Battle Cry: Waging and Winning the War Within

by Jason Wilson

For decades, Jason was losing the war within--the internal battle that many men wage on a daily basis. He struggled to combat his toxic thoughts and emotions, communicating without composure, and ultimately hurting himself and his loved ones.

When Jason began to release years of unresolved trauma, he learned how to acknowledge his emotions and express them in a healthy way. He discovered that he was strengthened by transparency and vulnerability, which taught him to forgive, trust, and love without limitations.

Soon, Jason's newfound practices began to heal his relationships and transform his life. Throughout his journey of opening up, Jason became a better husband, father, and leader--and you can, too.

Supported by Biblical teachings, the lessons that Jason shares in Battle Cry teach us that we can all be empowered to break through what we've been through. Jason calls us to become better versions of ourselves, equipping us with the mental and spiritual weapons needed to redefine modern masculinity and showing us how to:

*embrace our emotions rather than be ruled by them
*win internal battles before they become external wars
*break free from misconstrued masculinity and embrace our humanity
*communicate more effectively with the people in our lives
*heal trauma from our past in order to live our fullest lives in the present

Battle Cry proves that it's possible to live beyond the limitations of your mind and finally experience the full life you've always longed for. What are you waiting for? It's time to win the war within.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Psychology, Personal Development, Mental Health

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Mars Cheung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad.

I saw some of Jason Wilson's YouTube clips and listened to most of the dialogue he had with Joe Rogan on the latter's podcast.

I wanted to explore more of the issues facing men today, especially in regards to the crisis of masculinity (lacking mentors, fathers, guidance, direction etc...). The book doesn't directly address that in that it isn't an intellectually based read taking a dive into causes and effects based in stats and research. It speaks more to male issues and how to evince health(ier) masculinity. Decent advice presented in the background of the author's story. It does come across with a lot of religious commentary, though the author does make it clear one can explore the messages in the book without having a basis in belief. I wish that had been toned down somewhat but overall, the book was still good.

[KnowledgeSpecter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version. The audiobook was narrated by Jason himself which made the book feel more personal.

Jason went through anecdotes from his personal life most of the time which the lessons derived from. He gave great advice and I like his holistic approach.

It truly was a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed!

key takeaways: every time you fear failure you will fail, strength depends on the physic ability of the body —> power is based on the spiritual rule over the body, suppression leads to depression, in a world that condemns men for being transparent —> bottling up our emotions may seem like the masculine thing to do but it’s not the wisest —> because when life shakes us and the pressure rises our tops will pop —> the mind can only bear so much before it breaks down, the hardest time is not breaking free from emotional incarceration but staying free, “never trust a warrior who cannot cry”, the soul is the seat of our emotions, abort your “shadow” mission and get to working on your real purpose ASAP, stop doing things you’re not comfortable with, rest and dont grind uourself to death —> you’re worth more than just providing money

[Sally Ashmore]

The author listed for this book is linked to an incorrect Jason Wilson. Could someone please rectify this?

[Jantzen Fenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason Wilson is one of the most beautifully honest men I've ever read from. Even if you aren't Christian (I would consider myself at most cautious in belief) there's something in this book for everyone. You don't need to be religious or a man to get good advice from this book, and I think this has the best emotional advice I've ever heard/read.

[Tracy Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/5
This book is intended for men but I think women will benefit from it as well. There are a lot of religious references and I'm not religious but I found the book still made a lot of good points and examined a lot of critical problems everyone faces. It does a great job of teaching how to allow emotions to be released in appropriate and helpful ways. I found this book to be though provoking.

[Anita Standard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this Book, Exceptional read for men and woman, it's a blessing for woman and men of all ages. Inspiring read for today's times. thank you Mr. Wilson

[Dominere Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing less than 5 stars. This book was so great that I’ve got my pops a copy of it.

This book is emotional and like therapy. Definitely a book that I’m keeping on my nightstand.

[Blake E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never laughed harder in my life. Here is an actual excerpt from this book.
"In the movie Avengers: Endgame, Dr. Strange travels through millions of timelines in minutes to find just one answer to beating Thanos, the bad guy. It's a beautiful example of how fast the human mind works"

it's a movie brother.

I was wondering how this book, which has great, uplifting points but is buried beneath TOTALLY TRUE ANECDOTES and convenient relgious rationalizaitons got this good of a rating on goodreads. Oh, what an idiot I am. It's Joe Rogan self-help but for Baptists with great marketing.

I stopped reading after the part where he thinks he assertively chides a waitress for 'ruining his night with her attitude' but actually, guess what, he enlightened her and she served him better because of the bible or something.

Other favorite part: "[His Wife]: I wish you desired to spend time with me like you do with your son"
"[Author]: Be quiet! Don't say anything else!". Yeah, that's EXACTLY how human beings talk and i bet that definitely happened. Or when he enlightened a Deep Sea Charter because he didn't want to jump in water where sharks could be present with an extremely long-winded story about how he is fully enlightened in the moment because he is from detroit or something. The charter then of course left him alone...because he thinks you're a weirdo dude. For a book about reading 'Combat Communication' there's a lot of missed connections.

1 star because I'm proud of myself for stopping near the end when I had enough. I liked some of the stuff and im going to call God "Jah" like a rasta now thanks to this fella. Also it's ok for me to pan this book because Ecclesiastes 867:5309

[David Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt really guilty leaving this book two stars. I really love Jason Wilson: as a person and as the person communicating the message he does. Like a lot of people, I came across him through a viral video on Facebook showing him training one of his students, who broke down sobbing in self-defeat. His firm but gentle fatherly love captivated me immediately. I bought and read his first book "Cry Like a Man," which I loved. I watched more videos, followed him on social media, and listened to many podcast episodes he appeared on (e.g., with Joe Rogan, with Ryan Mitchler, etc.).

When I heard about this book, I was excited and eagerly pre-ordered it. When I got the book, I only got two chapters in and put it down because I was distracted and because it didn't captivate me. I picked it up again and finished it in a day, not because it drew me so well, but because I wanted to just finish it (and it was just an easy read).

As someone that has read a lot of self-help and spiritual classics, engaged in therapy, and support programs, this book really let me down. I had really high expectations. This book read more like someone trying to convince you how worth it is to do your own inner work (which is definitely worth it!). But that's not what the book purported to do! Yet that's what most of it came off as. Even when it came to telling you how to do your work, a lot of it was simplified and cliched anecdotes, sprinkled in with why it's important to deal with your stuff, and then, if you're lucky, maybe a technique. Again, I agreed with everything he said and with everything he suggests. But it was watered down. It was just too easy and shallow. I'd maybe hand this book to someone who is skeptical of doing internal work and has 0 idea of what that work is and why one should do it. An advanced educated lay person would find this book unhelpful at best and a waste of time at worst.

That's one way this book let me down. The other hit the hardest: if you've listened to any of the podcast episodes I mentioned or follow Jason on social media, you've heard everything he's already said in his book. The anecdotes are the same; his explanations are the same. Now, I wouldn't mind if there was more depth added, but there wasn't. I gained nothing new, and I felt kind of robbed. No, Jason wasn't trying to do that. I think he was taking his experiences and writing them down. It just so happened that he also shared those very experiences in podcast episodes so that the book just reflected what he has pretty much said elsewhere.

So if you find yourself in any of the two camps I noted (decently read in self-help or already a follower of Jason Wilson), I'd pass on the book. You can get the same amount of info and help by just following his podcast, listening to the other podcast episodes, and following him on social media. If you want to have a single place where you can refer back to all the stuff he says, then that'd be a good reason to maybe get the book, but even then, I wouldn't do that because much of what he says I've heard elsewhere and put better. Don't get me wrong, there were a few nuggets I found and loved. But not enough to justify sharing this book.

I'm sad to leave this review. I had high hopes and was really let down. I'm still a huge fan, though!

[McHess]

"The topic was centered around saving fatherless boys, but the discussion never caused the root cause of their fatherlessness until I spoke up. 'It's troubling my soul that we've spent almost an hour talking about saving our sons, but we haven't mentioned loving our wives. [...] It's a heart issue. We're supposed to love our wives as our own bodies. We're doing a terrible job because we don't love ourselves.'"

.

This is an interesting little book. I'm not the target audience, but I took a lot away from it.

Jason Wilson seems to be known as the manly emotions guy, but he writes here now broadly. He addresses the struggles men face in culture where the ideal of manhood is one-sided. He doesn't call out toxic masculinity alone and say the solution is for men to ditch all masculine traits because they are inherently bad. Instead, he advocates that boys and young men should develop into what he calls "comprehensive" manhood. Men ought to learn to identify, name, and express their emotions; push through emotional barriers in order to grow; find when emotions are to be followed and when they ought to be controlled; build trust with others; and treat others, especially women, with respect and no objectification.

Sounds pretty great, right?

He also speaks to the classically masculine traits, like physical power, confidence, and aggression. He advocates that these traits are to be nurtured, too, but that they must be directed and executed with precision. Physical power is there to protect and defend yourself and others, confidence is to follow competence and responsibility, and aggression is to be channeled to assertiveness after assessing a situation for the best outcomes.

There's some awkwardness in the writing that comes, I think, from a person who's primarily a face-to-face mentor writing both in that communication style but also trying to meet the perceived demands of "formal writing." Maybe a skilled editor could have helped with that. He's also been deeply molded by his Christian faith, and there's a ton here that is really Christian teaching about strength, responsibility, grace given to others for failings, and forgiveness. For those thinking you can have these ideas without the Christian worldview, you'll have to look to a different mentor than Jason. But seeing how far he's come and how much he's pouring into the lives of young men, helping them heal from trauma and grow as individuals, I'm not sure why you'd want that.

Even with this book's rough edges, there is a lot here to consider about manhood, masculinity, responsibility, and how all people, regardless of gender, age, etc., can grow into well-rounded, emotionally healthy people who develop and use their power for good for their families and communities.

.

"The truth will set us free, not what we want truth to be."

[Donald Arteaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I got this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

If there's one thing I can really appreciate about the author it's his authenticity. He's religious, so this book is filled with religious context and Bible verses. He's also very candid about his past and wrongdoings, and at times I found myself raising my eyebrows at how open he was sharing them. He clearly shows he doesn't want to leave any stone unturned, and I admire him all the more for that.

With that said, I do think the core audience that would get the most out of this self-help book on masculinity would be Christians and those he already teaches in his CATTA martial arts academy. I initially learned about the author from the viral video where he worked with a student, but it was a surprise when I learned the CATTA program is also quite religious-driven.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this in a derogatory way, only that as a secular person myself there's quite a few elements within the book I did not find useful. Nevertheless I took what was useful instead, and I genuinely think there's a lot of wisdom here whether you're religious or not. If not, you may find yourself skimming through biblical references but you'll still get some great pointers here and there (I love his analogy of men escaping "emotional incarceration" and the chapter emphasizing self-care).

And again, it's because of how open and authentic the author is that I wouldn't ask the book be written any other way. He's not catering to a secular audience, and I wouldn't want him to. While the book may not have always been my cup of tea, I know it definitely will be for many others though.

[Tommy Melidones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this book is one of the best I have ever read. Although it is targeted towards men, I believe that people of all genders should give it a read. It has motivated me to gain a deeper understanding of the struggles that women endure in their lives. Moreover, it has taught me valuable lessons about myself, relationships, how men objectify women, God, and the pressures that men face in society. I particularly cherish a few quotes from the book such as "To have a Proverbs 31 woman, you must be a Proverbs 31 man," "A comprehensive man acknowledges all of his emotions so that he can express them instead of being controlled by them," and "Don't let your past unfulfilled desires ruin your present blessings." Although I could go on, I will leave the rest for you to read. I highly recommend that you read this book - it is truly worthwhile.

If you desire to enhance your comprehension of men, their thought processes, and the underlying motives for their actions, then this book is an excellent choice for you. It contains numerous passages that incorporate God and aid in combating the toxic traits that are often inherent in men. It is crucial that we understand/acknowledge these traits so that that can be combatted.

[Schmidt Ionuț · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book for everyone who wants to actually challenge the bad stereotypes of what it means to be a man.

We often hear or read about "toxic masculinity" and yet we rarely find any real advice or direction. I found Jason to be in a good position to talk about this subject. As a skilled martial artist, his words about how to control and judge violent instincts have a certain weight to them. It's important for strong and disciplined men to teach children how to control anger and how to train both their bodies and their minds, and Jason Wilson is the right fit.

It did surprise me however how much he referenced the Bible. But please don't be fooled, regardless of your views on religion, Jason links stories from the Bible as examples of behavior. My favorite quote from him would be "If you're searching for a Proverbs:31 woman, you don't be able to find her until you become a Proverbs:31 man."

Overall, an easy read with a lot to think of after each chapter. Loved it.

[Francisco Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed voice in a World where Men are scarce.

I’ve read much on this topic from other authors, as well as, other books relating to men’s emotional healing. Mr. Wilson speaks from a personal perspective that I can appreciate. Being from a broken family home my self, in inner city Philadelphia, I too experienced many of the same hurts, and disappointments that Mr. Wilson describes. So, naturally this peaks my curiosity, because not many make it out of where we come from whole, healed, and willing to serve the community. I appreciate the practical steps in guiding one to work through daily struggles, and also the vision to continue growing, and working in these topics that are even taboo in most churches today. If you are reading this allow your guard to come down, read this book with a open heart and mind. Allow yourself the love and healing needed to save you from yourself, your loved ones, and your community. Great job sir. Fellow soldier in Yeshua.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for understanding simpiler peace

I am an Officer Candidate for the USMC and found deep meaning and practicality in this book. I saw this book on the USMC Officer/Midshipman reading list and read the 5-star reviews; I had to pick it up. After reading it, I couldn’t help but add to the score.

Overall, Jason does a superb feat by accurately describing the common struggles of the common man and attacks them with a strategy in Christ and lessons from his own life experiences. As a child of a divorced home, I came to understand my emotional restlessness was a product of my unattended past. I struggled with anger, emotional confusion, overanalysis, anxiety, you name it. Though through his story, I am proud to say this book gives me profound wisdom and healing.

Would recommend this book to any man.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Battle Cry” provides living-your-life advice to men, given plentiful stories of the author’s life and scripture. I found the author’s perspective to be the draw here, as he talks about growing up and living in the mean streets of Detroit, being a janitor in a school, running a martial arts school and learning martial arts, and being a non-profit founder. And he provides learning anecdotes from his family life, without sugar coating the bad. His advice is simple and not all that surprising. I felt the author leaned on scripture quotes a bit too often, given his life story seemed so interesting. Overall, “Battle Cry” had flashes of interesting stories, but felt a bit generic in the bible-based life advice provided.

[Reginald Westmacott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for Jason Wilson as both a man and a teacher. He is one of the prominent figures fighting for men to take more responsibility in addressing their mental health, which I think is a critical issue right now. There were certainly sections of this book with good takeaways and it's a quick read. I gave it 3 stars because the writing is poor. Some of the examples he uses to relay his points just seem ridiculous and some of the interactions he reports don't feel genuine or even real. Be warned that this is an EXTREMELY Christianity-based book; as in talking to and hearing the holy spirit on command type of Christianity. So if this is a turn-off for you, you might not enjoy this book.
He has great interviews and youtube videos out there though!

[Z Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up after viewing Jason on Rogan recently, I was drawn to his vulnerability and open discussion of his past mistakes. While I appreciate Jason's earnest attempt to uplift boys and young men, his method of inventing a new meditation technique effectively files him as a false guru type. I don't believe he understands this harmful action so I didn't completely dismiss him, but the quality of wisdom he attempts to share is also lacking and superficial based on Bible quotes and personal anecdotes. I gave him 3 stars for sharing and caring. Jason, I need denser content to give higher ratings, and you should save the meditation for those who can give Self-Realization.

[Malachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it twice, in a row.
I'm not an expert, but I've read and studied quite a variety of self-improvement, therapy, mindset books.
This one does a really great job of utilizing some very well known tools as well as unique methods of application as well as some very unique tools that I've never read about before.
Very clear action-items to work on implementing.
Very compelling and powerful personal stories as examples of the challenges and techniques.
Incredibly insightful.
I have quite a few bookmarks that I'll be implementing into a comprehensive yet concise personalized action plan from this book.
I will read it again and will refer it to others any time.

[Autumn Casto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book for African American men, Mr. Wilson has amazing insights about what is like to live as a Christian. This book has opened my eyes to see what men struggle with on a daily basis and the necessity of being in one with the creator. He gives his life experience in hopes to help others by being transparent. Often times, as a female Christian, the subject of sex is not discussed enough and the book discusses many issues our society faces of being abstinence. Thank you so much for such a beautifully written book. I throughly enjoyed listening to this book on audible, since he narrated it himself. His love and passion for God is obvious to any reader.

[Derrick Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Does It Again

After reading Cry Like a Man years ago, I bought this book. I forgot all about it until last month when my pre-ordered book, The Man The Moment Demands, came in. I opened my Kindle and saw i hadn't read this one yet..lol.

But it truly was not meant for me to read it until now. Battle Cry is exactly what I needed at this junction of my life. My mind has been bombarded from all angles. This book has brought me out of a dark, dark place!!!

This book has been somewhat like therapy sessions for me. One chapter after another, leading me to peace within that I needed!

[Kadmiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this seven times. Loved it!

I truly was touched by brother Jason's transparency in this book. He went places that truly resounded with my own life, and the lives of people I know. I truly hope this is not the last book that Sensei Wilson writes. Is it possible that he may be developing a study guide / workbook for this book. That would be amazing! Thank you, brother Jason. May the grace of the Most High continue to saturate your life and the life of your family. I strongly recommend this book to every man. #keeppraying #keeppreaching #keepgoingfwd

[Aaliyah Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I'm reading this book right now; I'm not quite halfway through, but I can't put it down. Despite the fact that it shines light on men, I believe this book has much to offer everyone. As a 19-year-old woman, the insights, counsel, and resilience I have acquired from just the first few chapters I have read are absolutely transformative. The knowledge I am currently getting from reading this book has expanded my horizons to the point that I find myself making notes in my own journal. You won't regret picking up this book, I assure you!

[Jeremiah Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Wilson's Battle Cry: Waging and Winning the War Within is an exceptional book that delves into the many challenges men face in life and offers guidance on how to navigate these struggles in a healthy manner with the help of God. I am incredibly grateful for Jason Wilson’s willingness to share his wisdom, as this book has helped countless men, including myself, break free from life’s many burdens.

This is a powerful and transformative read, and I strongly encourage every man to take the time to read it. I can confidently say that you’ll come away from it a better person.

[Steven Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great follow up to “Cry Like a Man”, which was good but left me feeling like something was missing. This is the missing piece! Battle Cry provided a strategy to overcome emotional incarceration.

Battle Cry is literally want I’ve been looking for! I was about to start on Emotional Intelligence, but as a black man who’s dealing with or has dealt with allot of topics in this book. This touch on exactly what I’ve been needing as a black man dealing with emotional turmoil.

[Jacob Hudgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixed bag.

Really liked his general tone and challenge to men to learn to be faithful, express emotion, discipline their sexual lives, and forgive those who have hurt them. There is so much work to be done to help men engage with the gospel.

Didn’t care for his somewhat corny Hebrew yells, his argument that Christians who don’t fight others are weak and passive (think Jesus), and his insistence that the Holy Spirit is constantly directly speaking to him.

[Zach Mahassine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably helpful for people who feel confined by traditional masculinity and those men who are discontented with their emotional expression, but this self-help book delivers the most simplistic and obvious approaches to dealing with problems through the lens of masculinity and uses biblical moralism as a guide point, that I couldn’t help feel like I was back in high school and waiting for the rest of the class to catch up.

[Eric C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Cry Like a Man" nearly four years ago and wish I would have read this book sooner. I appreciate the openness and honesty provided, in a non-threatening manner. I have the authors latest book, "The Man the Moment Demands..." and plan to begin reading it to start off 2026. I challenge men, especially men of African decent, to begin with the 1st book and read the books in order; they are
therapeutic.

[Kyle McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very encouraging book. I love the message about man being vulnerable and also strong, that he can react as needed in every given situation. The chapter on rest was most beneficial for me. And I love that the author states plainly the strength he feels from The Most High. I encourage men and boys dealing with trama to read and apply this to their lives.

[Darren Dubose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! Jason provides a guide for Black men to end emotional incarceration. I appreciate how solutions oriented this book provides. Battle Cry seeks to give the tools to provide a new opportunity to THRIVE and not survive. All men need to read to begin to challenge the toxic ways we have been socialized to believe masculinity. Battle Cry is a an opportunity to be free! Thank you, Jason!