Monday, November 3, 2014

Audio Books For Men vs A Hard Copy

 Here's  Bennie Martinez with a book for Christian men obtained from Houston Public Library 
    Finding men reading is always a pleasure.  Something that I have discovered is that the desire for reading a book or seeking out audio books  has grown beyond those included in Bertrand Russell’s famous quotation “There are two motives for reading a book; one, that you enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it.”

    Bennie shown above was looking for a book to feed his desire for spiritual growth and enrichment. We will be on the hunt for more men reading books in the coming weeks.

   More and more people are abandoning turning pages for listening to the latest titles. There are more best sellers being released in a variety of audio formats than ever before.

The categories of books available on audio is expanding by leaps and bounds. Also the number of listening devices  to consume books are growing. Here are a few of them from a recent search.


audio books for ipad
audio books for nook
audio books for kindle fire

If you have tried one of these are prefer one over the other, we would like to hear about it. Leave a response in the comment section.



Wednesday, February 5, 2014

A Book Young Black Men Should Read This Year

There are few if any books that speak real-talk to young men, from Generation Y (1980-2000) that relates to the challenges they face daily.
Their collective bond is hip-hop culture which is heavily influenced by more aural than written communication. It shapes their:
  • fashion
  • music
  • philosophy
These are the young Black, Latino and urban residents that make up a large number of the victims and witnesses of the status quo policing strategies wreaking devastation on generations of families in America.

After hearing about Paul Butler on Book TV, I sought out the reviews and discussions of his treatise to see what nuggets could be mined from "Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice" .

Hip-Hop: There's A Message In The Music

The author displays his wealth of knowledge about hip-hop music by citing intimate details from the lyrics of some of the icons of hip-hop. He breaks it down showing how for decades hip-hop artist have used music to tell the stories about the personal challenges they faced and to bring to the forefront of the country’s discussion several of the important struggles of their generation:
  • predatory policing
  • the politics of the drug war
  • the prison state

These are evergreen themes in hip-hop culture and conversations of young Black men in America.

A Book That Shares Truths On Black Men And The Justice System

Prof. Butler thought he had done a good job of insulating himself from ending up on the wrong side of the un-justice system. He assumed, by leaving the ghetto, any law-abiding African American could escape the reach of the injustices of predatory policing that feeds the mass incarceration monstrosity.

Butler sought the rewards of obtaining the best education possible. He studied hard eventually earning an undergraduate degree from Yale, a Harvard Law degree and got a job as a prosecutor, for the Justice Department.

Unfortunately, in his book "Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice" he is able to give us a firsthand account of the American judicial process from both sides of the coin. While he was a federal prosecutor he was wrongfully arrested and charged with assault.

How To Get Johnny To Read

The book’s conclusion outlines what individuals, communities, and governments could do to bring justice back into the criminal justice system. The “seven ways to take back justice” really present one of the few positive ideas toward fairer law enforcement that could possibly change the world.

The author has produced more than just a good read. It’s a book that's ideal for sharing with:
  • brothers
  • sons
  • young men who hang around you
anyone that is interested in shedding the mainstream media's opinion and really digging beneath the surface of hip-hop culture. You will be well rewarded for sharing this book with them. With emphasis on the sharing.

Don’t just hand it off to them like a quarterback does a football and keep going. Use a book as a way to ignite a dialogue, just as you would a log lighter in a fire place. Read a few pages/chapters yourself and together. It'll provide the fuel you need to get them to enlighten you about the songs, artist and the driving forces that motivate them. It will be like pouring gasoline on a fire. You'll have to watch-out for the roaring blaze. Make sure you come back and tell us about it in the comment section.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

15 Books Every Man Should Read


Ours list of books every man should read is original material. What is being touted these days on other list as collections of the best books for men are most likely to reflect the amount of sales of the individual books. It’s common to find a list of books that are supposed to be for males listed in magazines, on websites and newspapers. What we discovered about what winds up on these types of list are books that publishers spent huge amounts of money to publicize rather than books that may have had an impact on the lives of readers.

Ours list of books we recommend for men is based on our keen observations of what we have seen men are reading as we traveled around. We observed dozens of men reading novels so there are one or two on our list. Men are overwhelmingly readers of non-fiction and the vast majority of the books on our list of books for men are from that genre.

We avoided repeating the same old nonfiction stalwarts and macho novels you find on list by Esquire NY Times and other mainstream publications. We sought out the bright literary works that can empower, engage and engross the masculine cyber-centric minds of the 21st Century males. We didn’t want to use an old list just warmed over. So with post-haste we want to add our two cents to the bulging stack of book list.

Davinci code - Dan Brown. The fact or fiction novel explores an alternate religious history. It spawned a new generation of conspiracy theories, renewed interest in ancient mysteries and historical artifacts.


R.L.Stine often referred to as the "Stephen King of children's literature. He authored hundreds of horror fiction novels, including Fear Street, Goosebumps, and a Space Cadets trilogy. The value in these are not necessarily for the reader, but they are good for men to read and share with their children.


Manufacturing Consent - Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman.. This book is an eye-opening treatise about political systems, the media, and other crucial resources controlling the flow of information we consume.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Indispensable reading for men who want to learn how to focus on the important things and become more effective in work and in life.


The Civil War Shelby Foote. - Southern born and bred Foote is lauded for the way he painstakingly labored to maintain his objectivity in the narrative. He deliberately avoided mythologizing the characters and idioms in this American vs American conflict, in his work.

Malcolm Gladwell - (anything by the author) Gladwell's penchant for research studies, attractive writing style and content have some calling him a minor genius. He makes mundane scholarly data digestible so that we commoners can relate to the incredible findings he documents in his books.

In Search of Excellence - Tom Peters. One of the most widely read business books of all time. It was once the officially listed amongst the most widely held library books in the United States from 1989 to 2006. His lectures and books have shaped how we do business and several generations of businessmen in America
.
Black Theology and Black Power - James Hal Cone. This book spawned the contemporary thought embraced by civil rights leaders and African American theologians that led the Black Church in the 60’s and 70’s. The book articulated what many Black ministers in those decades felt, but were unable or reluctant to express and laid the foundation for what is now referred to as Black Theology.

Power Of Intention - Dr Wayne Dyer. Dyer’s books are not the kind literary works that you will find on required reading list for schools. However they should be because of their ability to empower men to change and be able to get in touch with their true feelings. His writings can provide them with a mantra for inspiration and success.

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell. A book that gave man a look into a not so distant future and fueled a generation of science fiction writers, fans and films . Many of the terms and concepts, from the book such as Big Brother, doublethink and Orwellian are now words accepted into common usage.

A People's History of the United States - Howard Zinn. His work provides a 360 degree perspective on American history that is not found in most historical publications . Zinn addresses contributions by various ethnic groups that many history text take for granted or fail to mention.

Roots: The Saga of an American Family - Alex Haley. A wave of self discovery by Americans of every nationality was launched by the movie from this memorable book. It legitimized cultural pride, heritage and traditions.


Dress for Success - John T. Molloy We learned from Molloy what we always suspected about the effects of our appearance in business situations. It popularized the concept of "power dressing." and is responsible for a chain of Dress For Success outlets. They provide clothing, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide


The Power of Positive Thinking - Norman Vincent Peal. First published in 1952, it stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 186 consecutive weeks, and according to the publisher, Simon and Schuster, the book has sold around 5 million copies

Cthulhu Mythos - H. P. Lovecraft. Known as the Lovecraft Mythos. It is about a shared fictional universe created in the 1920s. The American born horror writer is credited with influencing scores of modern day science fiction and horror writers.

These books and authors on our list of Books Every Man Should Read were chosen because they demonstrated an ability to create change, dialogue and have an impact on 21st Century society. Many of the works are not generally ones that most people would consider for a best sellers list, because they did not achieve monumental sales.

However, they are books that can be identified as literary works that have shaped various aspects of modern thought, ideas and beliefs. We feel that men who read these recommended books will experience positive benefits from these notable publications.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

10 Books On Relatinsships For Men

A good book on relationships for men that many guys probably haven’t considered reading, but should is Steve Harvey's 'Straight Talk, No Chaser. It’s billed as a book for women, however males can get a few take aways' from this book that will help them gain better clarity or improve the way they handle romantic relationships.

We have a few other books on our list to help new relationships, floundering marriages and build better communication for couples.


Veteran comic Steve Harvey dispenses more fodder than real world expertise on dating, marriage and communication for guys and gals. He list 5 questions every woman should ask a man that seem to me more like pickup lines for the world’s greatest liar.


He offer some sound advice by establishing these take away's from the book.


1. Dating is like negotiation, be prepared to walk away in fairly short order if you don't get your needs met.
2. Guys aren't interested in marriage so you have to state it's importance to you and your timeline.
3. Men can't be a strong partner until they are making money and have their own career identity straightened out.
4. Men need and carve sex (no surprise here). If you are serious about a relationship wait 3 months before having sex to make sure he isn't "just kicking it".
5. Look good and carry yourself well if you want a real relationship. Girls in short skirts get the wrong kind of guy.


More good book on relationships for men





What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships

Fighting for Your African American Marriage

The Four Seasons of Marriage

Staying Married: A Guide For African American Couples

Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny

Why Do I Have To Think Like A Man?:

If any one of these good books on relationships for men could benefit someone you know who is to cheap to buy it or seldom reads books here is an idea for you. Purchase the book and leave it lying around where your man, partner or significant other will be tempted to read it. Most books struggle to capture the true essence of male and female relationships. They often defy the sound reasoning used in normal human interactions when encumbered with an amorous relationship, cohabitation or marriage.

The nature of our relationships are too complex to clearly put them into words that everyone can understand. We could always use the old school method of allowing parents to pick our spouses since they can usually view them without the rose colored glasses that can impair the sight of young lovers.

Monday, May 10, 2010

An Old Book For Young African American Men

African American writer Ralph Ellison in front of a bookcase

I've just finished reading a book that's 30+ years old that and deserves a place on every list of books for African American men. I thought I had read this book a longtime ago, but nothing seemed familiar about this edition or this book other than the title.

Black men that haven't read the fourth or any edition of "From Slavery To Freedom" by John Hope Franklin, will remain unaware of some of the important facts about Black history. Franklin reveals some of the crucial threads to the backstory of the modern civil right movement, that's not found in most other books.

He candidly writes about the incredible number of Blacks lynched in America, "more than 100 " in the first year of the new century" 1900. That's a staggering number of murders when you consider that most of them occured in Dixie, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana.

The Black Press At The Turn Of The Century


African American men who read this classic by Dr.Franklin will get a true sense of the collective and individual struggles, challenges and victories that it took to build this nation.

Franklin uses the collective experiences of the Black Press at the turn of the century to tell the story of the tumultuous time period in the 20th century when the American press was often bedfellows with racist elements and complicit in creating racial unrest. One Atlanta newspaper editor went so far as to "offer a reward for a lynching bee" .

"From Slavery To Freedom" yields another old, yet still present part of the American patchwork, where a white woman in Springfield, Illinois, claimed she was assaulted by an Black man. An ensuing riot grips the entire country, leaving in its wake several injured and dead African American men.

Later, when she was questioned by a grand jury, she admitted that the assailant was white and the Black man she had named, had "no connection with the incident".

African American men who read this classic by Dr.Franklin will get a true sense of the collective and individual struggles, challenges and victories that it took to build this nation.

The History of African Dispora in America


Franklin weaves 350 years of the African diaspora into the American fabric. He categorizes the "history of Negro Americans", into 25 neat chapters. Each closely represent the various political and social battles Black men have constantly fought while trying to expel the unfair, negative and demoralizing treatment, images and portrayals of African Americans in society.

The Illusion of Equality



The book is only the fourth of the eight editions of this American classic. It does not sugar coat or deny that to achieve equitable progress in the struggle for social justice, it requires a continuous battle against the illusion of equality.

Dr Franklin ends the book with an uplifting and positive outlook on the 1970's. His treatise documents the fact that African Americans have been and must always be, "active and passive participants in the valiant warfare to destroy bigotry, repression and subjugation" as long as they are residents of the Western and known world.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Good Books For African American Men To Read




Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts, Jr is on my list of good books for African American men. It may be Leonard Pitts Jr's first novel, but it bares the epic trademarks of a "how to" handbook for men or anyone trying to deal with some of the curve balls that life may throw you.

To be frank, honestly, I have to admit, I've not had the pleasure of reading the book.

I begin each quest for a new addition to the list of good books for men, by seeking a book with positive reviews from others,  before under taking most of my literary journeys. At first, I wasn't really impressed with what other reviewers were saying what about Pitt's new book.

By chance, I stumbled across a review on the blog "The Pleasing Spoon" by Tavares S. Carney, that mentioned how the story created an awareness, "to the challenges people face as they age and the emotional turmoil a medical diagnosis can bring".

One would expect a good book for black men to have drama, intrigue or a diabolical plot. Especially,  a book from a Pulitzer Prize winning author. To convey awareness and tackle a issue at the heart of the struggles of modern families is Steinbeckian, Shakespearean and Sinclairian.

It also solidifies the African American author's innate resolve to speak to the hearts, minds and spirits of his readers. Even in a novel. Just as he did in the aftermath of 9-11 and consistently does twice each week in his Miami Herald newspaper column.

It also makes declaring this new novel, a good book for African American men, even before I read it,  a hands down choice. I've linked to Carney's reviews of "Before I Forget" for anyone reading this and not thoroughly convinced to give the book a try.

I should admit one last thing to you. I'm a on again, off again fan of Leonard Pitts Jr., but I'm also the kind of reader who is only game for good reads and not just any old book can get my vote of confidence.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Books - Good Gifts For African American Men

obama autographs

Get A Piece Of American History....Obama Memorabilia

One of the good gifts African American men will value and stop to read are Barack Obama books. They are historic and valuable collectibles.

Signed copies of his books are already selling for thousands of dollars. I can hook you up with Obama books that are reasonably priced. These deals are not going to last and the prices are getting better each day.

A Piece Of American History....Obama Memorabilia

Obama books are worthwhile and inspiring reading and fast becoming sought after collectibles.

Signed Obama Books

Signed copies of his books are valuable keepsakes and make fantastic gifts for men.

We have the only book licensed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee commemorating Barack Obama’s historic Inauguration

Barack Obama: The Official Inaugural Book



Barack Obama: The Official Inaugural Book

Former White House photographers David Hume Kennerly and Robert McNeely captured this historic celebration.

Documents the entire inaugural week. From Obama’s “Whistle Stop” train ride to Washington to his first days in office.

Beautiful photos
moving essays
Great photographic historical account


Get A Piece Of American History....Obama Memorabilia

Invest In A Book Selling For Hundreds Soon May Be Worth Thousands

Barack Obama Historic & Collectible Items
Obama Books sold for 20.00 now selling for hundreds
Signed Obama Books

Limited number signed First PRINTING of First Edition.
Full number line from 10 to 1.
Signature authentication and verification

Some signed copies of his books are already selling for thousands of dollars

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Christian Books For Today's Man

cover of follow the smoke

Christian books for men should provide more than just an entertainment value. Carefully chosen books, will equip Christian men with the tools and techniques to renew their mind, transform their lives and become better husbands and fathers.
I listed a few books that make good resources for men undergoing personal challenges and situations that they feel prayer alone is not enough.

A Good Read For Christians

Check out this book by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker for men struggling with sexual temptations.

Every Man's Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time (The Every Man Series)

It comes with a glowing reviews from Dr. John C. Maxwell, founder of The INJOY Group and Jack W. Hayford, Litt.D., pastor of The Church on the Way and president of The King's Seminary.


A Book To Help Men Who Are Their Own Worst Enemy


An author and pastor who has really been making a honest effort to share his knowledge and anointing with others outside of his congregation. You may have heard about him through his television ministry, podcast and now he is poised to release a new book.

Dr. Bryant's book World War Me can provide answers and solutions for Christian men whose inner man despises authority and balance and is out of control. Especially if your own actions often sabotage the goals you've set and it seems as if you are your own worst enemy.
Expect to hear and see more all over the Internet about "World War Me" when Tywebbin launches the blog tour in a couple of weeks.

World War Me

The Book For Men Who Love Barbecue

I would be amiss if I didn't include something for the man who needs to strengthen his skills on the grill. I recommend Houston writer John DeMers, Follow The Smoke (bright sky press) recently.
This book makes a handy guide. It has little nuggets that could improve any man's barbecue repertoire. Some of the best barbecue joints in Texas gets covered in this book with pit masters sharing one or two tips on how they meld the flavors that have made their cooking and establishments legendary in some parts of the state.

Follow the Smoke

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Do Men Really Need A Christian Book

poster

The Bible has always been and still remains one of the best resources to build principled men. But with such a wide variety of modern diversions, pornography, embezzling, mental, physical and drug abuse being glamorized in the media, a guy could use a little more help to combat these non-Christian images and encourage them to be Christian fathers, husbands and servant-leaders in their community.

Not all men will feel a need to consult a self-improvement book or one for coaching their life. What offers the most hope to get through to a wider audience are the new Christian fiction, sci-fi and fantasy genres.

A Writer Discusses His Christian Father As A Role Model

PETE ABEL posted in the Moderate Voice about how his father endeared himself to Pete, by modeling a Christian character and by being genuine. He noted "my father ignored his disease to make sure that before he died, his wife, our mother, was taken care of: that the finances were in order; that she knew where to find the things she’d need when he was no longer around. He did the same for us, his children, our spouses, and his grandchildren."

He explained "He gave us a way to move beyond statements to actions".

Cary McMullen discussed several father and son pastors in a article in The Ledger, and even though the sons had followed their dads foot-steps into ministry, they were able to maintain their own sense of self-identity. Included in her article were snippets of an interview with Rev. Robert Anthony Schuller son of Rev. Robert Harold Schuller, who recently published a book "Walking in Your Own Shoes," .

Christian Husbands A Modern Topic Of Popular Authors

The role of a husband is another of the duties that many fathers assume during their life time with or without the proper preparation. I don't know why they schools don't or that they even should prepare boys to become husbands.

For sure, it's fathers who lay the ground work for young men to follow as a husband. Girls usually choose a guy whose a similar to her father for a husband. Young boys look to fathers when gathering the know-how they need to head a household, but more of them are consulting books that discuss the character men need as a husband.

Preparing Men To Be Servant-leaders

Whether a Christian or not every father should aspire to be a servant-leader in the community. This is the kind guidance, directions and leadership principles that Christ extolled. It's a attitude of caring, giving and sharing that the world needs more of today.


Rick Warren, T D Jakes and other authors have written Christian books for today's men. Jakes book, He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle can be effective tools to inspire encourage and instruct men how to whole-heatedly embrace the Christian lifestyle and live a sermon instead of preaching one.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Our Privacy Policy

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Sunday, September 6, 2009

Alone With A Jihadist :Blog Tour



Meet Aaron D. Taylor, author of Alone with a Jihadist

Aaron D. Taylor was raised in a Midwestern charismatic church with the belief that Christians had a duty to take up arms in defense of their government and the ideals of freedom. He supported our actions in Iraq and asserted that only one political party was the appropriate home for true believers of God. After a meeting in London with Khalid, a militant Jihadist, Taylor came away with a deep questioning of the ideals that, up to that moment, formed a cornerstone for his theology. In Alone with a Jihadist, Aaron Taylor shares his personal revelation that Christians are not to be supporters of military or other violent solutions to the world’s problems.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Alone With A Jihadist is not just another book about Islamic-Christian relations. It is far more than that. This book may very well be the solution to end all religious/quasi-political warfare.While many fundamentalist/evangelicals tend to ascribe to a Zionist theology, which believes that it is good to be at war with anyone who opposes the Christian right, to expedite the glorious return of the Messiah, there is one crusader, Aaron Taylor, who believes otherwise.Taylor believes that the church has sadly missed the most pronounced message of Jesus Christ, the message of peace.

The very Bible, which Christians read, refers to their founder as The Prince of Peace. Despite this, many Christians support warmongering and unnecessary bloodshed rather than peacemaking. In a room for seven hours with a radical Muslim,Taylor shares the story from his face-to-face encounter, of how Islamic people view the United States of America, our present Administration, and the state of the Christian Church. It is one thing to look at Christianity from a Christians’ perspective, which is typically an altruistic viewpoint, but things change quite a bit when Christianity is viewed through the eyes of Muslims. Taylor says, “Their [Muslims] view is one every Christian must hear!” This is the engaging story of that meeting.

Here's some of my thoughts about the stunning book:
Alone with A Jihadist: A Biblical Response To Holy War

"Alone with the Jihadist" (Foghorn Publishers) is a good book for Christian men. It brilliantly highlights the complexity of the many issues that keep the Arabs and Israelis embroiled in a bitter dispute.

It didn't take long before Taylor realized that Christian Zionists aren't telling it like it T-I-TIS. They support home demolitions and land confiscations, but consider former president Jimmy Carter as anti-Semitic, a heretic, and an enemy of Israel just because he dared to compare the situation in the West Bank and the Gaza strip to Apartheid.
Taylor's gives readers a first hand riveting account of what he's witnessed, not just hearsay. In his attempt to shed a light on a side of the Israeli conflict that doesn't get much coverage in the popular news media.

It's part of his latest mission to share with Christians and anyone that will listen, what he's seen and learned. Prompted by a quote from Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Taylor's activities since returning from his journey to the Middle East shows his plan is to say and do something about what's happening in the Middle East.
Follow the link below to read an excerpt from Alone A Jihadist.

You can order Alone with a Jihadist book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or on http://www.aarondtaylor.com

Follow the Alone with a Jihadist blog tour at http://bit.ly/AloneWithAJihadist

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Books For Christian Men

5 Days Until " Alone with The Jihadist" Blog Tour



Pam Perry(Chocolate Pages, Blog Talk Radio) interviews Aaron D. Taylor, author of Alone with The Jihadist

This months good books for Christian men highlights "Alone with The Jihadist", a personal account that might just end up changing their views of the conflict in the Middle East.

The events surrounding the Arab & Israeli disputes are fraught with moral ambiguity.
An epic debate/meeting was set-up in an abandoned warehouse between the two men. Enter, a 28 year-old evangelist born and raised in Jefferson County Missouri, a rural county outside the suburbs of St. Louis, and Khalid an Irish convert to Islam who had grew up in a Catholic family, and sports fiery eyes, and a grey t-shirt with the words “Soldier of Allah” written on the front.

Seems far-fetched? Not for Aaron Taylor the evangelist who answered the e-mail. “Hollywood Production Company looking for a young missionary that travels the world to participate in a feature length documentary."

Be prepared to learn more about this pivotal encounter during next weeks blog tour that makes a stop at Books 4 Men.

Alone with The Jihadist, is a good book for Christian men to read that will enlighten and informs you on the plight of the people trapped in the middle of a conflict between governments.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Books 4 Men

book cover


I'm really excited, about the changes taking place for Books 4 Men. I have a bunch of stuff to tell you.

For starters, I’m thrilled about some of the new things that are in the works for this blog. I'm working on getting the word out about this fantastic blog designed 4 men.

In addition, I've connected with a Tywebbin blog tours and other members in the book community to try and get some of their outstanding authors to stop by and chat with us about books for men.

It may seem that the blog is moving in all sorts of different directions, but our goals remains the same, to identify and create the best possible resources of information and services for men who like to chill out with good read.

If you have a favorite author who you would like to see here, let me know and I'll do may best to reachout to them.


I thank you for coming along on this journey to a better blog, so stay tuned, because more exciting things are in store for the upcoming weeks and months ahead.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

African American Author Pen's "A New Conversation With Men"

cover for new conversations with men

When men aren't happy, everything around them suffers, according to African American author Michael Taylor's new book "A New Conversation With Men". Taylor's book sets out to inspire men to engage in a new conversation that results in transformation and a genuinely happy life. It's the Texas authors brave attempt to help men remove the hurt and restore the joy and happiness in their life.

First, they have to recognize what he calls, the the five illusions of manhood. Taylor credits these with being some of the root causes for the problems men have creating great relationships and having healthy self-esteem.

The Five Illusions Of Manhood

A man must:

be non-emotional and disconnected;
have status, position and power; have money and material possessions;
use sexual conquest as a gauge for manhood;
and must win at all costs and compete against other men.

These illusions, contribute significantly to issues like; divorce, poverty, domestic violence, drug addiction, and fatherlessness. As a result men end up having a pseudo-personality, that's hard, distant and unfriendly, instead of the loving men God has created us to be and become.

A New Paradigm For Men

The book can help men who are trapped in unhappy lives to wake-up and recognized that there is an important role for them in society. This new paradigm of masculinity for men, challenges male readers to embrace a new identity and become part of a new revolution happening from the inside out.

This treatise is clearly a good book for African American men, Hispanic men or any man who feels trapped by the illusions of manhood. Men from every walk of life are challenged to become part of a revolution of discussions, from a real man's perspective, without the ties that bind them to unrealistic societal roles.

Instead, through this book for men, they can be empowered to converse about the things that really matter in life. The African American author points out that most men are game to talk about weightier subjects, and "A New Conversation With Men" can provide the tools and forum for the dialogue to begin.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Good Books for African American Men: Great Father's Day Gifts

Signed copy of Dreams of My Father

If you need to buy good books for African American men as Father's Day gifts, you should check out the Father's Day book list below. Because lots of the literature that is written for Black men is usually Afrocentric non-fiction or reference books, and few bestsellers fit that bill. I did more than just muse over the bestsellers list. I engaged in some covert research, so the titles I recommend for brothas could appeal to young and older Black males who love to read.

How To Find The Right Book For Father's Day

I conducted a casual or simple observational survey, of Black men I encountered reading, during a week of commuting on the bus. I spied over shoulders and peered under clutched arms to see what kinds of recreational reading brothers were doing. This type of informal survey is usually done prior to beginning a structured observation survey.

You may want to use a similar technique for the bibliophile on your Father's Day gift list. Don't bother skimming through the titles in his library. Find where he stashes the good reads. Maybe on the night stand, his brief case. My stash is on my desk. I keep books there, that I read for inspiration and few I consult for wisdom or fact finding. Make a note of any author whose name appears on more than one book and what subjects constitutes the bulk of the reading material you find. This technique will help you to uncover important clues to the must-read book for any man.

Good Books For Men Who Prefer Magazine

Coffee table books were commonplace in the 60's and 70's, until magazines with slick glossy photos and timely weekly editions replaced them. The photo-supported, larger than life stories in People, Jet, and Time magazines provide the only source of written information for some men.

If the only literature you find during your discovery period are magazines, note their topics and look for anthologies by the same publishers. It takes a little snooping, when your on a quest to find good books for African American men, for Father's Day gifts, but that's one of the things that makes gift giving rewarding, special and fun.

Father's Day Book List: Good Books for Black Men



The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage)


Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know


Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment

Monday, June 8, 2009

Books For Young Men

Author Jesse BAlls

Two books by young men are have gotten this weeks recommendation as books for young men. Jesse Balls, The Way Through Doors (Vintage Contemporaries)
is an inventive love story that is described as an experiment in narratives, by Allen Cheuse in a review for National Public Radio (NPR) on the young author's book.



John Wray's "Lowboy: A Novel
", tracks the journey of a boy trying to escape capture by his mother and the police by riding on a subway.

Sure you need more than the one sentence quotes I supplied to get a feel for the works, but I was trying to avoid giving away the entire book review by Cheuse. Go ahead and listen to his review of these books that I would mark to "buy for young men."

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Good Books For Men

One of the good books for men is, "THE THIRD CHAPTER: PASSION, RISK, AND ADVENTURE IN THE 25 YEARS AFTER 50." Written by Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, the book officially documents leading edge changes in American lifestyles and raises our awareness about paying back and giving forward, loss and liberation, prevalent themes in The Third Chapter.

What Men Are Reading

The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 Years After 50

I value Bill Moyers's literary opinion and any book that has him turning the pages, has to be considered amongst the good books men are reading.



The ties that bind each of the stories together are loose, and free flowing like the jazz improvisations, that are favored by one of the male characters in the treatise, a former newspaper excursive turned musician.

Life After 50.

Dr. Lawrence offers a fresh poignant perspective of how our cohorts thrive after 50 years, (of maturity and former careers) the third chapter of our lifecycle. You'll feel and share the intensity of each character's stage in life, as they are impacted by loss, change and the deepening of their soul.

Feeling “neither young nor old,” is a common bond between the current members of the over-50, under 75 generation. Freed from being mistakenly labeled experiencing midlife crisis, men and women in their third chapter, challenge the establishment's, cultural mores of strength, power, and sexiness.

About Dr. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot


Lawrence, the author of nine books, is an African American sociologist who examines the relationships between culture and learning styles. She has researched and written about the culture of schools, illuminating with her unique style the dynamics involving the patterns and structures in classrooms.

You can view more Books by Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
on Amazon. I highly recommend for your viewing pleasure, that you watch the 1988 video archive of Dr. Lightfoot's enlightening discourse on schools with Bill Moyers.

If you take a plunge into this title, leave me a comment on whether you agree or disagree that The Third Chapter is indeed worthy to be included as one of the good books for men.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Books For Young Men-How To Convert Your Book Burner



If you need books for young men that threaten to burn books, (I've been there and back, got the T-shirt and the hat to prove it,) you'll love this story from Veronica Chater's blog. The memoirist, novelist and radio journalist shares a open and poignant discussion she had with her 15 year old son who hated books.

It'll give you ideas on how to open doors to the written world to tweens, teens or males.
It presents conversation starters to get your discussions going with others that you want to share books with.


If you still want to choose a book after you've read her story read it again. To make a difference in someone's literary life let them pick their own book.

Turn them on to unique places like this, where each book is selected because it rises above the noise to speak to young and mature men to allow them to connect with books.

Meanwhile, Kathleen Baxter, a retired Anoka County librarian and national expert on what makes boys read or choose not to, had this to say, over at Startribune.com "Reading what you have to read is not how you become a reader. Let them read what they want." Amen Kathleen!

That's what has worked best for me. Many of my friends(men)feel that books will disconnect them from their roots. However novelist, poet and playwright Ishmael Reed's quote, is living proof that you can read books become successful and remain firmly rooted. Despite his world wide acclaim he still lives in North Oakland;
"I’m still invested in the community"
said Reed, in the San Francisco Examiner, 1998.

One of life's greatest gift is that we are all subject to change with the seasons (that includes men). And fortunately time keeps on moving, so that our life produces different scenes.

Read Veronica's blog, How I Converted A Book Burner.

Carouse our book list and review the selections of books for young men (and older models too,) chosen because of their man-friendly subject matter and writing styles, that even the book burner(s) in your family will be delighted to read.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Finding the Right Books For Men




Are you trying to find the right book for a man, so you can introduce a guy, your son, brother, or friend to the pleasures of reading. It'll be a lot easier if you know what kind of stuff men read. I put together an informative piece about finding good books for men that reveals some key things about the habits of men readers.

46 percent of the men admitted they lied about what they had read to impress a friend or potential partner.

They tend to read at a pace that only a snail could envy.

Male readers only consume a small percent of this genre of books.

What subjects men read most.


I'll leave you guessing on some of the answers, so you can read the article Finding Good Books for Men and get the answer to those questions and find out more about the books men like to read.

Friday, May 1, 2009

7 Business Books For Men

There are few things than can compare with business books, for men who are looking for fresh ideas, inspirations and insight. You can forget about finding an all-in-one book, it requires a 360 degree view, covering every angle, to stay on top of the game.

If for any reason there is nothing on this list of books for men that can address the issues that you encounter in your day to day experiences, I have a few other list that you can dive into.


Take a look at these books. Between the seven of them, they've harnessed all of the best-practices for running a business. They belong in the library of any serious entrepreneur, Christian businessman or freelance consultant to thumb through at will, to give that added boost your creative juices.

21 Great Ways to Manage Your Time and Double Your Productivity


This Brian Tracy best seller shares sound advice on how to get more done in less time. It will become you personal instruction manual. You'll learn how to knock out each detail of your projects in no-time flat.



What were the keys to the success for some of America's brightest achievers, Gladwell dug into their background, researched the facts and provides clues to how you can find the keys to your success.



The Heath brothers, not the notable musicians, but Chip and Dan a pair of authors, have created the ultimate virtual text of how you can infuse your ideas and products with the right stuff, so they'll stick like glue.




This sequel to the 1967 best seller will enlighten you to ten simple, reasonable "Vows of Success." Mandino books are not just good reads, but even better if you apply them and to your life-experience.




Covey relates his tremendous message in way that's easy to read and can potentially have a powerful impact on your future. Everything in this book, if used as a guideline in your personal life, can empower you with the highly effective habits we all need.



Insider tips from a former banker and entrepreneur. If you want to turn your big idea into a business, this is the book for you? It can be as easy as, plan your work and work your plan.



This marketing classic has benefited untold masses of sales/marketing professionals and launched a legion of guerrilla marketers upon the universe. This book is on my list and one of the all-time best business books for men.

Related Post


Guide to Best Books For Men