What Black Men Should Do Now (Dafina) [Paperback]

K. Thomas Oglesby (Author), Tavis Smiley (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2002 | Series: Dafina

Are you being your best self? Are you living your best life?

These are questions author K. Thomas Oglesby asks African-American men in his latest life-strategies book, WHAT BLACK MEN SHOULD DO NOW: 100 Simple Truths, Ideas, and Concepts. The first of its kind, it offers straight-talk doses of practical advice, enlightenment and motivation to men ages 18 to 80 seeking to live more balanced, abundant and fulfilling lives. The book explores a wide range of topics—from achieving inner peace, maintaining physical well-being and engaging in fulfilling relationships to increasing spirituality, being the best sexual self and being an exceptional father.

The author goes beyond simply stating the dilemma of black men in America. Through sage wisdom, anecdotes and humor, he provides a tried-and-true prescription for navigating life’s journey. In an uplifting, supportive and benign manner, he provides accompanying bulleted "Action Steps" men can implement at once to begin to effect change in their lives. His color-outside-the-lines strategies offer a refreshing alternative to those previously available to African-American men. Through 100 brief chapterettes—and pithy quotes from the likes of Denzel Washington, Gen. Colin Powell, Prince, George Washington Carver and Michael Jordan—this engaging book assigns all the critical "should-dos," including (to name just a few):

-Don’t be an angry black man.

-Have the courage to cry when you are sad.

-Don’t have sex, make love.

-Eat a healthy diet.

-Have the patience of Job.

-If you are over age forty, have regular prostate exams.

-Make peace with the size of your penis.

-Uphold the African-American woman.

-Practice safer sex—always!

-Take the time to meditate

WHAT BLACK MEN SHOULD DO NOW will serve as a wake-up call for some, while providing others with a compass to reclaim their lives through healing old wounds, restoring self-esteem or building character. Men going through a midlife crisis may find solace and gain comfort from it. Mature teen brothers may experience "light-bulb moments" from it. Still, for others, the book may provide them with the reinforcement needed to continue living life to its maximum potential.

Timely, definitive and candid, this groundbreaking book is enlightening yet entertaining for black men—and the women who love and care about them. While the book is targeted to men, women will find it a wonderful guide to give to the men in their lives—husbands, boyfriends, sons, fathers, uncles, grandfathers and friends. Women will read it with great interest and learn ways to help their men live healthful and more rewarding lives.

With a powerful foreword by commentator Tavis Smiley of ‘The Tom Joyner Morning Show,’ National Public Radio and ABC News, WHAT BLACK MEN SHOULD DO NOW provides men with a blueprint for building their best selves in order to live their best lives!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

It used to be family and friends who gave you guidance on how to live in the world. But these days, that help is harder to come by. WHAT BLACK MEN SHOULD DO NOW fills the vacuum by offering practical, plain-talking advice for living a fulfilling, successful life.

From the Author

For years, I myself searched for a book that dealt in-depth with some of the unique personal challenges that black men face in everyday life and how to tackle them. But I was unsuccessful in finding one. And while there are some excellent self-help books by dynamic authors on the shelves today that speak to African-Americans as a whole, there are very few specifically for black men that boldly go where I’ve gone with this book. I thought to myself, "I’m sure there are other brothers like me out there who are looking for a book like this." So, I decided to write it.

After--and while--reading the book, I hope men will: 1) have a keener sense of what really being a man is all about; 2) finally get it, that feeling vulnerable should never be equated with weakness, cowardliness or failure; and 3) strive daily to be their best selves by striking balance in every area of their lives.

WHAT BLACK MEN SHOULD DO NOW is targeted to African-American men. But the concepts address all men. I’m actually surprised by the countless number of Caucasian women who have approached me about getting a copy of the book for their Caucasian husbands or mates. In fact, during one of my books-signings, a Caucasian woman stopped by to chat with me, which is often. And after standing there flipping through the book for quite a while, she looked at me with a warm smile and said, "You titled your book wrong." I asked her, "How so?" And she said, "Because I’m a white woman with a white husband who could really benefit from what you’re saying." So, it really is a universal self-help guide, something for all men--black, white, Technicolor. But as an African-American man, I realize there are certain issues that challenge us on a daily basis that need addressing. And often brothers just need to hear the message from another brother.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Dafina; Revised & Expanded edition (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758201710
• ISBN-13: 978-0758201713
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #610,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Definite Eye-Opener!, January 4, 2001

By 

Duane (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Black Men Should Do Now (Hardcover)

Wow! What an eye-opener! A timely book, "What Black Men Should Do Now" took me as the reader on a trip into the soul every black man should aspire to. While the author speaks specifically to black men, this book could have easily been written for ALL men--regardless of color--to read and be enriched by. And enriching it was to MY soul. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down because I could identify with this brother. The book's format of meaty but short 100 chapters makes it an easy read--whether it is read from in order from 1 to 100, or out of sequence. I read a lot of books, especially ones talking about black male issues (and there are not enough out there). But I felt this book dared to address issues that black men tend to shy away from or refuse to address (i.e., their emotions, their masculinity, their sexual being, their relationships with their fathers and children, etc.). The author tackled head-on these and so many more subject with ease and clarity. In fact, that's what made the book so readable--"he kept it real, "so to speak. Sisters who read this book will applaud this brother for his honesty and braveness to challenge many of the "typical" African American man's ways of trying to "be da man" in this world. An educated and enlightened black men myself, I felt the book even gave me the opportunity to sigh in relief that I'm not the only one who wishes other brothers would live more balanced lives and take better care of their souls by doing many of the things the author gently advises in this book, like: "Don't Be An Angry Black Man"; "Have the Courage to Say I'm Sorry"; "Don't Have Sex. Make Love"; "Remove the Word 'NIGGA' from Your Vocabulary"; "Uphold the African American Woman"; "Make Peace With The Size of Your Penis"; "Keep a Journal"; and "If You Are Age 40 or Older, Have Regular Prostate Exams." Without chastising or preaching, the author urges black men that it's natural to have shortcomings--we all have them because we, too, are human. I think anyone, male or female, black or white, who reads this book will be forced to examine their attitudes and perceptions about what makes a man the best man he can be in this world for himself and in his role as daddy, husband, boyfriend, brother and grandfather--regardless of age! And one of the best parts of the book are the action steps that follow each chapter, allowing the reader to go right to work at, as the author said, "striking balance" in his life. So yes, I HIGHLY recommend this book. After buying my first copy here on-line, I couldn't wait, and went out and bought four more at the bookstore in the mall as Christmas and birthday gifts last month for my son, two brothers and father. This eye-opening book will for sure change your life!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book To Set Brothers Free!, April 29, 2002

By 

Timothy (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Black Men Should Do Now (Dafina) (Paperback)

I have to say, this is the book that is going to set a lot of brothers free from feeling they have to play the unrealistic role society has told them they must play. I read the hardback version of this book last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave a copy to my father, and he did too. But this updated edition is even better. It includes a great deal more information on men staying healthy, dealing with their emotions, staying faithful to their wives or girlfriends, and being a real man in 21st century. And a whole lot more.

The principles in this book are amazing. The author tells it like it is, and he doesn't hold back. Man, he is a bold brother. (It is not for the faint at heart!) It is well written, and is a got-to-read for black men and women. Even a lot of our young African-American boys growing up today will get a lot out of it (if they read it). It will prepare them for true manhood as they grow into adult men. It just needs to get into their hands.

This book will change its reader's life. I suggest if you want to change your life, buy it here and read it, because it will make you look honestly at yourself and your life, and will inspire you to change it for the better.

Highly recommend it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Truths" that we so easily forget, January 16, 2002

By 

Jared McKinley (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Black Men Should Do Now (Hardcover)

With his subtle, yet powerful, words, Oglesby has effectively delivered tangible guidelines by which to pattern our lives. While reading, I realized that the author has truly discovered the secret to the success of the Black man in America: Success begins with how we feel about ourselves, how we think about the world, and how we act upon those thoughts. With so much negativity being attached to who "we" are, it was a great pleasure to read such positive and insightful comments about what "we" can be. The book's easy flow is a testament to Oglesby's obvious commitment to integrity and genuineness; unlike many authors who like to flaunt their pseudo-intellect, Oglesby's motives are seemingly clear. I felt that he wanted the reader to gain and benefit from the knowledge that he was presenting.
This was an excellent read. Furthermore, I will definitely continue to recommend this book to my friends, family and work associates.

J. Hunter, National Association to Broaden and Enhance Images, Inc.