the mask of masculinity

This week, Garrett leads our discussion of the Conclusion chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes and our final thoughts on the book.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (2:30 - 5:17)

Conclusion chapter and book recap discussion (5:18 - 46:20)

• Which mask do you feel you’ve most identified with? (5:18 - 25:51)
• What was the biggest thing you learned about yourself while reading this book? (25:52 - 40:24)
• The guys share their final thoughts on the book (40:25 - 46:20)

Next book preview! Scarcity Brain: “Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough” by Michael Easter (46:21 - 48:33)

We’ll take the next two weeks off. Season 2 will begin January 9! We’ll read and discuss the first three chapters of Scarcity Brain:

• “Introduction: Our Scarcity Brain” (pgs. 1-7)
• “Chapter 1: The Scarcity Loop” (pgs. 8-29)
• “Chapter 2: How the Scarcity Loop Hooks Us” (pgs. 30-37)

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, Thomas leads our discussion of  “The Alpha Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:24 - 4:27)

“The Alpha Mask” discussion (4:28 - 64:36)

• Share a story of a time when you experienced someone acting like an “alpha.” Bonus points if the story is about yourself! (4:28 - 29:22)
• What insecurities are you possibly hiding when you exhibit the alpha mask? (29:23 - 51:54)
• What are your thoughts on the author’s take on becoming an “evolved alpha”? (48:15 - 64:36)

Next week we’ll read the “Conclusion” chapter (pages 213 - 223) and recap the entire book! We’ll also share what book we’ll be reading next for season 2!

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, the guys discuss “The Know-It-All Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:02 - 4:27)

“The Know-It-All Mask” discussion (4:28 - 57:36)

• Which type of man do you relate to more, the one who can’t admit he doesn’t know what he’s doing, or the one who thinks he has all the answers? (4:28 - 21:06)
• How would you define your demeanor towards learning and obtaining wisdom, and how has that evolved over the years? (21:07 - 28:40)
• What do you think when wise and smart people say that they don’t know anything at all? (28:41 - 52:41)
• Closing thoughts (52:42 - 57:36)

Next week’s reading: “The Alpha Mask”: pages 195 - 212

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, Garrett leads our discussion of “The Joker Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction and chapter reading recap (1:01 - 7:07)

“The Joker Mask” discussion (7:08 - 55:10)

• Do you try to bring humor to situations because you struggle with contributing in non-humorous ways to conversations and relationships? (7:08 - 22:59)
• As you’ve gotten older, have you seen yourself and others use humor more often? And, do you perceive humor is used more so to avoid deeper topics? (23:00 - 42:51)
• What does it look like practically to take off the joker mask? (42:52 - 55:10)

Next week’s reading: “The Invincible Mask”: pages 153 - 174

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, the guys discuss “The Aggressive Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Introduction (0:30 - 4:43)

Chapter reading recap (4:44 - 10:54)

“The Aggressive Mask” discussion (10:55 - 50:47)

• What is your experience understanding expressing a wider array of emotions other than the standard “mad,” “angry” and “sad” emotions men typically communicate? (10:55 - 22:53)
• When was the last time you were in a physical altercation or fight? (22:54 - 37:13)
• What are ways we can effectively manage the aggressive mask? (37:14 - 49:13)
• What are ways we can pass down better emotional regulations strategies to others (friends, children, etc.)? (49:14 - 53:29)

Next week’s reading: “The Joker Mask”: pages 130 - 173

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, the guys discuss “The Sexual Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Intro and chapter reading recap (1:01 - 3:54)

“The Sexual Mask” discussion (3:55 - 50:47)

• What was your viewpoint of Neil Strauss’ story? How did you perceive him and the purpose that his book set out to accomplish? (3:55 - 21:25)
• How have we been a sounding board with each other to talk about our struggles with the sexual mask? How have our relationships helped heal both ourselves and others?  (21:26 - 41:54)
• What are some freedoms we have experienced from removing the sexual mask? (41:55 - 50:47)

Next week’s reading: “The Aggressive Mask”: pages 109 - 130

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @bookbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

This week, the guys discuss “The Material Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Intro (0:58  - 3:38)

Chapter reading recap (3:39 - 8:58)

“The Material Mask” discussion (8:59 - 1:01:07)

• On a scale of 1-10, how much do you think about money? Why do you think you put that much thought into it? Do you think about it too much, or the right amount? (8:59 - 26:17)
• Have you ever had a time in your life where you had no money or felt very desperate financially? (26:18 - 54:56)
• How can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude rather than being ungrateful for what we don’t have and constantly comparing our financial situation with the next man? (54:57 - 1:01:07)

Next week’s reading: “The Sexual Mask”: pages 83 - 107

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, the guys discuss “The Athlete Mask” chapter from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

Intro and recap of the chapter (1:06  - 7:49)

“The Athlete Mask” discussion (7:50 - 49:40)

• How did sports shape you growing up, either positive or negative? Was there ever such a thing in your mind that it was possible to be TOO dedicated to sports? (7:50 - 39:23)
• How healthy of a relationship do you feel you have now with the athlete mask? (39:23 - 45:03)
• Do you have friends where the entire relationship is based solely on sports and you don’t know anything else about them? (45:03 - 49:40)

Next week’s reading: “The Material Mask”: pages 61 - 82

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @bookbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com

We’ll see you next week! Until then - read, reflect, and connect.

Welcome back to the Books Brothers Podcast! This week, the guys discuss the Preface, Introduction, and “The Stoic Mask” chapters from The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes.

1. Recap of the chapters (3:03 - 8:23)
2. “Preface” discussion (8:24 - 27:34)

• The guys discuss scenarios they heard the term “Be a man” growing up (and today) and how that phrase influenced how they viewed (and still view) what manhood means. (8:24 - 12:54)
• The guys share what unhelpful portrayals of manhood they’ve had to unlearn as they’ve gotten older and the benefits they’ve experienced from unlearning them. (12:55 - 27:34)

3. “Introduction” discussion (27:35 - 43:52)

• What depictions of stereotypical “real man” do the guys identify with, and are there any they’d add to the author’s list?

4. “The Stoic Mask” discussion (44:40 - 1:08:14)

• Why are men afraid of being vulnerable and opening themselves up to other men? (44:40 - 55:40)
• What are some faulty assumptions that are built on fears that make us afraid of addressing? Why do we as men believe those fears? (55:40 - 1:08:05)

Next week’s reading: “The Athlete Mask”: pages 41 - 60

You can buy the book on Amazon by clicking here.

You can also borrow it at your local library. Don’t have a library card, or unsure where your local library is? Search on Google Maps, or find your local library by clicking here.

Follow us on Instagram @booksbrotherspodcast

Connect with us at connect@booksbrotherspodcast.com.

We’ll see you next week! Until then, read, reflect, and connect.