A Man’s Life

Should a Man Be Inspired by History?

by Brett & Kate McKay

The Art of Manliness makes no secret of the fact that we draw inspiration from the past in order to help modern men live better lives. We particularly pick up tips from my grandfather’s generation, as thinking about his life was one of the catalysts for starting the site. After four years of blogging, I’ve [...]

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Lessons in Manliness from Friday Night Lights

by Brett & Kate McKay

There aren’t too many television shows out there that portray men in a positive light these days. Men on sitcoms are usually dimwitted doofuses or cartoonishly macho. It’s not much better on TV dramas. While I can point to books or movies that inspire me to be a better man, it’s hard for me to do [...]

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The 3 Characteristics of an Educated Man

by Brett & Kate McKay

What defines an educated man? The number of degrees he has? The size of his vocabulary? How many books he’s read? The qualities that constitute an educated man can be argued over and debated. But I was really taken with the description I found in the book How to Live the Good Life by Commander [...]

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The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Warrior

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the fourth part of a series on the archetypes of mature masculinity based on the book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the introduction to the series first. Also, keep in mind that these posts are a little more esoteric than [...]

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How to Quit Mindlessly Surfing the Internet and Actually Get Stuff Done

by Brett & Kate McKay

9 pm. A college campus in the Midwest. Rob sits down to study. His inner monologue: Okay, time to hit the books. I’m really going to get crap done tonight. Let me just sit down here and crack open my giant textbook. Mmmm, interesting, interesting. But I don’t understand this term here on pg. 307. [...]

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Manvotional: Character

by Brett & Kate McKay

From Character, 1881 By Samuel Smiles CHARACTER is one of the greatest motive powers in the world. In its noblest embodiments, it exemplifies human nature in its highest forms, for it exhibits man at his best. Men of genuine excellence in every station of life—men of industry, of integrity, of high principle, of sterling honesty [...]

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Graphing Manliness

by Brett & Kate McKay

Everywhere you look, people are talking about men and manliness. Hanna Rosin argues that it’s “The End of Men,” Kay Hymowitz wonders “Where Have the Good Men Gone? and William Bennett knows “Why Men Are in Trouble.” Network television has gotten into the act with three man-centric and predictably dopey shows: “Man Up!” “How to [...]

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This Too Shall Pass

by Brett & Kate McKay

When I turned 16 years old, I got my first car. A red Isuzu Hombre pick-up truck. Yeah, my first car’s model was named Hombre, the Spanish word for man. Though, Hombre’s weren’t a very manly model of pick-up; they were actually kind of dinky. I really didn’t care. I just saw it as the [...]

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The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Lover

by Brett

This is the third part of a series on the archetypes of mature masculinity based on the book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the introduction to the series first. Also, keep in mind that these posts are a little more esoteric than [...]

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Lessons in Manliness from Charles Atlas

by Brett & Kate McKay

“Let Me Prove in 7 Days That I Can Make You a New Man!” “The Insult That Made a Man Out of Mac” “Hey, Skinny! Yer Ribs Are Showing!” It’s an ad the majority of readers out there can easily conjure up in their heads. A cartoon of a skinny, 97-pound weakling who gets sand [...]

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Manvotional: The Gains of Drudgery

by Brett & Kate McKay

The Gains of Drudgery From The Making of Manhood, 1894 By William James Dawson By drudgery, I mean work that in itself is not pleasant, that has no immediate effect in stimulating our best powers, and that only remotely serves the purpose of our general advancement. Such a definition may not be perfect, but it [...]

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Lose with Dignity. Celebrate with Grace. (Part II)

by Brett & Kate McKay

On December 31, 1967, the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys met on Lambeau Field for the NFL Championship. Later dubbed the “Ice Bowl,” temperatures hovered at 13 degrees below zero, the turf was as hard as rock, whistles stuck in referees’ mouths, and members of the halftime band were sent to the hospital [...]

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The Four Archetypes of Mature Masculinity: The Boyhood Archetypes (Part II)

by Brett

This is the third part of a series on the archetypes of mature masculinity based on the book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the introduction to the series first. Also, keep in mind that these posts are a little more esoteric than [...]

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Manvotional: In an Age of Fops and Toys

by Brett & Kate McKay

In an Age of Fops and Toys By: Ralph Waldo Emerson In an age of fops and toys, Wanting wisdom, void of right, Who shall nerve heroic boys To hazard all in Freedom’s fight,— Break sharply off their jolly games, Forsake their comrades gay And quit proud homes and youthful dames For famine, toil and [...]

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A Primer on Meditation

by A Manly Guest Contributor

Editor’s Note: This is a guest collaboration with my friend and long-time meditator, Jason Marshall. Check out Jason’s blog, Living in the Now where you’ll find practical info on self-development. When you hear the word “meditation,” you may think of Buddhist monks or Hindu swamis sitting with legs crossed and eyes closed, a New age pony-tail guy [...]

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Bookend Your Day: The Power of Morning and Evening Routines

by Brett & Kate McKay

You’re a college student. It’s midnight. You’re brushing your teeth and reviewing how the day went. And you’re disappointed. You had planned to work out, study for an upcoming history exam, clean up your apartment, and find time to meditate. But none of those things happened. You woke up late. As soon as you sat [...]

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Viewers vs. Doers: The Rise of Spectatoritis

by Brett & Kate McKay

The college football season starts this weekend, and I won’t lie—I’m pretty excited. My beloved Sooners are ranked number one in preseason polls, and I quite enjoy settling on the couch on a cozy fall day to watch them play (when they win at least!). But every once in awhile, say when the announcer shares [...]

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The Importance of Trusting Men in Your Circle

by A Manly Guest Contributor

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Wayne M. Levine of BetterMen.org. I lead men’s groups. I’ve seen the obstacles men face in developing trusting relationships with other men. These obstacles come in all shapes and sizes. But what they have in common is their power to keep men stuck…right where they are. The [...]

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The Four Archetypes of Mature Masculinity: The Boyhood Archetypes (Part I)

by Brett

This is the second part of a series on the archetypes of mature masculinity based on the book King, Magician, Warrior, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the introduction to the series first. Also, keep in mind that these posts are a little more esoteric than [...]

36 comments | Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →

A Man’s Life

Should a Man Be Inspired by History?

Lessons in Manliness from Friday Night Lights

The 3 Characteristics of an Educated Man

The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Warrior

How to Quit Mindlessly Surfing the Internet and Actually Get Stuff Done

Manvotional: Character

Graphing Manliness

This Too Shall Pass

The Four Archetypes of the Mature Masculine: The Lover

Lessons in Manliness from Charles Atlas

Manvotional: The Gains of Drudgery

Lose with Dignity. Celebrate with Grace. (Part II)

The Four Archetypes of Mature Masculinity: The Boyhood Archetypes (Part II)

Manvotional: In an Age of Fops and Toys

A Primer on Meditation

Bookend Your Day: The Power of Morning and Evening Routines

Viewers vs. Doers: The Rise of Spectatoritis

The Importance of Trusting Men in Your Circle

The Four Archetypes of Mature Masculinity: The Boyhood Archetypes (Part I)

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