books: future men

I’ve read quite a few good books in the last 6 (or so) months. I won’t tell you about how much I love Poirot, how my very first Dorothy Sayers novel kept me from household responsibilities (and sleep) until I finished it, or how glad I was for an excuse to read several Dear Diary books. But there are several reads that, I think, are worth mentioning.

This is the first.

Overall, fabulous.

He challenges us to a close look at biblical masculinity, lest we confuse it with current culture’s expectations. This trickles down to what to expect from your young hooligan (and what to allow — outdoors), how to approach education, how to interact with mothers and sisters, and what manners to enforce and why. It also means teaching boys to value wisdom, work and diligence, purity, strength, justice, prudence, and respect. (Those also are all topics well-covered in the book.)

As I read, I was inspired by the call to shape fine, strong arrows — to rise to the task of training young men who will take the world by storm. And of course, inherent in all that I mentioned above is the expectation that parents must first model and show their commitment to godliness in incredibly practical, every-single-day ways.

(One of my favorite tid-bits? The difference between rest and laziness: Rest is preparation for continued work. I like that.)

3 Comments books: future men

  1. Danica

    @ abbi: I read several of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels (titles? you want titles? ha!!) and LOVED them.

    But really. People who are responsible for the livelihood of small children should not be allowed to read Sayers or Christie. In my experience, anyway. (And heaven forbid there be a husband who requires clean socks and such, because goodness knows there will be no laundry happening while those books are being read!)

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