It's a Guy Thing: Helping Guys Become Men, Husbands And Fathers

by John King

The Essential Guide to Growing Up Written for men by a man who believes in the critical and vital role husbands and fathers play in the family, the community, and the world. The facts in this book will confirm what every man knows-we are important, no matter what the statistics the media twists or how the sitcoms portray us. Every member of the family needs a man's wisdom, protection, and love to fully develop. Unfortunately, fatherlessness is epidemic leaving us with "...a generation of boys, raised by women, who don't know what it is to be a man, a husband, or father." You can be a great man, husband, and father. Learn from a guy who "When confronted with the fact that after only 12 months I had all but destroyed my marriage I set out on an exercise called 'Collective Wisdom.' I spent thousands of hours reading books and having coffee with men. Guy Thing is the fruit of 15 years of personal research on manhood, marriage, and family. These lessons turned my life around, saved my marriage, and gave me the skills I needed to raise my kids." John King, author

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

John King is the author of eight novels – The Football Factory, Headhunters, England Away, Human Punk, White Trash, The Prison House, Skinheads and The Liberal Politics Of Adolf Hitler. The Football Factory was turned into a high-profile film. A new novel – Slaughterhouse Prayer – was published on 8 November 2018.

King has written short stories and non-fiction for a number of publications, with articles appearing in the likes of The New Statesman, Le Monde and La Repubblica. His books have been widely translated abroad. He edits the fiction fanzine Verbal and lives in London.

Reviews

[Bart Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iron Man Material that hits the Mark

There's several things you can say about this book that would be right on the mark.

1. It's a decidedly Christian Book written by and targeted to those familiar with the Promise Keepers/Iron Man movement.

2. As such it is unapologetic in the values it promotes and is designed to promote a value system as well as helpful hints related to parenting for a Father.

3. It is written in response to the idea that a patriarchal or Christian value based family is not desirable and as such it is counter-cultural.

All that said the primary value of the book is not as an apologetics type defense of these values, which frankly, it doesn't really attempt to accomplish, but rather the practical ideas that are given as to how to be a better Man, Husband and primarily a Father.

The chapters are short and the book moves quickly in a stream of conscience type way that throws a constant barrage of practical pointers and ideas. If some of the ideas seem contradictory it is because it is a book of practice, not theory and different approaches in different situations are warranted.

This is not a clinical book. It is written to an intended audience on the assumption that the reader wants the values wrapped around the suggestions. If you're not a part of that intended audience, you may find the book comes across a little condescendingly but then, it's intended to be direct and practical and to hit hard, fast and with intentional focus on elements that are assumed rather than defended.

I frankly found the book to be practically helpful although I wished there were a little more foundation given.

4 Stars. Recommended.

Bart Breen