I have an eleven year-old son who thinks he's 13-going-on-21. Like most modern fathers, a nine-hour day - bracketed by a 40-minute commute - doesn't leave me with nearly as much time as I would love to spend with him. Add two younger brothers to the mix and "one-on-one" time becomes truly precious. I honestly believe that being a gentleman gains a man a lot of respect - even if the people he encounters really don't know why they respect him. Like all fathers, I want my sons to be liked & respected.
50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know covers the basics in a no-nonsense manner. Each situtation is breifly described and defined. It is then followed by "What you do," "What you DON'T do" and "Why." It is a very easy read (I read it from cover to cover in under 45 minutes.) that communicates it's ideas in a very clear manner. Does it cover EVERY situation that a young man is going to encounter? No, but it does a good job of covering the most common ones. Everything from "What to do with a napkin," to "How to treat someone with a disability."
These are all things that my four brothers and I were taught at home, but we had the absolute luxury (By today's standards.) of Dad being at home on the family farm when he wasn't commercial fishing or working for the county road department. Being the youngest, I got lots of "peer reenforcement" from my older brothers.
My son's reaction? "You're joking, right, Dad?" I looked him squarely in the eye and informed him that I was most certainly not joking and that I expect him to not only read the book, but to learn the things it has to teach -- and to put them to work in his life. He shook his head and walked off to his bedroom with the book. He was back in five minutes, promising to read five "Things" each day. I think he must have read the dedication I enscribed on the inside of the front cover. Most of it is highly personal and (I pray) not applicable to your individual situtation, but here is the last paragraph: "Why is your learning to be a gentleman so important to me? Because I love you and I want you to be liked and respected by everyone you meet. Love, Dad."
Like I said in my review's title: This is not the last word on training up your sons to be gentlemen, but it is a good first step on that all-important journey.
50 Things Every Young Gentleman Should Know