The Art of Manliness Book

Knowing how to be a welcome houseguest and knowing how to start a fire without matches rarely appear on the same to-do list. The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man puts both in one book. That mix is the appeal: everyday manners next to practical skills you might otherwise keep meaning to learn.

The advice ranges from planning a marriage proposal to performing a fireman’s carry, with figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Franklin in the mix. A friend who enjoys learning how things are done will get a lot out of this as a gift, especially when the subject jumps from social awkwardness to outdoor resourcefulness.

The gentleman framing is very much part of the package. If that language makes the recipient roll their eyes, this probably isn’t their book. For someone who enjoys an old-school approach to becoming a more capable person, though, there’s plenty here to pique their curiosity.