Take it Back: Reclaiming Biblical Manhood for the sake of the Marriage, Family and Culture

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

Take it Back: Reclaiming Biblical Manhood for the sake of the Marriage, Family and Culture

Authors:

Tim Clinton and Max Davis

Publication Date:

May 5, 2020

Publisher:

Charisma House

Format:

Hardcover

Length:

224 pages

OVERVIEW

According to the American Psychological Association, “traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful.” A variety of other groups take the same stance. However, as Tim Clinton and Max Davis note, there’s decent evidence that many of America’s problems with male aggression go back to the lack of fathers involved in their sons’ lives. Clinton and Davis argue for a conservative, Biblically-based manhood that they believe is vital to creating healthy families.

The authors spend several chapters looking at Nehemiah and David as Biblical examples of healthy manhood. For the most part those sections work well. There’s also have a fascinating chapter on the effect fatherlessness has on religious growth and anger management. Unfortunately, this material only makes up about half the book. The authors spend the rest of it making points which are valid but have been said before many times. They discuss how about liberal media portrays of masculinity as toxic. They note how transgender advocates, feminists and other groups are arguing against a traditional view of gender. They talk about hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as healthy things men do to get in touch with their passion to challenge themselves. None of these points are wrong, but they’re hardly new. John Eldredge made many of these same points in Wild At Heart, and that was nearly twenty years ago.

If Clinton and Davis had gone for less general coverage and focused on one of these topics, they might have written something unique. For example, they frequently talk about being traditionally masculine without being sexist. If they’re correct in saying that liberal media misconstrues traditional masculinity as toxic, then it would seem important to explain where good masculinity ends and toxic masculinity begins. A book that really examined that dividing line and how men can avoid crossing into it would be highly helpful. Unfortunately, the authors don’t dig deeply into this point or any of the others.

A well-intentioned defense of manhood that unfortunately doesn’t say anything new or cover old ideas in a new way.

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

2 stars

Suggested Audience

Christian men interested in a defense of healthy yet traditional masculinity.

Christian Impact

Clinton and Davis refer to the Bible throughout, building a generic but decent case that there’s more to traditional masculinity than just the stereotypes.