Originally commissioned by Exodus 90, the pioneering men’s app, these brief but stirring reflections by acclaimed writer Joseph Pearce show how great literature—including poetry—can help every Catholic man striving for virtue and holiness.

Drawing on luminaries such as Homer, Dante, St. John Henry Newman, Chesterton, Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis, Pearce shows that literature, far from being a dead relic of the past, tackles crucial questions which are directly relevant to modern men. What does Shakespeare say about the dangers of lust? How does God pursue the sinner like a “Hound of Heaven”? What does it mean to be soldiers of Christ on active duty in the Church Militant? What sort of men do we want our sons to become? What does a great poet-saint teach us about the power of the sign of the cross to exorcise demons? How can we nurture a faith which is fearless?

In a culture that fosters toxic masculinity on the one hand and effeminacy on the other, the literary giants of the past offer an inspiring alternative vision of true manhood, one that Catholic men are called to embrace as they “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12).

“Catholic men who truly desire to be Catholic men should pick up and, with all due reflection, make their way through Joseph Pearce’s masterfully curated collection of the best poetry and literature for men. Those who do answer Pearce’s challenge will come to understand—as the Master taught and showed—that manliness has nothing to do with self-indulgence. Manliness is about total self-giving.”
— Christopher Check, President, Catholic Answers

“Great stories help to make men good. Sadly, many men today wrongly think ‘great books’ are for academics alone, or think they aren’t worth the time. Joseph Pearce remedies those errors as he not only makes these books accessible, but his reflections show why good men should always seek the wisdom of great books.”
— Jason Craig, Co-founder, Fraternus; Author, Leaving Boyhood Behind: Reclaiming the Gift of Manhood and Traditional Rites of Passage 

“A refreshingly masculine perspective on some of the greatest literary works of all time. No stone is left unturned: spiritual fatherhood, virtue, suffering, holiness, and relativism are treated with deftness and skill. Insightful and intelligent, this book is a creative tour de force that adeptly weds the Church’s love of literary classics to the heart of the spiritual man.”
— Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Author, Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality

“The crisis of modern manhood stems, in part, from an impoverishment of imagination. Catholic men must set out on the adventure of rediscovering the meaning of masculinity. Pearce proves an able navigator through the stormy waters of passion faced by men with the help of the literary giants. Together they point toward the gentle yoke of Christ, who teaches us the sacrifice needed to follow our vocation as fathers and leaders.”
— R. Jared Staudt, Ph.D., Director of Content, Exodus 90

“In an age of toxic emasculation, a book like this is long overdue. Joseph Pearce has dipped into the rich treasury of the very best of the Catholic literary tradition and has brought out some true gems of poetry and prose that elevate and inspire masculine virtue. Drawing from a broad sweep of authors from Homer to Chaucer to C. S. Lewis in the first half of the book, he capstones the concluding chapters with texts exclusively from two perennial favorites, Chesterton and Tolkien.”   
— Most Reverend James Conley, Bishop of Lincoln, NE