rule of good etiquette for dinner parties and other occasions when polite decorum should prevail.
But otherwise, politics should be debated, vigorously and often. Men in every age debated politics- from the Grecian Assembly to the Roman Forum, from the salons of France to the mutual improvement societies of colonial America. Being able to reasonably discuss the political issues of the day was considered a vital and essential part of being a well-rounded, well-educated, man. Indeed, one of the express purposes of education during this time was to equip men to be able to hold their own in the political forum.
Manvotional #3: Adversity Molds the Great Man
September 20, 2008
It is in times of turmoil and strife that true manliness is shown. A life without adversity makes a man weak, dull, and effeminate. In his essay, On Providence, the Roman philosopher Seneca discuses the importance of adversity in shaping a man’s life. According to Seneca, it is only through adversity that the Great Man can be created. Theodore Roosevelt understood this principle. It was the basis of his philosophy of the strenuous life. My generation has grown up in a time of unprecedented peace and affluence. Consequently, we’ve become wussified man-children. If we really want to know what we’re made of, we must be tested. If you wish to be a great man, avoid the life of ignoble ease and take on difficult tasks.
Read more
Thinking Outside the Flask: 10 Groomsmen Gift Ideas
September 18, 2008
Your groomsmen are your best buddies, guys who have been there for you through thick and thin. And on the most important day of your life, they’ll be there for you once again, standing by your side as you take the plunge. Of course no one likes going to weddings and getting dressed up in some monkey suit, but it’s no big deal to them because they’re your bros. In return for their longtime friendship and for coming to support you in getting hitched, you are supposed to bestow upon each of them a groomsmen gift.
It can be hard to think of a classy gift your friends will actually like, and more difficult still, something they will actually use. No guy needs another knickknack that’s going to sit in his desk drawer and gather dust. But many guys aren’t exceptionally creative when it comes to gift giving and don’t like particularly like shopping either. It can paralyze our brains, to the point that we think groomsmen bobble heads might be a good idea.
The engraved flask is a popular choice, but I can’t say I’m a fan. When does a regular guy use a flask? Seriously. How often are you stealing sips of whiskey when you’re out and about? You’ve pretty much landed in wino country if you’re doing that. Cuff links are a traditional gift, but most guys don’t own shirts that necessitate them anymore, so they may not be put to use. Money clips aren’t a bad selection, but many men are attached to their current wallet or clip. Watches make nice gifts, but selecting one is really a matter of personal taste and pocket watches, though tasteful and handsome, will likely end up in their underwear drawer.
Fortunately, there are other fine alternatives. I did some thinking, shopped around, and came up with 10 classy, cool gifts that you’ll be proud to give to your groomsmen.
Note: No one’s paying us a dime to recommend these things to you. We honestly think they’re good ideas. Enjoy.
Mayday! Mayday! How to Land a Plane in an Emergency
September 16, 2008
Image by Martin Hartland
We’ve all had the thought cross our mind while flying, “What if the pilot(s) somehow became incapacitated and I had to land this thing? What would I do?” Or maybe more timely for today’s world, “What if a terrorist takes over the plane and I have to save the day by knocking him out with a Chuck Norris-style thump to the head?”
You’re a hero, boo-yah! But, if the pilot’s unconscious, you may have to get the plane on the ground. Relax, it’s not as hard as it looks and if you follow a few simple steps you’ll be on the ground safely and in one piece for your press conference and hero shots.
Book Giveaway: The Swordless Samurai by Tim Clark
September 15, 2008
Yesterday, Tim Clark wrote a fantastic guest post on the 8 Virtues of the Samurai. In the post, Tim discussed the history of Hideyoshi, a peasant who rose through the ranks of the samurai and became the supreme ruler in Japan during the 16th century. Unlike his contemporaries, Hideyoshi sought to overcome his adversaries peaceably, through negotiation and alliance building rather than through brute force. Lacking physical strength and fighting skills, he naturally chose to rely on wits rather than weapons, on strategy over swords. Hyedoshi became the swordless samurai. In his latest book, The Swordless Samurai: Leadership Wisdom of Japan’s Sixteenth-Century Legend—Toyotomi Hideyoshi
We’re giving away three copies of Tim’s latest book, The Swordless Samurai
How to Enter
One of the main themes in The Swordless Samurai is using negotiation instead of brute force to get what you want. Negotiating with the goal of arriving at a win-win conclusion is a difficult task. So we want to hear your tips and advice on how to gain influence in business and in life through negotiation and persuasion. Have a technique you’d like to share? What’s your philosophy in approaching a negotiation? Have an experience you’d like to share where you were able to use persuasion to arrive at a win/win resolution? Leave a comment sharing your best advice and experiences and you’ll be entered to win.
Deadline to enter is Monday, September 22 at 10PM Central Standard Time.
We’ll randomly select three comments and give the book to those three lucky individuals.
We’re looking forward to reading your tips!
The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai
September 14, 2008
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Tim Clark. He blogs at Soul Shelter with novelist Mark Cunningham. Make sure to check out Tim Clark’s second book, The Swordless Samurai.
“So, boy. You wish to serve me?”
Silhouetted against the blue-black sky, the horse-mounted samurai with the horned helmet towered over me like a demon as I knelt in the dirt before him. I could not see his face but there was no mistaking the authority in his growling tone, nor the hint of mockery in his question.
I tried to speak and managed only a faint croak. My mouth had gone dry, as parched as a man dying of thirst. But I had to respond. My fate-and though I didn’t know it then, the fate of all of Japan-rested on my answer.
Raising my head just enough to brave a glance at the demonic figure, I saw him staring at me, like a hawk poised to seize a mouse in its talons.
When I managed to speak, my voice was clear and steady, and I drew courage with each syllable.
“That’s correct, Lord Nobunaga,” I said. “I do.”
Manvotional #2: We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers
September 13, 2008
Knowing how to inspire and lead others is an essential manly attribute. In Shakespeare’s Henry V, King Henry exemplifies manliness in action as he rallies his army against the highly skilled French knights. In his “Saint Crispin’s Day” speech, Henry V speaks of glory, honor, and brotherhood- all ideals that inspire even the most despairing and downtrodden of men. Read this fictional, and yet powerful speech when you’re feeling unmotivated and depressed. It will stir you to focus on the legacy you are building and will pass on to your sons and to history.
Soda Review: Which is the Best Root Beer?
September 13, 2008
In celebration of the Art of Manliness’ love for the finely crafted, independently made soda, today we begin a series of soda reviews . We’ll help you on your way to becoming a soda connoisseur by placing all of your favorite flavors in head to head competitions to see which soda rises to the top. Let the best fizzy beverage win.
All the sodas we will review are made with pure cane sugar or another natural sweetener, since as you know, sodas made with high fructose corn syrup constitute soda sacrilege and aren’t worth the flimsy can they come in. Most of the sodas will also be from independent bottlers.
Today we are having a showdown between various varieties of our favorite brew, root beer.
How To Jump Start a Car
September 11, 2008
You’re walking out of your apartment and notice a good looking gal with the hood of her car open, looking at the engine with desperation. You go over and ask what’s wrong. The car battery is dead, and she’s late for class. She asks you if you can give her jump. You look down at the ground, kick some rocks, and offer to call AAA instead.
You have no clue how to jump start a car.
Every man should know how to jump start a dead car battery. You never know when you’ll need this knowledge to aid a stranded damsel in distress or help yourself. While jumping a dead battery is super simple, you’d be surprised by the number of men who have no idea how to do it. Even if a man has learned how to jump start a car before, it can be easy to forget what cables go where. Positive on negative? Ground the positive cable on the car with the good battery? Red cable is negative?
To help you avoid looking like a putz when asked to jump start a car and to help prevent you from shocking the hell out of yourself when you do it, here’s the rundown on how to jump start a dead car battery.
3 Man Killers: Power
September 9, 2008
In order to get power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not connected with goodness but with qualities that are the opposite of goodness, such as pride, cunning, and cruelty. – Leo Tolstoy
We continue on in the 3 Man Killers series, focusing this week on the topic of power. Just like money, power has an intoxicating quality that can often prove fatal for men. From corrupt political rulers like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe to the CEO who thinks his position affords him some sort of pass when it comes to pompous and unethical behavior, abuses of power happen when people begin believing that they are above the law.
Power is necessary, without it nothing would get done. Police officers wouldn’t be taken seriously if they didn’t have the power to arrest, countries could be invaded if they didn’t have a military (or nuclear weapons) to defend themselves, and business managers couldn’t accomplish nearly as much if they didn’t have the power to hire and fire their people.
Properly harnessed power can be used to better the lives of our loved ones, associates, and society as a whole. But men must be vigilant in avoiding power’s potential to canker their soul, blind them to unethical decisions, and bring about their downfall.
The Gentleman’s Guide to the Calling Card
September 7, 2008
To the unrefined or unbred, the visiting card is but a trifling and insignificant bit of paper; but to the cultured disciple of social law, it conveys a subtle and unmistakable intelligence. Its texture, style of engraving, and even the hour of leaving it combine to place the stranger, whose name it bears, in a pleasant or a disagreeable attitude even before his manners, conversation, and face have been able to explain his social position. -Our Deportment
In the 19th and early 20th century, social interaction was a richly cultivated, well-mannered affair. The tool that facilitated these interactions was the calling card. Calling cards streamlined introductions and helped remind people of new acquaintances and needed visits. The calling card also served as a way to brand your social identity. The way your card looked and felt or the way you handed it to someone communicated your standing and relationship with the receiver. While the calling card had gone the way of top hats and knickers, they’re starting to make a comeback. What follows is a brief history of the calling card and how men today can resurrect this tradition to create some stylish panache in their social interactions.
Manvotional #1: “If” by Rudyard Kipling
September 6, 2008
Editor’s Note: Great men before us have penned poems, letters, and essays on what it means to be a man. We want to share with you some of these writings each Sunday in a series called Manvotionals. Each Sunday, we’ll post a short poem, essay, or letter that inspires men to be better men. We’ll look at writings from great men like Shakespeare, Aristotle, and Churchill to see what they said about being men of virtue, honor, and valor. So each week we invite you to grab a mug of coffee, pull up a chair, and immerse yourself in the lost art of manliness.
How do you know when you become a man? Is it when you win your first fight? When you get married? Have kids? “If,” written by manly writer Rudyard Kipling, is an amazingly insightful poem on the attributes of what makes a man a man. Becoming a man isn’t just one event, but rather a series of attributes developed over a lifetime. If only more men desired to obtain these characteristics, the world would be a much better place.
The Art of Manliness Weekly Roundup: New Blackberry Edition
September 6, 2008
My two year contract on my cell phone ended this week which meant I could upgrade my phone on renewal for a really good price. I decided to get a Blackberry Curve. I’ve been reluctant to jump on the Smartphone band wagon for some time, but after hearing rave reviews from my friends, I decided to give it to try.
I have to say this thing has been pretty dang handy. This semester is going to be a busy one for me. On top of classes, I’m mentoring two students on their law review article, working as a law review editor, and working as a student rep for Westlaw. And we can’t forget about The Art of Manliness and all the work that goes with it. Plus there are two big secret projects that I’m working on right now with The Art of Manliness that have increased the stuff I have to keep track of. My Blackberry has been an awesome tool to help me manage all this stuff. It allows me to easily keep track of my calendar, my tasks, my contacts, and my emails no matter where I’m at. Oh yeah. It makes phone calls, too. Anybody have recommendations for some good applications for the Blackberry?
Alright, that’s enough of that. Let’s take a look at some links:
Tips For Dads- How to Soothe a Crying Baby (@ husbands and dads) I’ve always heard rum in a baby bottle helps.
Brave New World of Digital Intimacy (@ nytimes) This article takes a look at our digital relationships on places like Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. (By the way, if you want to see how boring my life is, you can follow me on Twitter and Facebook. But I also use them to get input from people about the site.)
What Ever Happened to Personal Responsibility (@ schaefer’s blog) Art of Manliness contributor, Cameron Schaefer, gives a fiery rant against people’s unwillingness to take personal responsibility for their choices. I agree. Part of being a man is taking responsibility of your choices, no matter the consequences.
Shower Poofs (@ to every man a manswer) Dr. Awesome gives his take on the appropriateness of a man using those little shower poofs to wash themselves. Answer: any item you have to buy in the women’s cosmetics section is not appropriate for a man to wash with.
Got a link you’d like me to include in the weekly roundup? Shoot me an email at artofmanliness at gmail.com. Seriously, I’ll link to you.
How To Build a Roaring Campfire
September 4, 2008
There is a primal link between man and fire. For ancient man, fire provided warmth, protection from wild animals, light in the dark wilderness, and a place to cook food. While fire is no longer vital to most men’s existence, it still has a magnetic power that attracts us. The flames of fire can inspire legendary stories, generate uplifting discussion, and build camaraderie among the men circled around them. Also, there’s nothing more romantic than cuddling up to your gal next to a warm fire. And I’d take some manly campfire cooked grub over the food of a four star restaurant any day. Thus every man should know how to start one and be well-practiced in doing so.
Heading Out on Your Own
September 2, 2008
Image from Omega418
It was back to school for most students in America last week. For many young men leaving for college, this marked the first time in their life they left the nest and heading out on their own.
I remember the first semester I was away from home. I was living in the dorms at the University of Oklahoma in Norman with my friend Alistair. Throughout high school, I was the responsible kid. I made good grades, excelled in sports, participated actively in student organizations, and found time to hold down a part-time job at the same time. I figured college wouldn’t be much trouble.
Boy was I wrong.
