This was truly an outstanding read.

Initially, I was rather skeptical about what I would discover within its pages. However, for an inspirational book, it turned out to be really excellent.

The author held nothing back, candidly addressing numerous issues related to masculinity in today's society.

He derives his inspiration for his approach from 1st Thessalonians 5:14.

The book is predominantly written for individuals who are already Christians. While many men will undoubtedly benefit from reading it, married men will especially find great help within its contents.

It offers valuable insights and practical advice that can assist married men in navigating the challenges and responsibilities that come with their role.

Overall, it is a book that has the potential to have a positive impact on the lives of many men, both within and outside the Christian community.

Whether you are seeking inspiration, guidance, or simply a thought-provoking read, this book is well worth considering.

This book has a truly great premise, and it commences in a very promising manner.

However, as it progresses, it unfortunately becomes extremely repetitive, much like the majority of books within this particular genre.

Subsequently, it delves into the mantra that what the Church requires are macho men.

Regrettably, it makes the error of subscribing to Western masculine ideals and presenting them as if they were biblical truths, engaging in proof-texting along the way.

This approach not only simplifies the complex nature of masculinity but also risks distorting the true essence of the Church's teachings.

It fails to recognize the diversity of qualities and characteristics that are valued within a religious context and instead adheres to a narrow and potentially limiting view of what it means to be a man in the Church.

As a result, the book may mislead readers and prevent a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of masculinity and its role within the Church community.

This article is very well-written and is filled with numerous quotable elements that make one inclined to post them on Facebook.

Every Christian who has been influenced by the watering down of Christianity by the evangelical church or has endured some form of abuse that has deprived them of their will and assertiveness should listen to what is being said. Additionally, every preacher should deliver this message.

However, there were a couple of things that bothered me. Firstly, the author's advice on how to become bolder and overcome past abuse seemed too general, lacking in concreteness and thoroughness.

Secondly, this book was targeted at passive men, yet everything the author stated, along with the Bible references he cited, holds true for women as well. It would have been more inclusive if it was marketed to a broader audience.

Overall, while the content has its merits, these two aspects could be improved upon to make the message more impactful and applicable to a wider range of people.

Paul Coughlin sets his sights on an empty, ethics-deficient, principle-lacking, and feeble evangelicalism that conceals itself behind a façade of "niceness."

He contends that "Christian Nice Guys" find refuge here, and that their religion is driven far more by cowardice than by anything else.

I firmly believe that he indeed makes several valid points. However, at times he goes a bit too far and fails to make some essential distinctions.

Nonetheless, I truly appreciate how he endeavors to apply these principles beyond mere "spiritual" matters and delves into discussions about marriage, relationships, the workplace, and so on.

His exploration broadens the scope and makes the ideas more relevant and applicable to various aspects of our lives.

Overall, while there are some areas where his arguments could be refined, his work offers valuable insights and challenges us to think more deeply about our faith and how we live it out in the real world.

I am highly skeptical of the ever-expanding syndromes in the modern Western world. It seems as if we might even have a "syndrome syndrome" (what a great book idea!). So, when I first saw the title, I was a bit dubious. However, after a quick glance through the book, I became intrigued and decided to give it a read.

Whether or not there truly is a "Nice Guy Syndrome" I'll leave for others to determine. Robert Glover wrote "No More Mr. Nice Guy," which approaches the topic from a secular perspective. This book, though, does address an issue among some men, which is the passive-aggressive manner of handling fear and anxiety. In it, Coughlin urges men not to assume that others, especially their spouses, are aware of the agreements they have made with them when in fact they are ignorant. The frustration sets in when he doesn't receive what he desires despite behaving like a "good boy."

The book offers good advice for men who operate from this anxiety-based condition. What sets this book apart from Robert Glover's is its focus on the impact of passive-aggressive behaviors in Christian men and the harmful effect it has on the church.

It is a decent book, but the real substance lies in the last several chapters, which detail how to deal with these behaviors. The early chapters establish the problem of modern culture minimizing the manliness of Jesus (the "Jesus the Bearded Woman" concept popular in many religious circles). He makes a compelling case for considering the full masculinity of Jesus as presented in the scriptures and looking to Him as the example to follow.

There would have been less heartbreak in my life had I read this book earlier.

Reading this book has been an eye-opening experience. It has helped me realize that trying to please people in the short run often leads to me taking a passive-aggressive attitude. Instead of confronting issues as they arise, I would bottle things up inside. Then, when the last straw came, weeks or even months later, I would blow up. As a result, friends and even family were afraid of me. But now, things have changed. People are much more happy and respectful around me.

I also like the author's reference to Dr. Kristina Hoff Sommers. I really enjoy her show, the Factual Feminist. I would love to see groups like the Honey Badgers interview Paul. I think it would be a very interesting conversation.

Reading this book has also made me aware of how my clouded view of Jesus and Christianity had boxed me into the role of a people pleaser. The perspective that Paul Coughlin wrote about has given me a much better understanding of Jesus and his teachings. Now, Jesus feels like a real person who lived on Earth, not just a character in a story.

This book has also helped me understand why many of my peers would criticize Christianity but be surprised, even shocked, when I decide to make a stand and defend the faith. So many of them expect Christians to be pushovers. It also explains some of the reasons why they hold such bitter views. Paul also does a great job of dispelling myths about what Christian men should think and not feel that I have noticed among many bitter people.

Overall, this book has been a great help to me in my personal growth and understanding of myself, my faith, and the people around me.

Being a nice guy has not brought me to the place I desire to be. I have discovered that in Christian circles, being nice often leads many to think that you are attempting to "earn" your salvation. Additionally, when you donate to one ministry, they sell your name to others! How do I know this? I signed up with different combinations of my first and last name, and sure enough, I receive correspondence from "sister" ministries addressing me with that same variation. Moving forward, I have created an Envelope in Mvelopes where, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, I will determine where the funds are utilized. Thanks to the Trump Tax Act, I can now claim the Standard Deduction with the IRS, so there is little value in donating to a 501C3.

Too many people within the Church today have a wrong perception. They think being a good Christian means being overly sugary, nice, always gentle, and accommodating, never showing any fire or saltiness. In other words, they have become wimpy. This confusion has unfortunately influenced many pastors and the Christian men they guide.

These men are the intended audience of this book. It is a powerful call for them to re-examine the real Jesus as described in the scriptures. It is a call to repentance and to take action. It is a call to be assertive. It is a call for them to stop hiding in fear behind a false front of niceness and passivity and start living truthfully and doing justice just as Christ did. It is a call to become more Christlike in the true sense of how He was and still is.

"I began to ask questions like: How come when we ask WWJD? (what would Jesus do?) we almost always assume some form of quiet, mellow response, when he often spoke and behaved in undeniably rugged ways? If Jesus said we are to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, why have I heard countless sermons admonishing me to live in innocence—a more gentle virtue—but precious few on how to apply wisdom and shrewdness, more rough-and-tumble virtues that sometimes require conflict? How come my spiritual training compels me to answer any question asked of me, even when it’s entrapping, when Jesus only directly answered something like five questions in all four Gospels? Sometimes he didn’t even answer the question and asked a new one instead. If that were anyone else, we would label that person argumentative, divisive, and mean." - Paul Coughlin
" During a Christian writers conference a number of years ago, I spoke with an editor from a large publishing company. When I told her the premise of this book, she interrupted and said, 'My single Christian girlfriends and I say the ideal man to date has only been in church for two years. This way he still has some masculinity left.'” - Paul Coughlin

I'm really glad I revisited this book and would definitely place it in my top 3 books on the subject of manhood. It offers valuable insights and challenges the traditional notions of what it means to be a Christian man.

My chief complaint about this book is twofold.

First, the folksy, colloquial voice in which it is written doesn't sound terribly credible. It gives the impression that the author is trying too hard to be relatable, perhaps sacrificing some of the authority and authenticity that one might expect from a self-help or instructional book.

Second, and more importantly, I believe that the principles and advice in the book should not be applied only to men. What is often mistaken for manliness is really just good boundaries. These are essential for both men and women to establish healthy relationships, set goals, and achieve personal growth.

Interestingly, it turns out that a companion book by the same title has been written for "Christian Nice Girls." I will probably check it out to see if it offers a more comprehensive and inclusive perspective on the topic.

Overall, while I have some reservations about this book, I am still curious to see what the companion book has to offer.

This year, there is one of the most exciting reads that truly makes one think.

It is extremely sad to see how over time, Christianity has become associated with fear. But the good news is that Paul recognizes this, and it provides a great insight into the situation.

This book should serve as a powerful rally cry for every Christian man. It calls upon us to rise up and combat sin that is disguised as "coexisting with evil in silence." We must not remain passive in the face of such deception.

As Christians, we have a responsibility to stand firm and fight against the forces of evil. This book gives us the motivation and inspiration to do just that. Let us take up the challenge and make a difference in the world around us. ✊✊✊

This is a truly thought-provoking book. The author presents many philosophies that are quite outside the box. While I may not completely ascribe to all of them, a significant number of them are highly relevant.

One of his most interesting theses is that as Christian men, we are meant to be good rather than necessarily nice. This idea could potentially explain why our churches seem to be losing masculinity.

The book is an easy read, taking only a couple of hours to get through. I wholeheartedly recommend it to pastors and male Christian workers. It offers valuable insights that could have a profound impact on how they approach their ministries and interactions within the church community.

By reading this book, they may gain a new perspective on what it means to be a Christian man in today's society and how to better fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Overall, it is a book that has the potential to spark meaningful discussions and bring about positive change within the church.

Once you've read "Wild at Heart," take the time to reread it carefully.

After that, you'll truly be ready to explore this particular book. Seriously, it has a special place on my shelf, right between the complete works of John Eldredge and "Why Men Hate Going to Church."

If you have a deep love for God yet find it difficult to tolerate some of His followers, then you really owe it to yourself to read these three books.

They offer unique perspectives and insights that can help you better understand your relationship with God and the challenges that come with being part of the Christian community.

By delving into these works, you may gain a newfound appreciation for the complexity of faith and the importance of looking beyond the actions of others to focus on your own connection with the divine.

So, don't hesitate to pick up these books and embark on a journey of spiritual discovery and growth.