The Manual: Getting Masculinity Right

“Al Stewart has given us a robust, humble, vulnerable and straight-talking explanation of the challenges and opportunities for men in our complex and confusing world. For many of us, this is exactly what we need!”

“This is a great book! It’s full of thoughtful insights that challenge cultural assumptions and give a much better story of what it is to be a man. Inspirational. God’s vision for men is powerfully good. A must-read. ”

“Gender confusion and identity lostness is littering our social landscape with an unspeakable toll. Al Stewart’s Manual is jam-packed with biblical fidelity, cultural astuteness and pastoral sensitivity. It’s courageous yet tender. Theologically deep yet accessible. A desperately needed book to rescue men, families, churches and societies for the wholesomeness of life that Jesus beautifully redeems us for. A must for every family and church.”

“I’m trying to raise three boys to be men who follow Jesus and give up their lives for the sake of those around them, as well as working with men—young and old—across the country who are striving to do the same. In a sea of confusion as to what it looks like to be a man today, this is the book I’m going to give them from now on. Clear, biblical and desperately needed.”

“l Stewart has done us a great service by courageously exploring the minefield of 21st-century masculinity. He engages with popular culture, expert opinion and the Bible, while helpfully bringing to bear decades of accumulated wisdom. I found his definition of healthy masculinity to be an insightful touchstone for my own life and relationships. Over the last 20 years, I have stopped reading books like this because I generally come away discouraged. Not this time. I was still challenged, but I was encouraged, too. I could also immediately think of plenty of people I wanted to give the book to, including my sons, daughter, daughters-in-law, and the men’s breakfast group I belong to.”

“Al Stewart has boldly gone where angels fear to tread. He has sought to expose toxic masculinity in all its ugliness and replace it with a biblically grounded, Christ-shaped framework. This book is a call for boys (young or old) to be men of God who understand they are empowered to love, serve, and protect others within the context of their God-given relationships. You may not agree with every point Al makes, but you will be seriously challenged and inspired to reconsider a healthy vision of masculinity.”

“Christian books on masculinity tend to fall into one of two camps. Some are thinly guised Christianized versions of masculinity taken from popular culture and Western stereotypes. And others are so keen to label all masculinity ‘toxic’ that they leave men feeling inherently worthless. Al’s book is neither. In The Manual, he builds a compelling case for masculine identity, grounded in Scripture and supported by social, scientific and psychological research. Al is ready to call out the sins of men, the distorting effects of culture, and toxic masculinity. But he does so without throwing the whole project of being a man under the bus in the process. Instead, he gives us a powerful and practical vision of what restored and redeemed masculinity could look like. A great book for men’s groups, Bible studies, and fathers to read with their sons. Highly recommended.”

“I’m a reluctant reader of men’s self-help books. To be honest, Al Stewart is the person who’s given me a number of them to read over the years, pushing me to reflect on my work, loving my wife, leading my family and being a better boss. I’d much rather listen to a Jack Reacher novel or get lost in a non-fiction history book. But I found myself quickly moving to the next chapter of The Manual. Al has this ability to simply reflect on our current culture and with great care encourage me to man up and make a difference with the people I care about most. Importantly (and as always), he’s pushed me to reflect on God’s word anew. Like Al, this book is practical. Read it with others. Reflect on it. Put it into practice. ”

“As a woman, I think Al Stewart does indeed “get masculinity right”. Power used to serve is a theme that runs throughout the book. In an age where men face so many conflicting messages, The Manual helpfully paints a picture of what it looks like to be an adult man rather than an adult boy. What a blessing this type of man is to all those around him! This insightful, enjoyable and easy-to-read book is helpful for young and old, Christians and those who don’t yet believe. It highlights how truly following the greatest man shows men their value and gives them purpose in life. ”

“I have loved reading this book. It is firmly biblically grounded. It is packed with practical and carefully applied wisdom. It is full of thorough and well-documented research. At no stage does the author leave the reader crippled by guilt. Grace and gospel incentive drive everything. To cap it all, it is entertaining and fun to read. I will encourage many men and women at St Helen’s to read it. ”