A year ago this month, I attended the MOPs Convention with a handful of gals from a local group.  While we were there, I signed up to be part of a review panel for new books published by Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing.  The deal is, I occasionally receive emails containing the title and description of a book.  It could be just about any kind of book… Christian fiction, parenting, homemaking, self-help, etc.  If it looks like something I’d like to read, I respond to the email, and a few weeks later, my book arrives.

Since I have two boys, this book practically screamed my name.  I read “A Man in the Making: Strategies to Help Your Son Succeed in Life” by Rick Johnson, and loved every word.  The back of the cover says:

As a boy grows toward manhood, his parents can instill in their son the values and character traits needed to succeed in life.

Highlighting famous Christian men throughout history and the character trait that made each an outstanding model of manhood, parenting expert Rick Johnson gives moms and dads intentional strategies to help mold their sons into honorable men. The book includes men such as
•Martin Luther King Jr.
•George Washington
•John Wooden
•Abraham Lincoln
•Jedediah Smith
•Benjamin Franklin
•Leonardo da Vinci
•and more
With the understanding gleaned from this insightful book, you can positively influence your son’s life – in a way that will last him a lifetime.

Admittedly, I own a couple other titles by this author, but haven’t read them yet.  However, this book will be put on my “read over and over again” shelf.  And I’ll be getting to those other titles ASAP.

Hello!!!  What parent doesn’t want their son(s) to grow up to be men like those listed above?  I mean, sure they all had their faults, but Johnson’s presentation of these historical heroes is intriguing and relevant.  While I’m not a father, I am the one who spends the most time with my two young boys, and I found every section in this book littered with inspiration and practical application.

Each chapter provided an interesting, brief biographical description of a “great” man from history who exuded admirable character traits. I enjoyed learning about these from a specific perspective (such as honor, duty, or perseverance) and appreciated Johnson’s take on encouraging our boys to grow up emulating men like these instead of rock stars or emasculated TV personalities.  Historical information can often be dry and difficult to sort out, but the author’s concise, focused descriptions made it easy to take in.  Once the “character” is introduced, each chapter goes on to describe why the particular characteristic he exuded is important, and how we can be intentional about guiding our boys toward it.

Simply put, if you are the caretaker of young boys, you must read this book.  In fact, you should buy more than one copy and give them as gifts for other families.  And keep your highlighter nearby because this book is one you’ll want to refer to man times throughout your parenting journey!

Available August 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Disclosure: I was provided a free copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.