From the category archives:

A Man's Life

Lessons in Manliness: James J. Braddock

by Brett & Kate McKay

Boxing has always lent itself to metaphor. The idea of two men, squaring off toe to toe, battling with only their fists becomes an easy stand in for the life struggles of every man. Perhaps no boxing story has transcended the literal nature of the sport to become a grand symbol more than the story [...]

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The Hemingway You Didn’t Know: Papa’s Adventures

by Chris

“Never confuse movement with action.”
-Ernest Hemingway

Nearly fifty years after his death, Ernest Hemingway remains a commanding presence in the literary world. His works annually sell well into the seven figures, and several of his astounding 27 books and 50+ short stories are considered to be masterpieces of American literature. Even the finest works of fiction [...]

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13 More of the Worst Products for Men Ever Created

by Brett & Kate McKay

One of AoM’s earliest and strangely most popular posts (people just pretend to like our serious stuff-they really want to know more about chest hair toupees) was a post we wrote called the 10 Worst Products for Men Ever Created. Since people had so much fun checking out the wacky products of yesteryear, we decided [...]

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Making a Difference

by Antonio

Civilian Conservation Corps, Oregon
A man walking on the beach saw a child reaching down to pick up small objects and then throwing them into the ocean. He called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?” The child looked up and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, [...]

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Modern “Neurasthenia:” Curing Your Restlessness

by Brett & Kate McKay

At the turn and beginning of the 20th century, life was changing rapidly for Americans. People were moving from the farm to the city and taking jobs in the new industrial economy. Consumerism as we know it today really began to take root in society. Where most people had previously made the things they needed [...]

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Lessons in Manliness from Gene Kranz

by Brett & Kate McKay

Editor’s note: Today as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon, our thoughts often turn to the heroic astronauts who walked on lunar dust. But the men on the ground were just as essential to the success of the landing, maybe none of them more than Gene Kranz, Flight Director [...]

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Mankind’s Greatest Adventure: Celebrating the Men and Mission of Apollo 11

by Chris

40 years ago today on July 20, 1969, a decade of preparation and centuries of imagination culminated in man’s first steps onto a celestial body other than Earth. As Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder of the Lunar Module Eagle, he uttered the timeless words that would forever stand as testament to mankind’s ability to [...]

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In Praise of Sprezzatura: The Compleat Gentleman Giveaway

by Brett & Kate McKay

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Brad Miner. Mr. Miner is the author of The Compleat Gentleman. For a chance to win his book, see the details below.

What was once called sprezzatura, a wonderful word coined by the sixteenth-century writer Baldassare Castiglione, is a kind of graceful restraint that is an elemental characteristic [...]

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100 Must See Movies: The Essential Men’s Movie Library

by Brett & Kate McKay

For whatever reason (most likely the fact that viewing is easier than reading), films don’t seem to get the same kind of cultural respect as books do. Which is a shame because excellent movies can be just as entertaining, mind-expanding, and life changing as good books. Scenes, characters, and quotes from the greatest movies stay [...]

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The Art of Letter Writing: Stationery

by Brett & Kate McKay

We previously began a series of posts on the lost art of letter writing. In hopes of resurrecting this splendid tradition, we will be presenting various posts on all the ins and outs of classic correspondence. Today we cover the foundation of the art of letter writing: stationery.
If you are writing a casual letter to [...]

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Lessons in Manliness from Winston Churchill

by Brett & Kate McKay

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Jonathan W. Thomas. Mr. Thomas runs the world’s largest Anglophile blog – Anglotopia – which has become a gathering place for Anglophiles all over the world. You can connect with him on Twitter as @jonathanwthomas.
As an ardent Anglophile, I have a lot of respect and admiration for [...]

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Motivational Posters: George S. Patton Edition

by Brett & Kate McKay

George “Old Blood and Guts” Patton was a four star generally who ably led American troops during World War II. In his 36 years of distinguished service to the military, he earned the Purple Heart, 2 Distinguished Service Crosses, 3 Distinguished Service Medals, 2 Silver Stars, and several other decorations as well. Patton was as [...]

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The Essential Adventure Library: 50 Non-fiction Adventure Books

by Chris

Following up on our recent look into the world of fictional adventure literature, we now turn to the true life tales of exploration, adventure, and survival against all odds that have inspired countless readers for generations. Unlike their fictional counterparts, these riveting tales of conquests and ill fated journeys are completely true, and stand as [...]

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15 Manly Smells

by Brett & Kate McKay

Smells can conjure up some powerful memories. The smell of pine needles can take you back to childhood Christmases or the smell of a laundry detergent can remind you of home. For me, there are certain smells that I’ve come to associate with manliness. Whenever I smell them I think of my dad or grandpa [...]

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The Essential Man’s Library: 50 Fictional Adventure Books Edition

by Chris

Nothing speaks to the heart of man like a good tale of adventure. Whether in the form of a bedtime story read to young boys or a nail biting page turner that keeps you up at night, the adventure story is one genre of literature that stays with you for a lifetime. The [...]

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