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A Man in the Making: Strategies to Help Your Son Succeed in Life
The transformation from boy into man requires intentional guidance, education, and good role models. As a boy grows toward manhood, his parents can instill in their son the values and character traits needed to succeed in life.
Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives moms and dads intentional strategies to help mold their sons into honorable men. The book includes men such as
•Martin Luther King Jr.
•George Washington
•John Wooden
•Abraham Lincoln
•Jedediah Smith
•Benjamin Franklin
•Leonardo da Vinci
•and more
With passion and practicality, Johnson covers all aspects of a young man's development, including his work ethic, education, and integrity.
Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives moms and dads intentional strategies to help mold their sons into honorable men. The book includes men such as
•Martin Luther King Jr.
•George Washington
•John Wooden
•Abraham Lincoln
•Jedediah Smith
•Benjamin Franklin
•Leonardo da Vinci
•and more
With passion and practicality, Johnson covers all aspects of a young man's development, including his work ethic, education, and integrity.
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2013
34 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Rick Johnson
22 books67 followersRick founded Better Dads, a fathering skills program, based on the urgent need to empower men to lead and serve in their families and communities. Rick's books have expanded his work to include influencing the whole family, with life-changing insights for men and women on parenting, marriage, and personal growth. Inspiring and equipping through innovative multimedia presentations and seminars, Rick's resources, methods and personal approach have been transforming the lives of men, women, and their families for over 20 years.
Rick speaks at many large conferences across the US and Canada. He is a popular keynote speaker at men’s and women’s retreats and conferences on parenting and marriage.
He is a nationally recognized expert in several areas having been asked to deliver papers at venues such as the International Convention of Adult Children of Alcoholics, County of Los Angeles Child Abuse Prevention Conference and the State of New York Fatherhood Conference. Rick’s work with men and fathers was recognized when he was invited to the White House as part of the “Champions of Change” ceremony in 2012.
Prior to becoming a bestselling author and speaker, Rick was a small business owner for 16 years, owning and operating an environmental engineering firm. He attended George Fox University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Organizational Leadership, and has a Masters Degree in Education from Concordia University. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, has served on the Board of Directors for several community and business associations, and coaches high school basketball in his spare time. Rick has been featured in many national publications such as New Man Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, Christianity Today’s Men of Integrity, Relevant Magazine, Pentecostal Evangel, Thriving Family, and Proverbs 31 Ministries Magazine.
He is the bestselling author of twelve books and has appeared on over 300 radio programs and television shows around the United States and Canada. He is the former co-host of a live, weekly radio show and a frequent guest host of other local programs. Rick is actively involved with the men’s and family ministries as well as speaking from the pulpit at his church and various other churches.
Rick and his wife Suzanne have two adult children (one deceased) and is raising an adopted granddaughter having recently re-located to Texas.
You can find out more about Rick on his web site at www.betterdads.net .
Rick speaks at many large conferences across the US and Canada. He is a popular keynote speaker at men’s and women’s retreats and conferences on parenting and marriage.
He is a nationally recognized expert in several areas having been asked to deliver papers at venues such as the International Convention of Adult Children of Alcoholics, County of Los Angeles Child Abuse Prevention Conference and the State of New York Fatherhood Conference. Rick’s work with men and fathers was recognized when he was invited to the White House as part of the “Champions of Change” ceremony in 2012.
Prior to becoming a bestselling author and speaker, Rick was a small business owner for 16 years, owning and operating an environmental engineering firm. He attended George Fox University receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management and Organizational Leadership, and has a Masters Degree in Education from Concordia University. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, has served on the Board of Directors for several community and business associations, and coaches high school basketball in his spare time. Rick has been featured in many national publications such as New Man Magazine, Crosswalk.com, Christianity.com, Christianity Today’s Men of Integrity, Relevant Magazine, Pentecostal Evangel, Thriving Family, and Proverbs 31 Ministries Magazine.
He is the bestselling author of twelve books and has appeared on over 300 radio programs and television shows around the United States and Canada. He is the former co-host of a live, weekly radio show and a frequent guest host of other local programs. Rick is actively involved with the men’s and family ministries as well as speaking from the pulpit at his church and various other churches.
Rick and his wife Suzanne have two adult children (one deceased) and is raising an adopted granddaughter having recently re-located to Texas.
You can find out more about Rick on his web site at www.betterdads.net .
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 25, 2021
This is my first book by Rick Johnson, and man, it was good! If there is a book you need to read while your son is growing up, so far, this is one of the best I've read. If you are a far "leftist" or a feminist sympathizer, some parts will be a bit off-putting for you, but even then I think you will have great value in reading this book. It is not the deepest of dives, but for a book aimed at the common fathers is hits the sweet spot.
The structure of this book is how I imagine a well-structured book should be. Each chapter takes on one character trait that is good to pass on to your son. They begin with well-crafted definitions and most times you can tell that Johnson has worked well in order to get the definition spot on. Then he takes on one historical character and shows how this value/virtue was a driving force in this person's life and why he is a good example of it. A slight negative is the America focus here, presidents being overrepresented, making it not as familiar to people outside of the US and kind of single tracked rather than finding other suitable candidates. After that, follows a discussion about this value, why it matters, and why it is important. I'm quite amazed that it screams Christian(the good kind!) without preaching with bible verses or any Chrisitan jargon, making it approachable for everyone. There is some redundancy on similar values sometimes here, where he brings in the same or similar facts as before, but it is ok as each chapter stands for itself. Then lastly, Johnson gives insight into how to teach your son this value. Here as well, there is some redundancy as some values need a strict parent and a similar approach.
Because this book is broader than simply teaching your son the values, it is also good to teach you and remind you of these values, as in the end, it is you who is going to be the example that your son is going to follow.
The structure of this book is how I imagine a well-structured book should be. Each chapter takes on one character trait that is good to pass on to your son. They begin with well-crafted definitions and most times you can tell that Johnson has worked well in order to get the definition spot on. Then he takes on one historical character and shows how this value/virtue was a driving force in this person's life and why he is a good example of it. A slight negative is the America focus here, presidents being overrepresented, making it not as familiar to people outside of the US and kind of single tracked rather than finding other suitable candidates. After that, follows a discussion about this value, why it matters, and why it is important. I'm quite amazed that it screams Christian(the good kind!) without preaching with bible verses or any Chrisitan jargon, making it approachable for everyone. There is some redundancy on similar values sometimes here, where he brings in the same or similar facts as before, but it is ok as each chapter stands for itself. Then lastly, Johnson gives insight into how to teach your son this value. Here as well, there is some redundancy as some values need a strict parent and a similar approach.
Because this book is broader than simply teaching your son the values, it is also good to teach you and remind you of these values, as in the end, it is you who is going to be the example that your son is going to follow.
April 20, 2023
Honestly - I would recommend you just pass on this one.
I am pretty generous with reviews and don't like giving below 3 stars. But this was a 1 or 2 star book. I appreciate what the author is trying to do, but this is a deeply flawed book that doesn't execute its goal. Even though there are some kernels of truth, it's flawed on some of the approaches to masculinity, gender, and roles. It's flawed in its treatment of some historical figures (How do you hold up Thomas Jefferson as someone to emulate without even once mentioning not just that he had slaves, but how he treated those slaves?). There are cringe moments in every chapter. But that's it - it's shaky biographies with a lot of opinions and soapbox mini-sermons that create more problems than they solve. There are other books out there that will much better help you raise a boy in today's world so that he will thrive and flourish as a man of integrity and purpose.
I am pretty generous with reviews and don't like giving below 3 stars. But this was a 1 or 2 star book. I appreciate what the author is trying to do, but this is a deeply flawed book that doesn't execute its goal. Even though there are some kernels of truth, it's flawed on some of the approaches to masculinity, gender, and roles. It's flawed in its treatment of some historical figures (How do you hold up Thomas Jefferson as someone to emulate without even once mentioning not just that he had slaves, but how he treated those slaves?). There are cringe moments in every chapter. But that's it - it's shaky biographies with a lot of opinions and soapbox mini-sermons that create more problems than they solve. There are other books out there that will much better help you raise a boy in today's world so that he will thrive and flourish as a man of integrity and purpose.
November 20, 2019
Excellent book on bringing out manly behavior modeled in the lives of great men.
Recommended for all men! Read it, enjoy it, be blessed by it and emulate it. Required reading for the family- all our sons so they can adopt Biblical manhood all our daughters so they know whom to marry.
Recommended for all men! Read it, enjoy it, be blessed by it and emulate it. Required reading for the family- all our sons so they can adopt Biblical manhood all our daughters so they know whom to marry.
August 31, 2013
Rick Johnson in his new book, “A Man In The Making” published by Revell gives us Strategies to Help Your Son Succeed in Life.
From the back cover: How does a boy become a man of character?
As your son grows toward manhood, you can instill in him the values and character traits he will need to succeed. Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives you strategies to help mold your sons into honorable men. Johnson describes men such as:
Martin Luther King Jr.
George Washington
John Wooden
Abraham Lincoln
Jedediah Smith
Benjamin Franklin
Leonardo da Vinci
and more
With the understanding gleaned from this insightful book, you can positively influence your son’s life–in a way that will last him a lifetime.
Our fathers did a great job with us and we are both proud of them and thankful to them for what they have accomplished. If they had the strategies outlined in this book perhaps they could have done an even better job with us? When we don’t have a plan-a recipe-then the boy we are raising may turn out well, as planned, or he may fall a little short of the mark. Mr. Johnson believes in a plan for success in raising our boys. He clearly outlines this plan by looking at the lives of twelve me from politics, religious leaders, artists and The Bible. It is time fathers had a user guide to help them raise their sons. Mr. Johnson has given us a book that can be referred to over and over again. ”A Man In The Making” is a book for all men to help raise their boys to manhood. This is a book to give to any man who has a son or potentially will have a son. Everyone will benefit from the results.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
From the back cover: How does a boy become a man of character?
As your son grows toward manhood, you can instill in him the values and character traits he will need to succeed. Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives you strategies to help mold your sons into honorable men. Johnson describes men such as:
Martin Luther King Jr.
George Washington
John Wooden
Abraham Lincoln
Jedediah Smith
Benjamin Franklin
Leonardo da Vinci
and more
With the understanding gleaned from this insightful book, you can positively influence your son’s life–in a way that will last him a lifetime.
Our fathers did a great job with us and we are both proud of them and thankful to them for what they have accomplished. If they had the strategies outlined in this book perhaps they could have done an even better job with us? When we don’t have a plan-a recipe-then the boy we are raising may turn out well, as planned, or he may fall a little short of the mark. Mr. Johnson believes in a plan for success in raising our boys. He clearly outlines this plan by looking at the lives of twelve me from politics, religious leaders, artists and The Bible. It is time fathers had a user guide to help them raise their sons. Mr. Johnson has given us a book that can be referred to over and over again. ”A Man In The Making” is a book for all men to help raise their boys to manhood. This is a book to give to any man who has a son or potentially will have a son. Everyone will benefit from the results.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
August 27, 2013
As the mother of a five year old boy, I have spent many moments pondering how to raise him to be a successful man when I am not a man myself. A Man in the Making is the perfect tool to read about raising a son.
I’m not a single mom but I do most of the parenting in my house as my husband works long hours. This concerns me so I am happy to read any tool available although after reading it, I think this is a book both parents should read.
Coming from a woman’s perspective I can see why these recent generations of boys without dads around isn’t learning how to be a man in this world. With an emphasis on being nice and polite as the focus, moms are not raising boys to be men. In all honesty, until I read this I probably shared this perspective. But as Johnson points out, sometimes being a man, a leader and a teacher means doing that which is not considered to be the nicest option.
I really liked the format of this book with each chapter choosing a person in history who has emulated this character trait. I especially liked the chapter on Hardihood and Resiliency with Jedediah Smith’s story. My son is a sensitive soul and I worry that the world will be a hard place for him to live in.
Equipping him with the tools to succeed and not be ruled by his emotions is crucial. Johnson also points out how to accomplish this in each chapter which I really appreciated.
Boys need healthy role models in their lives to teach them how to be a man. Hopefully it’s their dad but if not, they still need to be taught even without the live in example. A Man in the Making is an Invaluable tool to achieve this and I’ve already discussed a lot of what I’ve learned with my husband. The road ahead looks a little less intimidating with a map.
I’m not a single mom but I do most of the parenting in my house as my husband works long hours. This concerns me so I am happy to read any tool available although after reading it, I think this is a book both parents should read.
Coming from a woman’s perspective I can see why these recent generations of boys without dads around isn’t learning how to be a man in this world. With an emphasis on being nice and polite as the focus, moms are not raising boys to be men. In all honesty, until I read this I probably shared this perspective. But as Johnson points out, sometimes being a man, a leader and a teacher means doing that which is not considered to be the nicest option.
I really liked the format of this book with each chapter choosing a person in history who has emulated this character trait. I especially liked the chapter on Hardihood and Resiliency with Jedediah Smith’s story. My son is a sensitive soul and I worry that the world will be a hard place for him to live in.
Equipping him with the tools to succeed and not be ruled by his emotions is crucial. Johnson also points out how to accomplish this in each chapter which I really appreciated.
Boys need healthy role models in their lives to teach them how to be a man. Hopefully it’s their dad but if not, they still need to be taught even without the live in example. A Man in the Making is an Invaluable tool to achieve this and I’ve already discussed a lot of what I’ve learned with my husband. The road ahead looks a little less intimidating with a map.
July 16, 2014
This book could have been a little more in depth and added a little more scripture to support his points, but with that said that wasn't the focus of his book. In his introduction he makes it very clear that while the majority of the great men in history who made a lasting impact had a belief in God and Judeo-Christian beliefs, he wanted to focus on the non-moral and faith based characteristics that are required of men. His focus was to deliver a message to the culture about raising men, not necessarily raising Christian men.
This book met me where I was already at in preparing men (and myself). I have 2 boys, 4 and 7, that I'm preparing for manhood, and I had already thought through some of these characteristics to teach, but this book helped me fine tune my focus both in a big picture and practical terms. Even if you are not raising boys or have raised boys to the young adult stage this book is an excellent reflection point for your life and how to proceed in mentoring young men.
The book is a quick and easy read, I completed it in 2 weeks and I'm a slow reader. The general format of each chapter is: define the characteristic, give a short biography of a great person in history that demonstrated the characteristic as a prominent feature of his life, discuss the philosophy of the characteristic and then give practical ways to help train the characteristic in your sons.
This book met me where I was already at in preparing men (and myself). I have 2 boys, 4 and 7, that I'm preparing for manhood, and I had already thought through some of these characteristics to teach, but this book helped me fine tune my focus both in a big picture and practical terms. Even if you are not raising boys or have raised boys to the young adult stage this book is an excellent reflection point for your life and how to proceed in mentoring young men.
The book is a quick and easy read, I completed it in 2 weeks and I'm a slow reader. The general format of each chapter is: define the characteristic, give a short biography of a great person in history that demonstrated the characteristic as a prominent feature of his life, discuss the philosophy of the characteristic and then give practical ways to help train the characteristic in your sons.
August 26, 2013
Title: A MAN IN THE MAKING
Author: Rick Johnson
Publisher: Revell
August 2013
ISBN: 978-0800720322
Genre: Parenting
The transformation from boy into man requires intentional guidance, education, and good role models. As a boy grows toward manhood, his parents can instill in their son the values and character traits needed to succeed in life.
Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives moms and dads intentional strategies to help mold their sons into honorable men. The book includes men such as
•Martin Luther King Jr.
•George Washington
•John Wooden
•Abraham Lincoln
•Jedediah Smith
•Benjamin Franklin
•Leonardo da Vinci
•and more
With passion and practicality, Johnson covers all aspects of a young man's development, including his work ethic, education, and integrity.
In today’s society of broken homes, single moms, and dads that are little more than token figures, this is an outstanding book about what it takes to turn our sons into men that we can be proud of. It is readable, approachable, and godly, making this one of the few parenting books on raising boys I’ve read this year that I can recommend.
If you are a father, you need to read this book. If you are the mother of a father, get this for your son. If you are the wife of a father, get this for your husband. Recommended for church libraries and pastor’s studies as well. $12.99. 208 pages.
Author: Rick Johnson
Publisher: Revell
August 2013
ISBN: 978-0800720322
Genre: Parenting
The transformation from boy into man requires intentional guidance, education, and good role models. As a boy grows toward manhood, his parents can instill in their son the values and character traits needed to succeed in life.
Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives moms and dads intentional strategies to help mold their sons into honorable men. The book includes men such as
•Martin Luther King Jr.
•George Washington
•John Wooden
•Abraham Lincoln
•Jedediah Smith
•Benjamin Franklin
•Leonardo da Vinci
•and more
With passion and practicality, Johnson covers all aspects of a young man's development, including his work ethic, education, and integrity.
In today’s society of broken homes, single moms, and dads that are little more than token figures, this is an outstanding book about what it takes to turn our sons into men that we can be proud of. It is readable, approachable, and godly, making this one of the few parenting books on raising boys I’ve read this year that I can recommend.
If you are a father, you need to read this book. If you are the mother of a father, get this for your son. If you are the wife of a father, get this for your husband. Recommended for church libraries and pastor’s studies as well. $12.99. 208 pages.
September 22, 2013
Do you ever worry about instilling character and values into your sons? Do your even feel awkward about it in light of our culture’s rewrite of what it even means to be a man? What values most need reinforcing? This volume by Rick Johnson and published by Revell can be a help to you.
Johnson takes from the lives of twelve great men from history to illustrate great character traits that we so need to see in the next generation of men. Personally, I find some of the men more worthy of emulation than others in his list, but he does a fine job drawing these traits out of the men he looked at. His rationale is that boys need role models. It is the absolute best way to see these traits in our boys. What is modeled will be followed!
It is not just biography we find here, however, as he gives practical advice of how to help boys take these traits into the fabric of their being.
He is not afraid to be politically incorrect and that certainly makes the volume refreshing. I agree that it is time we quit going with the current of cultural downgrades and turn and swim toward what previous generations almost intuitively knew. Our boys are too important to play the games played today!
There is little Gospel here. He is not writing about what God can do, but what we should do. For what it is, it is good and I recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
Johnson takes from the lives of twelve great men from history to illustrate great character traits that we so need to see in the next generation of men. Personally, I find some of the men more worthy of emulation than others in his list, but he does a fine job drawing these traits out of the men he looked at. His rationale is that boys need role models. It is the absolute best way to see these traits in our boys. What is modeled will be followed!
It is not just biography we find here, however, as he gives practical advice of how to help boys take these traits into the fabric of their being.
He is not afraid to be politically incorrect and that certainly makes the volume refreshing. I agree that it is time we quit going with the current of cultural downgrades and turn and swim toward what previous generations almost intuitively knew. Our boys are too important to play the games played today!
There is little Gospel here. He is not writing about what God can do, but what we should do. For what it is, it is good and I recommend it.
I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 .
August 25, 2013
I don't have any kids, nor will I likely ever have any, but I still like to review books like these once in a while to see what is out there to recommend to others, and to help get the word out about books like these.
This book was written as a help for parents in raising their sons to turn out to the men they should be. I have read a few books like this, and this is one of the best ones I have read. In each chapter, the author takes a well known man of character and a character trait that stood out in them. He discusses briefly the man, then goes on to expound more on the character trait and how to instill it in boys.
The book is not just a helpful tool, it is an interesting read, and I found the idea of using men from history to help show the value of each character trait an excellent idea and it makes the book even easier to glean helpful information from. I would recommend this book for any parents that have sons they are trying to raise right.
This book was written as a help for parents in raising their sons to turn out to the men they should be. I have read a few books like this, and this is one of the best ones I have read. In each chapter, the author takes a well known man of character and a character trait that stood out in them. He discusses briefly the man, then goes on to expound more on the character trait and how to instill it in boys.
The book is not just a helpful tool, it is an interesting read, and I found the idea of using men from history to help show the value of each character trait an excellent idea and it makes the book even easier to glean helpful information from. I would recommend this book for any parents that have sons they are trying to raise right.
August 31, 2013
This was an excellent book and I highly recommend that ALL parents raising boys, read this. Each chapter focuses on a well known male (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr, John Wooden and more) and an attribute that he demonstrated during his life.
Virtues such as common sense, wisdom, compassion, integrity, vision and others, are explained and the author gives good suggestions on how to teach these to your son. In a society where young men are seriously lacking in strong male role models, this book encourages parents (especially fathers) to get involved and stay in tune with the young men they are raising.
After reading this book, I understood better how my teenage son might think or feel about certain things. It gave me some great insight on how to better communicate and address certain areas in his life.
Virtues such as common sense, wisdom, compassion, integrity, vision and others, are explained and the author gives good suggestions on how to teach these to your son. In a society where young men are seriously lacking in strong male role models, this book encourages parents (especially fathers) to get involved and stay in tune with the young men they are raising.
After reading this book, I understood better how my teenage son might think or feel about certain things. It gave me some great insight on how to better communicate and address certain areas in his life.
September 26, 2014
This book was only ok. I agree with the values that he thinks we should instill in our sons and I liked the quotes he included from great people throughout history. I didn't like that he seemed to just be using this book to get up on his soap box and preach his one-sided ideas. He was quite negative towards women and femininity and our world in general. I liked the first few chapters then after that it seemed like he was saying the same stuff but in a different way and I got bored easily. Although I don't completely agree with his idea of what a "whole man" should be or how we should teach our son to become one, he did make some valid points.
January 15, 2015
The author is very anti-feminism, but does have some good points about the character traits our sons need to be men. In short, this is a good book for gleaning ideas and leaving the drivel, if you can grit your teeth past the 'our society is too feminized' junk. Basically, it's like shopping at Goodwill, quickly move past the trash to find the treasures. ;) Unless you are also anti-feminism, in which case you will love every word he says.
November 7, 2013
This book showed me that we need the old fashioned values of strength, honesty,integrity and wisdom,to know even basic smarts and values that are lacking among young men today.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews