Full of wit and wisdom, Jon and Jeff have composed a book that I know has already touched the hearts of hundreds of men across the US (and probably around the world too). On a personal level, this book has been full of equal measures of challenge and encouragement, as it has confirmed some of the things I already felt necessary to work on over the past few years, and gave insight to many more. The chapter on Loneliness is worth the price of the book itself—the content is fantastic and the suggestions and simple and practical. While the book has lots of pop culture references and historical quotes, it is also filled to the brim with scripture, something which I’ve found lacking in other books of this category. I can happily recommend to individuals in our community no matter where they are at in their walk with Jesus. This book provides easy ways to begin bringing these things “into the light,” allowing the light of Christ to shine on them. There is something in here for every man. I was able to go with a couple friends to one of the book launch events, where I got to meet Jon—such a humble, genuine, authentic man (and I don’t use that last word often!) Truly a man of the people. We enjoyed our time greatly and the whole car ride back was filled with conversation. On a vocational level, this book has heaps of content that the newly formed leadership team for our men’s ministry will be using to shape various events and activities. If you are going to read ONE NEW BOOK this year—read “Fighting Shadows.” You won’t be disappointed. Thank you, Jon and Jeff! {I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book, but in no other way was compensated for this review}

During reading Fighting Shadows as part of the launch team, I consistently felt two distinct feelings: I felt seen. I felt hope. I have distinct memories all throughout my life (I am a Genz 24 year old) of feeling bad about being a boy/man, ashamed of my gender. First it was due to hearing the negative experiences of women close to me at the hands of other men. I remember thinking, "Is this all I have to look forward to? This is not what I see in Jesus." Later in high school, in the 2014-2018 era which felt like the beginning of much of the social media-culture war outrage, I began to constantly hear the narrative of how bad men were, that my masculinity was something inherently negative and destructive. I remember thinking, "Do I have nothing good to offer this world? Am I sidelined?" On the other hand, I grew up as a Pastor's Kid in Church. The good of that was I had strong convictions about God's design for equality and partnership between men and women, that my masculinity was a beautiful, God-given reality, and that God had a plan for how He wanted me to live that out. Yet, negatively, I saw the hypocrisy and abuse of male (and female) leaders, the overreaction they had to the culture wars, and more. At the same time, the church seemed to want to placate me - it didn't know what to do with my passion, my energy, my questions. So I, like many other young Christian men, have had a sense of low grade despair and the feeling of my hope like a fire slowly being suffocated for lack of oxygen. The world seemed to hate me - the Church I felt like didn't know what to do with me. I have often felt confused and alone - my biblical convictions remain, but the Church and the world both don't seem to make sense of them. I have tried my best to be a good man, I have many leader and men I look up to who seem to embody the kind of man I want to be, but I realize that I don't really know how to get there. Enter Fighting Shadows - I felt seen and I felt hope reading each chapter. Jon and Jeff seemed to hit the nail on the head - they named my experience I have had. I realized I am not the only man going through this and wondering if there's a way forward to be a healthy, strong, powerful, loving man in the world and the Church. And that is where I felt hope - with nuance, clarity, empathy, and truth they reignited that dying fire. There is a way forward! I don't have to be some Andrew Tate alpha male, but I don't have to relegate myself to a life of quiet despair and untapped potential. I can be formed into the image of Jesus. And this isn't some lofty, pie-in-the-sky idea of manhood that is vague and impractical. It is clear that through years of engagement, thought, reflection, and hands-on, practical ministry with men that they have produced something tangible and real for men like me and you. I am so grateful to have been able to read and review this book early so that I can spread the word about the amazing things that Forming Men, Jon Tyson, and Jeff Bethke are doing for Christian men in this cultural moment. Prepare to be woken up, to be seen and loved right where you are, to be given hope, and to be called and inspired towards a godly, cruciform, powerful way of being a man. Go buy this book!

Fighting Shadows -- although phenomenal, is best digested slowly. I'm not saying you can't read it in one go. It is extremely readable, well-written, and well-paced. I am simply saying that if you let it take its time, let God show you how true each of these shadows are true in your life, it will be able to dig deeper into your soul. I was struggling to put a finger on some of the things I've been feeling as a man, partly because we are not taught much emotional clarity from society and partly because I didn't want to admit some things. But through this book, Bethke and Tyson put language around the futility, apathy, despair, and loneliness we can all feel at times. Well worth a pick-up. Well worth a re-read.

Fighting Shadows achieves its goal of drawing men together. We are using the book for a men's bible study and I am so impressed by the way the content stimulates conversation and creates space for honest reflection. 3 Things I like most about the book: -Tone: So many books on masculinity don't pass the tone test; they are patronizing and hyped. Bethke and Tyson discuss masculinity with a humble honesty and a clear vision which gives the book the same tone you might have when talking with a trusted mentor over coffee. -Pace: The book and the chapters within the book are the right length and they offer the right amount of material. The chapters in Fighting Shadows give you plenty to think about, without becoming so dense that the reader feels bogged down. The book has great flow. -Clarity: The book's is written to help men live a life which reflects the character and mission and passion of Jesus. Every chapter stays focused on that end. 1 Thing that would improve the book: -In future editions this critique may not apply but in the edition I read, the chapters did not include discussion questions. Considering how this book is going to be used, discussion questions seem like an obvious improvement. In conclusion, Fighting Shadows is a gift to men and I am grateful for it.