Hawley’s book, in contrast, is not fearful in the least and it was a joy to read. It celebrates manhood in all its glory and looks at what gives men’s life purpose and meaning. Though he draws on ancient wisdom from the Greeks and Romans and from the Bible, much of it is pertinent to what is happening today. Masculinity is now viewed as toxic and something to be destroyed. Manhood takes the position that the virtues of men such as courage, purpose, character and helping the world become what it was meant to be matter. That men’s work and life matter. That is a big lesson in a society that tells us that men’s lives are trash, that they are responsible for the ills of the world.

For the positive attributes of masculinity, I applaud him. However, much of what Hawley proposes, such as duty, honor, and bravery require some degree of cooperation from others.