There were some pretty low ratings for this book in this venue. So, let me start out by saying that this is not a book of manners and polite pleasantries. If you're trying to figure out which fork to use with which course, you needn't waste your time looking for it here.Using over a thousand years of history and etymology, this book is also not some propaganda piece thrown together to discredit or redefine manliness. At its core, this book reintroduces the chivalrous man to the modern era.The au...

Chivelry may have lost its appeal in the 21st century, but Mr. Miner brings to light a few areas men should focus on in living their lives: the knight, the warrior, the monk, and the lover. I thoroughly enjoyed his closing remarks on what it will take to re-establish the man's role in society.

I like the premise of this book and was excited about the title, however this book reads like someones Graduate dissertation. Too many pretentious words and needless rambling about obscure writers and quotes. I struggled through it. I like references to classical literature but not every three sentences. There is a difference between best SELLING authors and best WRITING authors. You have to write in a language that the masses can easily read and enjoy. This one is not.However, being a compleat

While providing several great threads to follow up on, the book seems incomplete. On the positive side, the book provides a history of chivalry and shows how the idea evolved through time. Chapters 2 and 3, on knighthood in the middle ages and on the English and American idea of the gentleman respectively, were excellent. The later chapters were not as good. The book convinced me, without intending to, that the “gentleman” must be attached to an objective standard. The author doesn’t require a s...

Not in love with the study of idiomology and felt like that took up too much of the book. Plus, he was super wordy. Did learn a little about history but the examples were definitely not uplifting. Will not be sharing this book with my class.

Not what I expected, but I love the research in this book. Gave me some good starting points for future research. I wish I had read it and Morte de Arthur at the same time. I enjoyed his opinions.

More a review of the literature than a manual of manners. A balanced critique/defense of the worldly virtues. My sprezzatura prevents me from saying more.

The narrator sounded smarmy, but maybe there was no other way to read the text. It constantly swaps out gentleman/humans, pauses to say no girls allowed, and then occasionally detours to laugh at silly girls who think boys want to exclude them from thing. It even makes what I guess is a joke about trans people when sniffing at the public display of everything such as a trans person going on Jerry Springer to come out as trans before telling their lover "that lady is no gentleman." Except that no...

This is one I want to read again and have already shared with a handful of people. The way he takes relevant history, looks at it's benefits and problems in context of it's time, then adapts it to the modern time was really beneficial for me. I like how he pulled standards from this process, then explained why those standards and how they should look in practice. I really appreciated how he furthers it and shows how specific aspects of this not being followed through turn into specific problems

A bit complicated to follow at times but overall a good book with a great deal of information regarding the history of the title of gentleman.

This book is the 3rd edition, but comes with newly revised passages that address the current hypocrisies of movements seeking to strip individuals of their accomplishments in the name of “justice” and “equality.” The author details the long history of chivalry in western culture. This history is backed by numerous sources, references, and works of literature that work to not only remind American’s of the better parts of our society, but also offer a valuable reference for arguing against those w...

One of the worst books I have ever read (I admit I couldn't finish it; life is too short for such rubbish) Skip this book and read the first 4000 lines or so of The Romance of the Rose, Andreas Capellanus' The Art of Courtly Love, Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier, and Machiavelli's The Prince. When the author is not going on about his martial art experience and why war helps build character (the author takes a detour to explain to his politically conservative audience how he managed to sit...

Is the idea of "the gentleman" still pertinent? This author asserts yes. And I would have to agree, given the definition he offers for what makes a true gentleman. This definition however seemed a bit garbled to me until the last few chapters. If the whole book was written with the clarity and assertiveness of the last two chapters, this book would have a much higher rating from me. I enjoyed reading about the history of chivalry and different ancient and modern philosophers' views of the "gentl...

This is unique book. Miner is a good writer who traces the history of chivalry and draws upon original and morphed meanings of being a gentleman. He divides the idea into three categories: warrior, monk, lover. Each of these categories are given adequate attention and he concludes with attempts to interpret being a gentleman in the 21st century. At times, Miner gets sidetracked due to his great breadth of literature, especially medieval literature. I found myself at times moving from the book to...

If you are looking for a guide to being a gentleman, you've probably come to the wrong place. This is a rather thorough survey of the literature over the last 1000 years that define chivalry and its evolution into the idea of the gentleman. There are no quick answers here, but it delves with real seriousness into concepts of defining the gentle man and the great men who shaped or described them. While I know little of the scholarship in this area, this book seems well grounded and thorough. Ther...

This book is mostly about the history and philosophy behind being a gentleman. If you're looking for practical situational advice, it's only somewhat useful. Not an etiquette manual.

Mostly good. Goes over the history of chivalry and discusses its use in the modern world.The author only occasionally interjects his opinion without providing support.

Clare's review of this was so good I am recommending it to my daughters and I want to read it as well!

Eh, wasn't at all what I was expecting, and I couldn't slog thorough it.

I very much enjoyed this book. Chivalry has had its' share of detractors over the years, but this book builds a solid argument for striving to become a "gentleman".

Listened to this book: good perspective for any Dad.