The Real Man's Handbook: 12 Commitments of a Real Man

by Larry Winget, Chris Widener

There was a time when everyone knew what a real man was… now, with changing times, values and roles, many men struggle with what it means to be a “real man” in the 21st Century. What does a real man look like? How does he act? What are his values and morals? What role does a real man play in society? The 12 commitments that Chris and Larry share cover the gamut of life, from family, including your spouse and children, work, health, finances, service, and friendships. This little book is thought-provoking. It will both challenge you as well as encourage you. Most importantly, it will cause you to think about what kind of man you are and what kind of man you can become.

Genres: Self Help, Audiobook, Personal Development

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2018

About the author

Larry Winget is a motivational speaker and writer on the topics of money, personal success and business.

Reviews

[Jen Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a woman struggling with trying to rein in her own misandry, I saw this and wanted to give it a shot, curious to see where men would be coming from when motivating other men to be "real" men. I did go in open-minded and I was at least not put off by the toxic masculinity that turned me into a misandrist in the first place, so I'm relieved to say that I didn't feel inclined to stop reading.

That said, Larry's first section was really hard to get through. To put it bluntly, it completely reeked of white, financial privilege and I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes, especially within the section about money. Hey Larry? Not all men are afforded the same opportunities at education or physical ability, or location and those are some of the biggest things that might hinder a person, male or otherwise, to earn more money. Additionally, most people who have been trapped in low-wage positions will tell you that the nonsense spouted about earning more by producing a better product/service is a theory called meritocracy and, while it sounds lovely, it doesn't exist in all the nooks and crannies of capitalism so... This section was half-useful advice and half-rich guy bootstraps drivel.

Chris's contributions, however, were fantastic and really enlightening. If more men like Chris were able to reach more men, in general, think there would be a lot more "real" men in the world. (The quotations are because, what does "real" even mean in this sense? The concept is good but the verbiage could use a little work)

All in all, a decent read. Short and to the point and, thankfully, exceeded my expectations for what the tone was going to be based on the title alone. This book was hardly a masterpiece and definitely could use some work tonally on Larry's part, but I would recommend it for my brothers or dad or male friends to read, sure.

[Kamal · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب بديهي تماما، بس الدنيا خربانة وما بقاش فيه بديهيات ولا نيلة.

الكتاب بيتكلم عن الدور اللي مفروض يقوم بيه الراجل كقائد وداعم ومسؤول.

أختلف مع الكتاب فيما يخص العمل فقد، لأنهم بيشجعوك تبقى عبد وتشيل الشركة فوق راسك وتغير لابن المدير البامبرز!

[Phillip Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. If I had to sum it up in one sentence it would be this. This book teaches men the importance of living every part of their life with integrity.

So many teenagers and young men can benefit from the wisdom in these pages. The world is in desperate need of real men, not children that are in grown bodies. Women are not interested in marrying and then raising a 30 year old boy while she waits for him to become a man and they sure aren’t into abusers. I wish this book was taught in our school system instead of some of the garbage they teach now. Our children would be better off.

However, in the end it is up to men to teach their children to be men.

[Donnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Save yourself some time and just read the table of contents. There is not much in the way of substance here. It feels like a "money grab." The 12 Commitments are all good, but it's all just common sense. I listened to the audio version and that is just painful. The supporting commentary for each of the commitments reads more like a list of things that irritate the author.

[Norm Konzelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A booklet rather than a book.
Make right commitments. Keep your word.
If you would like to invite a wizened and a bit crusty older man to sit down and speak to you with wise advice, you could do a lot worse.
Doesn't waste words.

[Chianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a dude but I was curious what they tell each other. Mr. Widener is MUCH more palatable (knew he quoted the Bible and was likely a Christian - the kind type not the vitriolic type as evidenced by his dig into your own faith) 😂 and Winget more blustery and obnoxious in delivery(clearly a black and white binary thinker with little if any empathy for how struggles impact people)…but there were some good nuggets.

Not a bad filter to use to sift out the sorry dudes.

I was expecting some lame wing eating alpha male manifesto nonsense 🤣 but was pleasantly surprised.

[cypher · Rating 4 out of 5]

came accross this by accident. nice short book-manifesto.
establishing core values, respect for others, mastering finances, excellence in work and adding value, serving the greater good, personal growth, being grateful, self-care, being a leader, being a good father and husband, friendships, responsibility, rising up to commitments.
things applicable to both men and women, a handbook for people.

“become a revenue source, not just an expense”, “there are more than enough takers in this world, and what we need is more givers” - nice quotes.

[Pankaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: Between 2.5 to 3 stars, rounded up to 3.

I hate it when the authors have a didactic way of writing; this book is a prime example of that. I don't disagree with the what author says in the book; in fact, I largely agree to it, but the way of writing is pretty negative and didactic(at least that's what I felt) which makes it slightly unpleasant for me. Author should avoid presenting their personal opinions as indisputable facts, no matter how right they seem.

[Robert Kinsler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and to the point. Authors narrative the audio book so that's a nice touch. Nothing ground breaking but several good reminders. A few items could use a rethink when it comes to where men fit into the world and the role society wants us to play and what a man individually may desire and how you might balance that.

[Nicky Billou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is profoundly important for men to read. In an age where all too many men feel lost and unsure of how to conduct themselves and lead meaningful and powerful lives as men, this book is a shot of adrenaline with a dose of clarity to help them navigate those treacherous currents with confidence. Thanks Chris and Larry for putting together this important work.

[John Galipeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book a mixed bag. The c0mmitments themselves are good, but the overall tone is very negative towards the world. Perhaps I look through the world with a different lens, or perhaps I am farther along the lines with some of these commitments than I expected.

[Daniel Noventa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Not specific to a man, but a person of conviction and substance.

[Gabriela Bazan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than I expected. I admittedly worried about the introduction, but it was worth pushing past that

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenging kick in the rear

[Jack Bagnall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new here, really.

[CA Ram Melam · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the 12 twelve commitments are highly valuable.

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, insightful, and straightforward book for men who are looking to level up. I enjoyed this book.