What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him [Paperback]

Byron Forrest Yawn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2012

A powerful and compelling new voice in Christian publishing, with a message urgently needed by today's Christian men.

Every man encounters significant struggles in life--struggles that result in poor choices and decisions. Frequently these mistakes can be traced back to a common problem--a father who (even unintentionally) failed to provide counsel or a positive role model.

In What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him, author Byron Yawn offers vital input many men wished they had received during their growing-up years. This collection of 30 simple principles will help men to...

• Identify and fill the gaps that occurred in their upbringing
• Benefit from the hard-earned wisdom of others so they don't make mistakes
• Prepare their own sons for the difficult challenges of life

The 30 principles in this book are based in Scripture and relevant to every man. They include affection, courage, balance, consistency, and more. A true must-read!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Byron Yawn is the senior pastor of Community Bible Church in Nashville, Tennessee and a much-sought speaker. His book Well-Driven Nails received much positive acclaim from prominent ministers, including John MacArthur and Steven Lawson. Byron has MDiv and DMin degrees from The Master’s Seminary, is married to Robin, and has three children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736946381
• ISBN-13: 978-0736946384
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and Encouraging Counsel on Biblical Masculinity January 27, 2012

By Erik Raymond

Format:Paperback

One of the most exciting times for a church can also be some of the most challenging. Consider the joy when a guy gets converted who did not grow up under the instruction of the Scriptures. Everyone is excited. And then the dust settles and we all realize that there is a lot of work to do to get this guy on track to be a godly man. It's good work but it is still hard.

This is confounded by the regrettable fact that many churches do not emphasize male leadership and the necessity of training men to be who they are supposed to be. If a new convert (and I was one) lands in a place like this he will spin his tires on the path of male leadership rather than advance.

As a pastor I have met quite a few of both of these types of guys. I rejoice when they come and express a desire to grow. I know it is going to involve some pastoral sweat but the upside is glorious.

In this type of ministry I have often lamented the lack of books that help guys to think and act like a biblical man. In their absence young guys like me roll up our sleeves and get to work, doubtlessly missing more than a few patches of unmowed grass.

This is why I am very excited about this new book: What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him by Byron Yawn is pure gold. Yawn aims to fill that gap. He comes alongside the guy who is has not received the training, the instruction in "Being a Man 101."

The chapters are concise, fast-paced, and theologically rich. Byron teaches you Bible and theology as he teaches biblical masculinity. He is also a terrific writer with a particularly arresting southern style. For example when talking about dealing with an argument with your wife he refers our obsessive stewing over the issue like a kid playing with loose tooth as the icicles on the bannister grow larger. Good pictures.

The tone is necessarily strong but not lacking in compassion. Byron talks directly to men, dads, young men and boys. He is firm but loving. Some may have their feelings hurt (which itself becomes a lesson in the book). There is straight talk about male leadership, sex-talk with kids, pornography, service in the church, saying you're sorry, and the need to be growing in grace. Along these lines it is helpful to note that the author is extremely transparent about his own life as a young man, an adult, a husband, and a dad. Even the toughest of guys will be moved emotionally when he writes about his adoptive father's death and all that he meant to him. All of this to say it is a great balance; the same hand that (lovingly) punches you in the gut comes around the shoulder for encouragement.

The book is also filled with humor. Byron compiles a list of `man laws' throughout. You may disagree with some of them but that is not the point. They are funny and intended to make you think twice about trotting in public or sharing an umbrella with another dude.

On a personal note, Byron is a friend. I know that what he writes is what he lives and what his greatest burdens are. If someone should write a book like this it should be Byron. This is a book that I can see myself giving away for years to come. It is also a book that I will repeatedly come back to myself for instruction and reminders. It is early in the year but I can all but guarantee that What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him will be in my top 5 books for 2012. It is that helpful and good.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book March 12, 2012

By Tim Challies TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

Byron Yawn has the ignominious distinction of being the first person to ever invite me to be a keynote speaker at a conference. That was a long time ago, and it seems like an even longer time, but he and I have stayed in touch since then and I was excited to hear of his work on a book titled What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him. I had anticipated that I would be reading a book on fatherhood, but was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is actually far more than that.

It seems notable that I am writing this review on the occasion of my son's twelfth birthday. It is probable that he is already more than half way to striking out on his own, to marrying, to beginning a family. I've already used up half of my opportunities to teach him what a father ought to teach his son. This is the kind of thought that can very nearly move me to tears; rarely do I feel less up to the task and more dependent on grace than in fatherhood. In that regard this book was both a challenge and a comfort.

What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him is a book of essays more than it is a book that flows easily and logically from the first chapter to the last; the topics are much like the lessons a father will teach his son in that they meander a little bit, wandering from being a son to being a father and a man and a husband. They extend from biblical manhood to sincerity to pornography to having "the talk" with your son, to integrity. Each one is punctuated by wisdom that is sometimes biblical and sometimes, well, just plain practical (At least to my recollection the Bible doesn't comment on why you don't want to cut into a steak to see if it's ready to eat). These are not lessons for me to teach my son; not first and foremost. These are first lessons I need to learn and apply to my own life. There is a proper order to these things.

The book offers value in its big picture and it offers value in individual sentences or paragraphs. Some of the best of what Yawn teaches (Go ahead and make fun of his last name--it's all been said before!) comes in the form of pithy quotes and helpful little phrases.

What the church needs are warriors of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not boys trapped in men's bodies. Gospel ministry on the local church level begins with men. No pastor is truly leading if he is not raising them up.

You never move beyond the gospel to a more sophisticated or timely wisdom. There is no more intricate or relevant wisdom than the cross. God has nothing more to offer.
That image of Jesus, the maker of heaven and earth, on His knees like a commonplace servant washing the disciples' feet is the most complete image of manhood known to us.
This is a serious gut check. We have to ask ourselves whether or not our desire for change in our spouse is ultimately motivated by a desire for personal happiness or for God's glory.

We have to love Christ more than we love our spouse to actually love our spouse as we should.

The cross simultaneously declares two indispensable realities. First, it proclaims the unbelievable news about the grace of God. God loves sinners and sent His Son to redeem them. It is unconditional and radical love on display. Every time we behold it we rejoice. Second, the cross communicates the most brutal assessment of man's condition we will ever face. We're worse than we let on. We'll never be as honest about ourselves as the cross is.

And so on.

The book levels a challenge at me, a challenge to be a better man, which is to say a man who follows the Lord with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. It levels a particular challenge as I consider that these are the kinds of lessons I want to convey to my son. Thankfully the book also brings me comfort that the Lord is stronger than I am and that he can fill up what is lacking in me. Even the best of fathers will do an incomplete job, for such is fatherhood in a sinful, distracting, distracted world. Even the best of fathers will end their days with some regret, sorry for all they didn't teach their sons and all they didn't accomplish.

What this book offers is interesting, helpful, mature reflections on what it means to be a man, to be a husband, to be a father. These are the little pearls of wisdom that too few men bequeath to their sons. This is manhood at its best, not some pathetic Eldredge-like counterfeit, but manhood grounded in the gospel and reflecting Jesus Christ.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Encouragement and Instruction January 13, 2012

By Joshua Lake

Format:Paperback

In contrast to the unusually long title, the chapters in What Every Man Wishes His Father Had Told Him are concise and powerful, each providing a theological and seasoned illustration of biblical manhood. The chapters are the outgrowth of Byron's experiences as a young man, his years of fatherhood, and his role as a leader of men as pastor of a Nashville church.

Byron's wisdom shines forth most wonderfully in his chapters on confidence and sex. In the latter instance, Byron speaks powerfully into a Christian culture that alternatively demonizes sex and obsesses over it. His words are timely and encouraging, reminding the reader of God's beautiful design for sex and its proper role in life.

The book's audience is not clear, as some of its sections seem directed to young men and others to fathers, but that makes it readable by all. Additionally, Byron seems to picture all men as fitting one mold -- outgoing, sports-loving, meat eaters; and some of his sentences reflect that bias. But those two criticisms are minor, and they do nothing to detract from a great book that is a valuable contribution to the Church's understanding of how to raise godly men.

I commend the book to men of all ages, whether single or married, father or not. Byron portrays manhood in its biblical glory, reflecting Christ's leadership, submission, and worship of the Father.

Legal Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are mine, unless otherwise indicated.