Generally good. As others have noted, Chanski contrasts “passivity” with “aggressiveness”, more than simple “activity”. While “aggressiveness” (think subduing) may be needed in some cases, the majority of the author’s instruction is simply that men need to get up, get a move on, take responsibility, and exercise their authority. I found the book to be largely encouraging.

Yes, the book feels at times like an extended pep talk, but I did feel that it was still filled with biblical wisdom. I recommend the book.

Outside of Family Shepherds, this is easily the best book I’ve read on biblical masculinity and preparing for the roles God has given men to steward. I disagree with his exegesis on a few minor points, and I think he can be hokey in some areas (may be attributed to the fact this was published in 2004). Chanski speaks with conviction and clarity on matters many would shy away from. He exhorts me to not be “a passive purple four ball”, and his sharp words cut to the core, for they use the two-edged Sword of the Spirit.

Good practical advice to be engaged in lives of your family when a natural reaction might be to sit back and do nothing

Excellent Biblical advice.

Good biblical book on how to exercise dominion over your life. Chanski gives great scripture references to back up his writing. I have heard audio of him speaking on the subject and he is very passionate on the matter.

This book deserves at 4.5.

From my perspective, this book is useful to young men in their 20's looking to take charge and get on in the world - while doing so in a Godly way. I think the utility spans to both the secular, and non secular audience and therefore can be useful to both parties, but the book is geared to a Christian audience.

I enjoyed the authors writing style, and his personal anecdotes were funny and insightful, so the book was an enjoyable read while being educational.

Personally, as a young businessman who is married, the book resonated with me and left me with a greater zeal to diligently work and serve God, both by action in my business, and by giving to the Kingdom effort with my harvest; while also allowing me to recognize shortfalls within my "ability" living out the role of a Godly husband in my marriage.

In particular, Manly Dominion helped me see that in my marriage I was not leading firmly. I could see that my headship was more "passive" than not, and what I saw as authority was really demeaning and demanding, and more boyish than mature.

I think the book highlighted well the general Christian ethos in marriage, that the Man is to lead with assertiveness, but very much in a spirit of servitude and love - you can not do this aggressively, which is why I think "dominion" mindset (which I think what the author means is being intentionally decisive and proactive) is the proper Godly approach.

On a spiritual note, the book helped me see a bit more clearly the whimsical nature of a lot of Christian thinking. This is outlined very well in the third part of the book on "Manly Dominion in Decision-making". What I gathered the author had, was a balanced perspective that still acknowledges the Grace and power of God, but illustrates how we are still to move forward and make decisions within our own framework. Ie) You are still to pray, meditate upon the scriptures, rely on God, but also you are to use your rational faculties and plan and get a move on. I would think its best summed up as working in partnership with the Lord as you move forward in Dominion.

From a personal note these are the things that had the greatest impressions on me, and there's also lots more of value within the book. If somebody want's to read up more on Christian masculinity this is a good read.

What this one lacks in form (it is poorly typeset, and the binding is flimsy) it more than makes up for in content. This is a great book on Manliness vs. Effeminicy. I will probably by a box and keep them behind my desk so that I can hand them out like candy.

As you can imagine from the title, the overarching theme is to take action. The book is broken into short, easy to read chapters on a variety of topics. (Work, Marriage, Faith etc). If you are new to the Christian faith or grew up without a Christian father to guide you, I recommend it even more.

The main message of this book is clear: don't be a passive purple four ball. I appreciate Chanski's call for men to assume responsibility, take initiative, and get things done for the good of others and the glory of God. Chanski gives some solid practical advice on topics like parenting and work. I wish there had been more focus on the gospel and how Jesus transforms men to be the men they were created by God to be.

A great book to really get you off your rear and make you work hard, pursue your goals, take charge of your life - all the while trusting in the Lord to bless your actions. Don't sit back & wait for the Lord to just give you things or to make decisions, take charge & use your God given abilities to pursue & wisely decide.

This is a book full of great practical wisdom for men in a Christian society full of passivity and weakness in regards to husbandship and fatherhood. Unfortunately, I have a hard time rating this any higher because of some concerning semantic issues.
Chanski fixates upon the term "aggressive" as a response to passivity. Considering the connotative meanings of the word, I don't think Chanski does a good enough job adding nuance to his use of the word aggressive and instead shotguns it all over his theology of masculinity. Considering the violent undertones of the word, and the conservative tendency towards overbearing in general, this creates a space for some negative misreadings of Chanski's work. A far better word would have been "active", but instead this language of aggression is seen as the pinnacle of masculinity.
This creates another problem, as this notion of aggression narrows Chanski's idea of masculinity considerably, leading to his mocking of "nice guys" and less forceful men. I don't think this is helpful, as there are many men who actively strive to live Gospel centered lives who lack the aggressive drive that Chanski prizes so highly. What about the Christian virtues of meekness and contentedness? What of the lamblike qualities of Jesus, the perfect Man? Chanski's theology of aggressive dominion doesn't wrestle with this issue, something that concerns me.
I like a lot of his practical wisdom, and his observations about man's need to provide order to a disordered world is quite helpful(particularly in managing a household, handling one's own sin first, earning respect, etc.), but other times Chanski seems like a bit of a jerk (a situation where he aggressively haggles a salesman to get a better deal comes off, not as responsible financing, but as pushy). I found roughly half of this book very helpful and thought provoking, full of practical advice, but just as often I found myself disappointed by the rigidness of Chanski's definition of masculinity.
I took part in a Bible study that used this book as its main text, and while the study and discussions were invaluable, I longed for a book that dealt with the complicated questions of gender for the Christian with a good bit more nuance.