Hearty Masculinity

Hearty Masculinity: Of Body and Spirit is a gentle and kind book for men from Chris Halverson's perspective as a mainline clergyman with a congenital heart condition. Hearty Masculinity's first half, the "Body" section, focuses on practical secular concerns. The first chapter looks at time management as a way to know oneself. The second chapter is about noticing and regulating one's emotions. The third chapter focuses on relating to other people by practicing relational masculinity instead of one that is performative. The second half, the "Spirit" section, is about soul care. The fourth chapter makes the case that the liturgy is a pattern for a good life. The fifth chapter reconstructs masculinity using Paul's paradigm of "power in weakness." The final chapter consists of ten brief devotionals for men.

Chris Halverson serves as a Lutheran pastor in central New Jersey (it does exist). He is a co-editor of the latest edition of Minister's Prayer Book (2020). He and his wife Lisa live with a very Lutheran cat appropriately named Simul Justus et Peccator.