art-of-manliness

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18 Things Every Man Should Do This Fall

F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” We believe it. Fall is our favorite time of the year. It’s a season where things are dying and transitioning into dormancy. But there’s also a last gasp of physical and psychic energy in the air. It’s like our minds and bodies know that we’ll soon be holed up for the winter and need to get out and get stuff done — and have a whole lot of fun — before the cold weather arrives. It’s harvest time! To help you make the most of this fall, we’ve put together a list of 18 things every man should do before the leaves are all the way off the trees. Complete each one before the winter solstice, and you’ll have created a bunch of memories to get you through the cold, dark months ahead. Let the fall adventures begin! There’s something satisfying about plucking a crisp apple straight from the branch. Find a local orchard and take your family to fill up baskets with a haul of fruit that can be bitten into directly or turned into apple crisps. While you’re there, see if they have a slingshot you can use to launch fallen/rotten apples into the air. In many areas of the country, fall is when state fairs are held. And, by our lights, they’re must-do affairs. Where else can you see prize-winning pigs, eat deep-fried Oreos, and buy airbrushed t-shirts of Tweety Bird all in one day? Take a spin on the Gravitron, try your luck at the midway games (here’s how to win 5 of them), and pet a goat. It’s a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells that only comes once a year. When the leaves start falling, it’s time to break out a big pot and get your chili game on. Better yet, round up your buddies for a chili cook-off (and a debate over whether beans belong in the mix or not). Winner gets bragging rights and a bellyful of everyone else’s attempts. Sure, it might seem childish, but who says being a grown man means you can’t have a little fun? Raking leaves is a necessary evil of homeownership, but it comes with a built-in reward. Once you’ve got a decent pile, take a running start and dive right in. The satisfying crunch, the earthy smell, the feeling of being covered in foliage — it’s fall distilled into one light-hearted act. Fall and football go hand-in-hand. There’s a raw energy to game day you can’t replicate — the anticipation in the air, the sea of team colors, the collective holding of breath as the ball sails towards the end zone. This season, make it a point to catch a game in person, whether it’s your college alma mater or the local high school team. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan, the sheer spectacle of it all is worth experiencing. Don’t miss out on the year’s only chance to turn produce into luminescent, hand-carved art. Rather than picking up your orange gourd from the bins outside a big box store, head to a veritable pumpkin patch to make your selection. Then, when it’s time to carve, mix things up and challenge yourself a bit. You can find plenty of pumpkin carving designs online, including these 6 manly stencils we’ve got available here. And don’t forget to roast those pumpkin seeds. Waste not, want not, gentlemen. Fall’s prime time to get out in the field, whether you’re after deer or ducks. Hunting requires patience, skill, and a healthy dose of respect for the great outdoors. If your hunt is a success, you’ll have a freezer full of meat that will last you all winter. And if you come home empty-handed? Well, that’s why they call it hunting. Pursuit is happiness! As the air gets crisp, it’s time to build up that woodpile. Grab your maul or splitting axe and get to work. There’s something truly satisfyingly about taking an axe to a log — the rhythmic thwack and the gratifying crack as it gives way. Not only does splitting firewood get you practical results, but it’s also a good workout to boot. Be sure to read our guides on how to correctly split firewood and how to stack and store it. Growing up, one of my family’s fall traditions was to put… http://dlvr.it/TDdXjV

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Podcast #1,025: The Life and Legacy of Louis L’Amour

With over 300 million books sold, Louis L’Amour is one of the bestselling authors of all time. All 120 of his books remain in print. But the greatest story L’Amour ever penned was his own. He spent the early part of his life traveling in a circus, working as a lumberjack and miner, circling the world as a seaman, winning over 50 fights as a professional boxer, and serving in WWII. Today on the show, I talk about both the personal and professional aspects of Louis’ life with his son, Beau L’Amour. We discuss some of Louis’ adventures and the autodidactic education he gave himself by way of a voracious reading habit. We then turn to how Louis got started as a writer and how he cut his teeth writing for pulp magazines before breaking through as a Western novelist and becoming a blockbuster success in his sixties. Resources Related to the Podcast * Louis L’Amour works mentioned in the show: * Education of a Wandering Man: A Memoir * Hondo * Yondering * No Traveller Returns * The Walking Drum * Last of the Breed * Louis L’Amour’s Lost Treasures, Volume 1 and Volume 2 * “Holding Her Down” by Jack London * AoM Article: How and Why to Become a Lifelong Learner * AoM Article: The Libraries of Famous Men — Louis L’Amour Connect With Beau L’Amour * The Louis L’Amour website * Beau’s website Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)   Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Transcript Coming Soon   Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDbKqW

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Skill of the Week: Treat Someone for Shock

An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week. Shock occurs when the body’s internal organs aren’t getting enough blood flow. A person can go into shock for a variety of reasons including severe bleeding, vomiting, heart attack, spinal injury, or even certain drug overdoses. The symptoms of shock are fairly broad, but usually include weakness, clammy skin, fast heart rate, quick breathing, sweating, and thirst. If untreated, a person in shock may start to feel confused, lose consciousness, or go into cardiac arrest. That’s why it’s important to treat anyone who may be in shock as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that when shock occurs as the result of an injury, it may not set in immediately. If you suspect someone is going into shock, call 911 as soon as possible and be prepared to initiate CPR if the person becomes unresponsive or loses consciousness. While you wait for emergency services to arrive, use the above tips to get a handle on the situation. Like this illustrated guide? Then you’re going to love our book The Illustrated Art of Manliness! Pick up a copy on Amazon. Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDYRVt

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Odds & Ends: September 20, 2024

Oklahoma’s Onion Burgers. Many regions of the country lay claim to a signature burger. For Oklahoma, it’s the onion burger, which is made by pressing thinly sliced onions directly into the patty while it cooks. It’s delicious. In back-to-back weeks, the McKays sampled burgers that are considered two of Oklahoma’s best. We got one at Sid’s, which has been around since 1989 and is located in El Reno, the Route 66 town where the onion burger was born in the 1920s (also the location of the climatic scene in Twisters). And we tried Tucker’s, which has several locations in Oklahoma City. Both were tasty, but I’ve got to give my nod to Tucker’s.  Philosophy for Creators and Entrepreneurs. Luke Burgis put out a list of philosophy books for creators and entrepreneurs that spans 2,000 years. It includes books not just from philosophy, but also theology and literature. The goal of the list is to help entrepreneurs and creators reconnect with the big questions in life and how their work can help others reconnect with those big questions, too. From Homer to Kierkegaard, this list isn’t light reading, but Burgis thinks it’ll help you “see the form of something new.” I’ve added several books to my to-read list, particularly ones from the Desert Fathers.  The Twilight Zone’s “The Lonely.” With ChatGPT rolling out a new voice feature that allows you to engage in a back-and-forth conversation with a surprisingly lifelike bot, people have been saying it reminds them of the movie Her, in which a man falls for his artificially intelligent virtual assistant. But it’s reminded me of an even further back reference — a 1959 episode of The Twilight Zone. In “The Lonely,” a convicted murderer is sentenced to solitary confinement on an asteroid. When he’s given a robotic woman for company, he falls in love with her. The episode is a reminder that, for quite a long time now, we’ve been worried about what will happen when we’re given artificial companions that are shaped in our own frictionless image. And the closing dialogue between the characters offers an excellent coda on the danger of losing our grasp on what is and isn’t real.  The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer. I read this gritty war epic back in a college class called “The Novel as American History,” and I still think about it today. Norman Mailer wrote this book when he was just 25 and based it partially on his own experience serving in the Philippines during WWII. He takes an unflinching look at soldiers’ psyches and the brutal realities of combat. It’s considered one of the greatest novels ever written.  Quote of the Week Getting an idea should be like sitting down on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something. —E.L. Simpson Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDTkxG

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What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Doing Anything

Every now and then I have days where I just don’t feel like doing a damn thing. The idea of being productive makes my brain hurt. These little funks can be extremely frustrating, especially when there’s a lot I need to accomplish. I haven’t quite figured out why I get hit with these bouts of “don’t-want-to-do-anything-itis.” Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe it’s the vagaries of fluctuating mood. Maybe it’s the stars. It’s a mystery. While it might be nice to lean into the feeling and take the day off, I typically don’t have that luxury. So, over the years, I’ve developed a toolkit for myself to help me get through those days when I feel like doing nuthin’. There’s no single silver bullet in my bag of tricks. Some days, one tactic works; other days, it doesn’t. Sometimes I have to put together a cocktail of different approaches to get myself going. Also, the goal on these days when I don’t feel like doing anything isn’t to heroically overcome my inertia and knock the day out of the park; rather, my expectations are much lower. I’ll take a metaphorical ground ball that dribbles into the outfield for a single. I’m just trying to keep the gears of life greased and moving while my motivational faculties come back online. Go Through the Motions “Going through the motions” gets a bad rap. There’s this idea that if your actions aren’t imbued with passion and excitement, then you shouldn’t do them at all. But based on my experience, going through the motions is completely fine on those days you don’t feel like doing anything. Going through the motions keeps you consistent. Consistency in the long term is the key to success in life. Going through the motions when you don’t feel like doing the thing helps keep the habit in place. I’ll have days when I don’t feel like working out, but I go through the motions of working out anyway. My workout isn’t super awesome on these days. In fact, I’ll lower the weight and even shorten the workout. But I get the workout done. I keep up the identity of a dedicated exerciser. In addition to maintaining and strengthening a habit, going through the motions might also catalyze a resurgence of motivation. We’ve talked about this idea before: Feelings often follow action. You might not initially feel like working on your taxes, but once you begin, you might start feeling more dialed in because you see yourself getting closer to being done with them. Go for a Walk Outside Solvitur ambulando. It is solved by walking. Yes, just about anything can be solved by a walk. Even a lack of motivation to clean out the garage. When you feel stuck, head out the door and take a stroll around the neighborhood. Physical activity can increase neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, which play crucial roles in motivation. Change Your Surroundings Sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes to reignite your motivation. This could be as simple as moving to a different room in your house or finding a new workspace altogether. On days when I don’t feel like doing anything, I’ll sometimes take my laptop to a coffee shop or the public library. Something about the change in environment scrapes off the barnacles of psychic lethargy and helps me get working again. Leverage Positive Peer Pressure Humans are inherently social creatures, and we can use this to our advantage when motivation wanes. Setting up accountability partnerships or joining group challenges can provide external motivation when internal drive is lacking. Just working around other people who are working can be motivating. I think this may be one reason why I find working in a public library helpful: I’m around other people who are working. I’ve also seen students who will join a virtual study group — a Zoom call — with strangers. Just the feeling that there are other eyes on them (whether or not other people on the call are really paying attention to them) helps them get to work and stay focused.   Journal and Goal Review I gave up on daily journaling several years ago. But I… http://dlvr.it/TDRnds

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How to Handle 3 Common Pistol Misfires

When you’re out plinking with your pistol, you’re likely going to encounter trigger pulls when the gun goes “click” instead of “bang!”  There are three common reasons why your semiautomatic pistol could malfunction. Today, we’re going to show you how to handle them. General Safety Guidelines When diagnosing and correcting a pistol malfunction, continue to practice good pistol safety.  Maintain trigger discipline. When diagnosing and correcting a malfunction, keep your trigger finger off the trigger and place it outside the trigger guard. You don’t want to accidentally squeeze the trigger while trying to figure out what’s going wrong with your pistol.  Keep the barrel pointed downrange.  One type of misfire you might experience is a hang fire, which is delay between when the firing pin strikes the primer and when the gun fires. You don’t want the barrel pointed at yourself if that’s the case. Keep your barrel pointed downrange.  Type 1 Malfunction A Type 1 malfunction occurs when you pull the trigger and you hear “click.” It’s the most common malfunction you’ll encounter. A type 1 malfunction is typically caused by one of two things: 1) failure to feed, or 2) failure to fire. Failure to feed can be caused by the magazine not being fully seated; failure to fire can be caused by bad ammo.  The remedy for a Type 1 malfunction is simple: tap, rack, bang.  Type 2 Malfunction: Stovepipe A Type 2 malfunction occurs when an empty casing gets stuck in the ejection port, which prevents a new round from being chambered. The spent casing kind of looks like a stovepipe sticking out of your ejection port, so this type of malfunction is often called a “stovepipe” malfunction. The telltale symptoms of a stovepipe malfunction are a mushy trigger and the lack of the gun going “bang.” Stovepipe malfunctions typically occur because your grip isn’t firm enough on the pistol, which doesn’t give the slide enough resistance while moving back and forth. If stovepipes happen to you a lot, you may need to work on your pistol grip. The remedy to a Type 2 Malfunction is the same as a Type 1: tap, rack, bang.  Type 3 Malfunction: Double Feed A Type 3 malfunction, also known as a double feed, is less common but still important to understand. It occurs when a round attempts to enter the chamber while another round is already there. A sign of a double feed is a mushy trigger when you squeeze it. If you experience multiple Type 3 malfunctions in a single shooting session, it might be time to have your pistol inspected. A damaged extractor could be the culprit. However, if the issue only happens with one specific magazine, you’ve likely identified the problem: time for a new mag. The remedy for a Type 3 malfunction is more involved than tap, rack, bang. The extra steps are necessary because there’s pressure built up from the round trying to enter an already occupied chamber, which can cause the magazine to stick. Practicing How to Handle Pistol Malfunctions You can practice how to handle the three types of pistol misfires using dummy rounds. Just use the dummy round to set up the different types of malfunctions and practice the clearing methods we discussed above.  Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDRncw

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Podcast #1,024: The Safe, Effective Supplement That Can Improve Your Body and Brain

What if there was a supplement that could build muscle, maintain bone health, fortify the brain against cognitive decline due to age and stress, and alleviate depression, has been proven safe, and comes with almost no side effects? Well, there is such a supplement, it’s been around a long time, and it isn’t even expensive. It’s creatine. Here to unpack the myths, benefits, and recommended ways to use creatine is Darren Candow, a professor of exercise physiology and nutrition who supervises the Aging Muscle and Bone Health Laboratory at the University of Regina. Darren specializes in studying creatine and has published over 70 papers on the subject. Today on the show, Darren explains how a supplement often associated with bodybuilders may actually be beneficial for just about everyone — athletes and non-athletes and the young and old alike. He unpacks what creatine does in the body, and how its benefits extend beyond the body and into the brain. He offers recommendations on the formulation of creatine to use, a suggested dosage and whether it should increase with age, and how to avoid the bloating effect. He also shares what we know about creatine’s safety, including its effects on the kidneys, and whether it can cause hair loss. Resources Related to the Podcast * AoM Article: Creatine — A Primer on Its Benefits and Use * AoM Article: A Primer On Muscle-Building Supplements — Which Work and Which Don’t? * AoM Podcast #878: The Fitness Supplements That Actually Work * AoM Podcast #585: Inflammation, Saunas, and the New Science of Depression * AoM Podcast #852: The Brain Energy Theory of Mental Illness * Darren’s studies Connect With Darren Candow * Darren’s faculty page * Darren on IG Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)   Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Transcript Coming Soon   Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDP9K0

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7 Ways to Help Your Kids Enjoy Hiking

Taking your kids hiking is one of the best ways to get them into nature (and the many benefits associated with that exposure). And, if the hike is a bit strenuous, it offers them one of the few opportunities in modern life to get comfortable being uncomfortable. But, kids aren’t always excited about hiking. Especially younger ones who have a shorter attention span and haven’t yet caught the vision that walking down a trail can be a good time. To get your kids more interested in hiking and help them enjoy the experience more, avail yourself of these 7 tips: 1. Prepare to take it loose and slow. Young children get less satisfaction from simply moving from point A to point B than adults. The “point” of the hike for them is less about getting to the end than just enjoying themselves. So adjust your expectations accordingly, and forget the idea of a hike as continual movement. Be prepared to move pretty slowly and take breaks to sit, play in the dirt, balance on a log, throw rocks, pick honeysuckle, etc. 2. Hike to a body of water. Young kids also tend to be less excited about stunning views than older folks. So your hike doesn’t necessarily need to include a dramatic lookout. But kids do love bodies of water. Streams, ponds, lakes, waterfalls — whatever it is, it makes them 10X more interested in the hike. Our kids stay more motivated to keep hiking when they know a pond is ahead. Because once there, they like to look in the water at what’s swimming around and skip stones. There’s just some kind of magnetic attraction between kids (and adults!) and water; use it to increase your children’s compliance. 3. Pair a hike with a picnic. This is another tactic that significantly ups the interest/compliance factor for our kids. Make some special picnic foods at home, or let the kids pick out some special stuff at the store, and the outing magically feels more special. When the days are longer, we’ll have our picnic dinner first at the trailhead, and then take a hike. When the days are shorter (but not yet freezing cold), we’ll go for a hike at sunset, and then come back to the park to eat our picnic dinner by lantern light. 4. Have a nature scavenger hunt. To heighten your children’s powers of observation and keep them more engaged in the hike, consider doing a scavenger hunt in conjunction with it. Give them a checklist of things to look for; these can be general things you know to expect along the way or centered on a theme like “Signs of Fall.” In Ultimate Wilderness Gear, Craig Caudill offers this list of ideas of things your kids can hunt for as they hike: * A leaf that is rounded on the end * A leaf that is pointed on the end * A nut * A hole in the ground (ask them what they think lives there) * A smooth rock * A rough rock * A piece of bark that has fallen from a tree * A dead branch that looks like something else (let them use their imagination here; they will find a branch that looks like a dog, a pencil, or something they are familiar with) 5. Try to identify flora/fauna/rocks. Studies show that children today can identify more corporate logos than native species where they live. Knowing/learning the names of plants, animals, and even rocks can help children engage more deeply with nature. Of course, it’s probable that your own identification skills are pretty faulty; luckily, there are apps that can help you figure out what it is you’re looking at, whether that’s a plant on the ground or a constellation in the sky. 6. Try to identify animal tracks. It’s fun not only to identify things that are actually present, but the clues that indicate something was once there. See if your kids can figure out what animal left a particular set of tracks. (There are apps for this, too.) 7. Activate your kids’ senses and ask them questions. As you hike along, point out things for your children to touch, see, smell, hear, and even taste (as appropriate!). Then ask them questions, especially along a line in which they’ve already shown interest: “What kind of animal do you think… http://dlvr.it/TDLv2M

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Podcast #1,023: Is Self-Control Overrated?

Self-control, the ability to resolve a conflict between two competing desires, is frequently touted as the golden key to success. But many of the most popular ideas about self-control are actually at odds with how it really operates. Here to unpack some of the lesser-understood and counterintuitive ideas around discipline and willpower is Michael Inzlicht, a professor of psychology who has studied the nature of self-regulation in depth. In the first part of our conversation, Michael unpacks the popular ego depletion model of willpower and how it hasn’t held up to scientific scrutiny. We then turn to the surprising fact that the people who seem to exhibit a lot of self-control don’t actually exercise a lot of discipline and restraint in their lives, that the achievement of goals is more a function of having virtuous desires, and what contributes to having those desires. Resources Related to the Podcast * Related studies: * Perceived Mental Fatigue and Self-Control * A Multilab Preregistered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Effect * Everyday Temptations: An Experience Sampling Study of Desire, Conflict, and Self-Control * New Zealand Study on Trait Self-Control * The Moralization of Effort * The Mundanity of Excellence * The Identity Model of Self-Regulation * The Effort Paradox: Effort Is Both Costly and Valued * AoM Podcast #961: The Mundanity of Excellence * AoM Article: Motivation Over Discipline * AoM Article: ¿Tienes Ganas? * Sunday Firesides: What Looks Like Grit, Is Often Fit * AoM Article: What Do You Want to Want? Connect With Michael Inzlicht * Michael’s website * Michael’s faculty page * Michael on X Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)   Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Transcript Coming Soon Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDJGq0

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Skill of the Week: Clean Your Entire House in 30 Minutes

An important part of manhood has always been about having the competence to be effective in the world — having the breadth of skills, the savoir-faire, to handle any situation you find yourself in. With that in mind, each Sunday we’ll be republishing one of the illustrated guides from our archives, so you can hone your manly know-how week by week. No one likes a dirty house. When your living space is cluttered, it makes it harder to focus and get things done. Plus, studies have shown that a messy home can lead to higher levels of stress. But there’s a problem: cleaning your abode is rather dull and can seem to require an overwhelmingly long time commitment.  While there are times when you do want to dedicate the better part of the day to cleaning every nook and cranny of your house, and occasionally do a thorough decluttering as well, getting your house in reasonably good shape on the regular, or when you have guests coming over, is something you can accomplish in surprisingly short order.  Cleaning often takes up a lot of time because people don’t create a plan of attack. They wander from room to room, cleaning a little bit here and there, getting distracted, forgetting tools, retracing their steps, and mostly just wasting time. With a bit of organization, you can clean your house much, much faster. Sure, if you’ve got a huge home, it’s going to take a bit more time, but for the average house or apartment, you should be able to complete a basic clean in just thirty minutes. Here’s how.   For more tips on effectively and efficiently keeping your home clean and organized, listen to our podcast with professional butler Charles MacPherson: Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDGnZl

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Odds & Ends: September 13, 2024

Nose Breathing Science vs. Snake Oil. AoM podcast guest Michael Easter does a deep dive into the nose breathing craze that’s taken over parts of the online fitness world. I admittedly bought into the nose breathing thing shortly after my podcast interview with James Nestor. I even had a period where I taped my mouth shut. Michael’s article takes a more nuanced approach to nose breathing. Turns out, there’s some truth to the hype, but it’s not the miracle cure some gurus claim. The article breaks down when to breathe through your nose (like during easy cardio) and when to let your mouth do the work (intense workouts). It’s a quick read that’ll save you from wasting time on breathing fads that don’t do much. Wisconsin Death Trip. I was reading an interesting article on Wisconsin supper clubs in this month’s edition of The County Highway newspaper, and it randomly reminded me of a book by Michael Lesy that I read back in college that still haunts me today: Wisconsin Death Trip. It’s a collection of late 19th-century photographs, paired with newspaper clippings, that detail bizarre deaths, crimes, and cases of insanity. The juxtaposition of eerie images and stark reportage creates a fascinating, unsettling portrait of old-time small-town life that belies the rosy image of it we often have in our heads. It was hard out there on the frontier!  Sense Energy Monitor. Back in May, I installed a Sense Energy Monitor on the electrical panel in my home. It analyzes your electricity usage in real time and uses AI to figure out how much electricity your devices are using. The information I got from the monitor helped me save some money on my electricity bill this summer. For example, I learned our pool pump was using a whole lot of electricity, so I put it on an automated schedule so it’s not running all the time. I also discovered some phantom loads I didn’t know about. My only complaint is that the AI isn’t super good at identifying appliances in your home. It still hasn’t picked up one of our AC units, and it’s mislabeled our oven as a dryer. But if you’re looking to see how your household is using electricity, I think it’s a solid investment.  Citizen Kane. Last week, our family watched what many cinema buffs have called the greatest movie ever made: Citizen Kane. It lives up to the hype! 80+ years later, it’s a knockout. The camera angles, non-linear storytelling, and lighting were innovative at the time of its release in 1941 and still feel interesting and compelling today. Orson Welles’ portrayal of media mogul Charles Foster Kane’s rise and fall is mesmerizing. It was fun talking to the kids about how Wells based the story on the real lives of William Randolph Heart and other tycoons. 13-year-old Gus really enjoyed the flick; 11-year-old Scout was less taken with it; but both stayed engaged in the desire to finally figure out what “Rosebud” meant. Rosebud! Quote of the Week Every man has some peculiar train of thought which he falls back upon when he is alone. This, to a great degree, molds the man.   —Dugald Stewart Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TDCLmV

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Iron Your Jeans, Pardner

YOU DO NOT IRON A CREASE IN YOUR JEANS! That’s been the golden rule of denim for years. Why? Simple. Jeans are casual. Workwear. Creases spell formality. Mixing the two? It’s like wearing a tuxedo to mow the lawn. But my old man, Tom McKay, ironed his jeans religiously. Well, he wore ironed jeans. My mom did the actual ironing. As a federal game warden, Dad’s work uniform was a pair of crisply ironed bootcut Wranglers, a pique polo, and cowboy boots. As a kid, I remember watching Mom iron a sharp crease into my dad’s jeans while she watched Touched by an Angel and thinking to myself, “What gives? Jeans aren’t business slacks!” Fast-forward to me in my 40s, and I’m flipping through old photos at my folks’ house. There’s Dad in his razor-sharp creased Wranglers, and damn if he doesn’t look like he means business. Tom McKay, meaning business in his ironed Wranglers, circa 1989. But I also started noticing ironed Wranglers in other places besides my old family photo albums. The troubadour George Strait rocks creased Wranglers like they’re dress pants (even wearing them with a tuxedo top). Cowboys in rural Oklahoma sport pressed denim like it’s their Sunday best. Turns out, there’s a whole subset of cowboys who swear by starched, ironed jeans. Their reasons? * Protection: They claim the starch acts like armor. (Debatable — science says it might weaken the fabric.) * Looks sharp: A crease in your Wranglers says, “I’m ready to bale some hay, but I could also take my gal to Cattleman’s Steakhouse right afterward.” Besides seeing them on 90s country music legends and cowpokes in Blanco, OK, I’ve also been seeing ironed Wranglers amongst the hip, young crowd. Bootcut Wranglers, ironed to perfection, are becoming a thing amongst fashion-forward cool dudes. Even the Wrancher — a polyester cowboy dress pant (another style staple of Tom McKay) — is gaining traction. And so, curiosity got the better of me. I took the plunge and ironed my Cowboy Cut Wranglers. Reader, it’s a solid look. At least, I think so. Here are a few looks I put together with my ironed jeans: Calling this first fit “The Tom McKay”— ironed bootcut Wranglers with a pique polo shirt and a thick leather belt. Pops was a Land’s End polo shirt man, but he had a few Lacoste polo shirts too. He mixed Southwestern desert vibes with 80’s tennis preppy. The man had style! Sporting my Grandpa Bill Hurst’s Western sport coat and bolo tie. Great for Sunday church services or when you’re solving a murder in a Cormac McCarthy novel.  Repping my New Mexican heritage with the yellow Zia red sun t-shirt. Tucked-in, natch. Cowboy belt from Zilker. It’s funny how life works. Here I am, channeling my dad’s 40-year-old style. Cat’s in the cradle, indeed. A Few Thoughts On Ironing Jeans: * Stick to bootcut Wranglers. Ironing your jeans is a Western thing. Your straight-fit selvedge denim? Don’t iron them. Also, since you’re ironing your bootcut Wranglers, wear cowboy boots with them. * Iron them just like you would dress pants. See our extensive guide on how to iron pants. My mom recommended that you use a lot of steam to get that sharp crease in the jeans. I starched mine and liked the results. It might not be good for the fabric, but boy howdy does it provide a nice, crisp crease. * Dress high, medium, and low. Dress up your ironed jeans with a fancy Western shirt and sport coat, go Tom-McKay-business-casual with the pique polo, or take things down a notch with a tucked-in tee and a cool belt. Want to shake up your style? Give ironed Wranglers a shot. They mean business. Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TD8nzK

[art-of-manliness]

Podcast #1,021: You Were Born to Run

For decades, some researchers have argued that the notable human capacity for endurance evolved from the hunting practices of our ancestors, which produced physiological adaptations that make us uniquely well suited for running. But this theory has always had its detractors. As my guest explains, a new study addresses these long-standing criticisms and adds evidence that, indeed, we were all born to run. Alex Hutchinson is a journalist who covers the science of endurance and fitness, and today on the show, he explains what those criticisms were and how this new research counters them. We talk about the role running held amongst peoples of the past, how running is not only primal but cultural and even spiritual, and why we continue to run today, even though we’re not hunting for food. And we discuss how, even if we are born to run, that doesn’t mean everyone will always enjoy running all of the time, and how to get into running if you’re someone who doesn’t feel an innate desire for it. Resources Related to the Podcast * Alex’s previous appearances on the AoM podcast: * Episode #382: How to Lift More, Run Faster, and Endure Longer * Episode #538: Research-Backed Answers to All Your Fitness FAQs * “Why You (Yes, You) Were Born to Run” by Alex Hutchinson * “Ethnography and Ethnohistory Support the Efficiency of Hunting Through Endurance Running in Humans” * Indian Running: Native American History and Tradition by Peter Nabokov * The Hunting Hypothesis by Robert Ardrey * “The Energetic Paradox of Human Running and Hominid Evolution” — 1984 paper by David Carrier * Why We Run by Bernd Heinrich * AoM Podcast #691: What You Can (Really) Learn About Exercise from Your Human Ancestors With Daniel Lieberman * Born to Run by Christopher McDougall * “Reexamining the Mythology of the Tarahumara Runners” by Alex Hutchinson * To the Limit: The Meaning of Endurance from Mexico to the Himalayas by Michael Crawley Connect With Alex Hutchinson * Alex’s website * Alex at Outside Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)   Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Transcript Coming Soon Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TD6Wp1

[art-of-manliness]

Take the D Word Off the Table

In a famous study done a couple of decades ago, researchers wanted to see whether the “proximity and salience of a food” influenced how much of it was consumed. Jars were filled with candy and placed in an office. Some of them were put directly on workers’ desks; others were placed six feet away from them. Some of the containers were opaque; others were transparent. When the study’s results were tallied, it was found that people reached into the jars more often when the candy was visible, and especially when the jars were close at hand. It seems as though the more often you’re presented with an option, the more you think about it, and the more you think about an option, the more likely you are to exercise it. This dynamic likely extends beyond food consumption. Maybe even to marriage. When the sociologist Brad Wilcox came on the podcast to talk about the extensive research he’s done on marriage, he discussed some of the habits and qualities shared by the happiest and most thriving couples. One of them, he said, is a strong commitment that manifests itself in “not putting the D word in a conversation when you’re having an argument or there’s some problem in your marriage.” Thriving couples don’t think of divorce as an option. In his book Get Married, Wilcox notes that “In the State of Our Unions Survey, husbands and wives who reported that ‘marriage is for life—unless there is abuse or adultery’ were more likely to say that they were significantly satisfied (‘very happy’) in their marriages, compared to those husbands and wives who said that ‘Marriage is for as long as you feel fulfilled.’” Wilcox notes that these results may be correlative rather than causal, “given that men and women in happier marriages may be more likely to embrace an ethic of martial permanence due to the higher quality of their marriages.” But he cites other research that has found similar results when couples are not only asked about the state of their marriage at the moment but are tracked over time. When a couple’s expectation is that marriage is forever, it influences how they interact, especially when inevitable tensions arise. As Wilcox noted on the podcast, “Most couples have problems at some point in their marriage, and I think couples who just keep divorce out of the picture are more readily able to handle those challenges and overcome them.” The more often the option of divorce is raised during arguments, the more salient it becomes, increasing the likelihood that the option may one day be exercised. And raising the specter of divorce simply makes the interaction more fraught. It prompts questions like: “Are we incompatible?” “Is this unraveling?” “Can we go on?” If there’s an escape hatch lurking in the background, a feeling that this whole thing could potentially be temporary, then there’s less of an impulse to dig in and solve the problem at hand. If, on the other hand, a couple never puts the divorce option on the table, while their arguments may get heated, there are no stakes; the couple may grapple in intense ways, but the fight doesn’t feel existentially threatening. Because each spouse knows that they’re committed to making the marriage last, it creates a sense of security and prompts the partners towards a problem-solving approach. They think, “Ok, this is hard, but we’re going to have to figure it out.” Couples sometimes say that their irreconcilable differences made divorce the only option. But their differences may have become irreconcilable because divorce was made an option. There isn’t something magical or superstitious in making divorce “the thing that shall not be named,” as in the idiom, “Speak of the wolf and he is at your door.” Not raising divorce as an option won’t guarantee an enduring and happy marriage. But when the practice is indicative of one’s underlying stance towards the relationship, a rock-solid commitment to making your marriage last, it’s something that helps give you the best possible shot at doing just that. For more insights on the qualities of thriving… http://dlvr.it/TD4CbW

[art-of-manliness]

Podcast #1,020: Becoming a Tech Intentional Family

In a family, a lot of the dynamics around devices and screens are reactive in nature. Kids bug for their own smartphones, parents worry they’ll be left out without one, and without weighing the pros and cons, give in to their kids’ requests. Parents let children have a ton of screen time because it lets the parents do what they want; then, they reach a moment where they feel disturbed about how much time their kids are on screens, berate their children for this habit, which they’ve facilitated, and vow that things are going to abruptly turn around. Rather than basing your policies about kids and screens on mood, fear, and impulse, it would be better to do so based on reason and reflection. Emily Cherkin has some ideas on how to get there. Emily is a former teacher, a screentime consultant who helps parents and educators balance the role of devices in kids’ lives, and the author of The Screentime Solution: A Judgment-Free Guide to Becoming a Tech-Intentional Family. Today on the show, Emily unpacks the state of screentime amongst kids today, how the “displacement hypothesis” explains how its impact extends beyond a decline in mental health, and why parents give their kids smartphones even when they’re not sure it’s good for them. We then turn to how families can become more tech intentional, and how that starts with parents taking a look at their own behavior. We discuss why putting parental controls on devices isn’t the ultimate solution, why a better one is based on your relationship with your kids, why you need to live your digital life out loud, and some considerations to think through before getting your kid their first smartphone. Resources Related to the Podcast * AoM Podcast #300: How to Raise Free Range Kids With Lenore Skenazy * AoM Article: What’s the Right Age to Get a Kid Their First Smartphone? 3 Tech Thinkers Weigh In * AoM Article: The Best Internet Filter for Kids * The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt * The Light Phone Connect With Emily Cherkin * Emily’s website Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!)   Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Transcript Coming Soon Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TD1w30

[art-of-manliness]

Odds & Ends: September 6, 2024

Macbeth. Ever since my podcast with Eliot Cohen on what Shakespeare can teach us about power and leadership, I’ve had a hankering to read more of the Bard. But I read somewhere that to really get the full effect of Shakespeare’s plays, it helps to hear the plays performed instead of merely reading them. So I downloaded a performance of Macbeth done by the Folgers Theatre on my Audible app and listened to it during my morning walks. It was great! So many good lessons on the dangers of unchecked ambition. I’ve already downloaded King Richard III, and it will be my next morning walk companion. If you’ve wanted to get more Shakespeare in your life, try listening to him instead of reading him.  Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket. The summer heat broke here in Oklahoma this week, and we’re starting to get a faint whiff of fall. Which means I’ll soon be busting out my favorite piece of autumnal clothing: the Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Jacket. I’ve had mine since 2016, and it’s only gotten more handsome with time. The F&T Trucker Jacket is pricey, but it will give you years of use. I’ll probably still be wearing mine in another eight years. Read my full review of the Flint and Tinder Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket here.  EA Sports NCAA College Football 25. Overall, I haven’t been a big fan of the changes that NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) has brought to college sports. But one bright spot is that it ushered in the return of one of my favorite video games from high school: EA Sports NCAA College Football. (The game had been on a decade-long hiatus because of legal disputes over the use of players’ likenesses in the game). Gus and I have been playing it together the past few weeks, and we both really enjoy it. It’s fun to see all the little traditions from each college that the designers have put into the game. The playbook is a lot of fun, too. Back in high school, our football team ran the triple option that Air Force runs, so I’ve been playing as the Falcons to digitally relive my Friday night lights glory days. It’s just been cool playing a video game that I enjoyed as a young man with my son who is now a young man.  The Natural. This Robert Redford baseball classic was my latest zone 2 cardio watch. I haven’t enjoyed a movie this much in a long time. First, the golden-hued cinematography bathes everything in a warm glow of nostalgia. It feels good just seeing the moving images on the screen. Second, the story is top-notch. It’s a baseball flick, but the movie makes obvious allusions to Greek epic poetry, particularly the Odyssey. Third, the acting is stellar: Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Wilford Brimley, Kim Basinger, Robert Duvall…such an all-star cast. I first watched this movie as a kid; it hit different watching it as a middle-aged man. Highly recommend.  Quote of the Week Nothing can lift the heart of man Like manhood in a fellow-man. The thought of heaven’s great King afar But humbles us—too weak to scan But manly greatness men can span, And feel the bonds that draw. —Herman Melville Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TCwPtr

[art-of-manliness]

Cool Uncle Tricks: How to Perform the French Drop Coin Trick

An essential part of being an awesome uncle is having a repertoire of tricks and jokes that will amaze your nieces and nephews, and crack them up. So from time to time we’ll be offering you current and future uncles out there a tutorial on some gags that’ll have them thinking you’re the coolest dude in the world. Check out all our Cool Uncle Tricks.  The French drop is a classic coin trick every cool uncle should have in his back pocket. It’s easy to do, and its visual effect always astonishes spectators. Whenever I have to entertain kids for more than a few minutes, it’s my go-to trick. A real crowd favorite. Before you show off the French drop, spend some time practicing in private in front of a mirror. Timing is everything with this trick. Once you’ve got the basic movement down, try jazzing it up by asking a niece or nephew to blow on the coin for good luck or dramatically announcing “Voila!” as the coin vanishes. You can also make the coin reappear by pulling it out of your niece’s or nephew’s ear. With a little practice, you’ll have those kiddos convinced you’re a real-life wizard. Help support independent publishing. Make a donation to The Art of Manliness! Thanks for the support! http://dlvr.it/TCt0j6