A Book Review: Man Up (21 Lessons Every Man Needs To Know About Manhood)

Honorable men are the fiber of a robust society. And if we are to create a robust nation, we must start with our own men.

Man Up is a book about stepping up as a man. But what does it mean to be a man?

To man up means to be responsible, to be accountable, to be answerable, to be in charge, to be in authority, and to be liable for every decision and action we make both for ourselves, for our family, and for others. To man up means to take the role in providing wisdom, direction, and love for those around us.

It takes a big dose of courage to fully embrace our calling as the man that God has called us to be. However, until a boy learns to own up to his responsibilities in life, he's just, well, a boy, no matter where he is in the season of his life. The true measure of a man is found in one's capacity to own up to his word and action without finding fault in others.

If you're trying to find a resource on manhood, this book is for you. No, it doesn't teach a person everything he must know in life, but it's a good start. It's a book that talks about purpose, character, courage, wisdom, and leadership—five important traits every man and soon-to-be-men should know.

The lessons in this book are building blocks of character. The more a person practices them, the more stable he becomes. And the good thing about it is that it can be passed on to another. This is the beauty of mentoring—the process can be replicated.

This book is not meant to exhaust all the qualities of true manliness, but it wishes to start a conversation with other men in hope that this conversation would fuel a movement of men mentoring men who are after God's own heart.

The lesson in this book are full of biblical references, but one needs not to be a Christian to understand the lessons in each chapter. However, if you are to maximize the benefit of this book, you must be willing to read the Bible.

There are twenty-one chapters in this book, one for each year of maturity as, tradition asserts, a boy assumes manhood when he reaches that age. These precious lessons are divided into five sections. Each section represents a sphere in a man's life that needs to be developed or where a boy needs to man up.

The first section talks about the purpose and what it means to develop a moral direction and accountability. The second section is concerned about character. It will address important issues like discipline, honor, respect, self-control, and responsibility. The third section focuses on courage and where it matters most, such as confrontations and crisis. The fourth section discusses wisdom in life and what it really means to live with meaning. And finally, the last section talks about leadership and the importance of leaving a trail behind for others to follow.

A Little Tip On How To Use This Book!
​
The best way to go through this book is to read it one chapter at a time with other men (with your life group), preferably over pizza, barbecue, or coffee. Each chapter is short and easy for any dude to read and reflect on. 

About The Author

Dr. Jason Richard Tan, Doc J to most, considers himself a practical theologian and a pastor. He has written in the field of missiological studies for the Trinity Journal, ATS Theological Forum compendiums, the Journal of Asian Evangelical Theology, Journal of Asian Mission, and the Evangelical Missions Quarterly.
​
He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology, an MDiv from Alliance Graduate School, an MTh in Theological Studies at the Asia Graduate School of Theology, and a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL, USA).

His ministry experiences include teaching, preaching, writing, and administration. He is currently president of Great Commission Missionary Training Center (GCMTC) in Antipolo City, which offers missionary training preparation both for short-term and long-term cross-cultural missions work. He has over 10 years of full-time pastoral experience with the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP).