Fiction for When Masculinity is on the line: The three books all men should read at least once in their lifetime

There are three older books which I believe all men should read, and the sooner the better.  I really don't know how many times I've read and reread them, but I can't encourage these books enough.  Any of these three books can be read in one sitting, they are surprisingly short, concise & compact, captivating tales and they are extremely engaging.

 Before I share the titles, I'll share the "why."

Men, in case you haven't noticed, masculinity and manhood are under attack -- continually.  If masculinity isn't what's on the line, manhood is often misunderstood, and this deficit has left a generation of men confused and wounded.  In fact, I would not be surprised if these book I'm recommending were banned in the very near future. 

The themes in these books fill in the blanks where today's society has left a void.  These books correct the cultural-emasculation of men and they celebrate what makes manhood special.  Men, we are being shamed & bullied into thinking some of the primal instincts God endowed us with are criminal or corrupt. 

These books will inspire because these books overlap essential topics & themes regarding what being a healthy man who is confident and capable feels like.  Topics are what make men strong and confident, topics like the value of mentoring (Santiago), the value of true male companionship (George & Lenny), and knowing full and well men have what it takes -- we have the ability to endure any challenge life throws our way despite harsh climates or nearly being crushed by brutal oppression (Denisovich).

Here are my suggested titles:
"The old man and the sea" Ernest Hemingway.
"Mice & men" John Steinbeck
"One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich" Alexander Solzhenitsyn

In a day & age that leaves men feeling inadequate and confused, these books are like road-maps for those who have lost their way in their quest to becoming men. These old books celebrate embracing some of the essential masculine traits that have been suppressed for too long. 

It's hard to be good husbands & fathers when we are confused about what being a man is all about.  When men lose their ability to express and develop the traits that strengthen and embolden us, when masculinity is obliterated, it's not just "men" who will suffer, I believe the family-unit will collapse and then society's destruction will follow shortly after.

Why men need to see The Revenant

I went with several guys from church to see The Revenant today.  I was a little uncomfortable with the gratuitous language, but it was such a powerful movie, I have to recommended it, especially to the men.   Ok, from here on out there might a plot spoiler or two.... you've been warned.

Here's why men need to see The Revenant:

There should be a powerful bond between fathers & sons, and in this movie the bond between Glass and his son Hawk drives the whole plot.  For some reason, whether it's work or plain being lazy, too many dads today lose out and their sons suffer the loss because we've neglected the most powerful resource for a healthy society, that being, strong relationships between fathers & their sons.  This movie really does a great job of showing the power of the bond.

Next, The Revenant reminds us how weak manhood is these days.  The tough as nails character of Glass who is mauled by a grizzly and then treks through the mountains in the winter after being left for dead, suffering unimaginably, highlights how we've emasculated men in our culture.  Men aren't taught how to be tough, in a healthy way, and we've raised a generation of wimpy men.  You don't have to brawl, abuse others, be a philander, or be mean to be tough (None of which describes Glass's character, he is gentle and loyal, and an honorable man).  But to survive what Glass did, you have be tough. We simply don't value masculinity in our culture.  Not one single sitcom, or movie (shaping our perspectives culturally)  in recent decades encourages men to be men.  

Next, The Revenant reveals how wicked and evil bullies are.  The antagonist, Fitzgerald, is a bully driven by greed and selfishness.  The group of trappers Fitzgerald is contracted with allow him to push Glass around before he's even injured, and once the group leaves Glass in Fitzgerald's care, things get even worse.  When any group tolerates a bully, the whole group will pay.  There is power in community, and people need to band together and reign in the bully in the group.   

And, The Revenant offers a good reminder of the bankruptcy of racism.   The avenue we see this played out through is the relationship between the Native Americans, and the corruptness of the French fur traders, and the way that Fitzgerald demonizes Glass's son who is biracial, half Anglo-Saxon, half Native Indian.  I don't think we can have enough reminders of the deficit caused by racists in our culture.  

So, the movies is bloody, violent, and raw, and yes you need to see it, it will do wonders for your character to see it.  Why?  The final point I'll make from The Revenant is the fact that revenge never will satisfy.  When Glass finally catches up with Fitzgerald who has killed his son and has left him for dead, right before Glass is about to kill Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald says something like, "You came all this way to get your revenge?  I hope you enjoy it, because it won't bring back your son."  I won't spoil the scene and tell you what happens next, but the movie does a great job of reminding us that revenge isn't the path to travel.