The Art of Manliness

That Dwight D. Eisenhower became Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe, orchestrating the largest amphibious invasion in history on June 6, 1944, was far from inevitable. He came from the middle of nowhere — Abilene, Kansas — had never led men in battle, spent most of his career as a staff officer, and didn’t make general until he was in his fifties. How, then, did he become the leader on whom the fate of the world would rest? Today, we trace the making of Ike with Michel Paradis, author of The Light of Battle [https://amzn.to/4knqadb]. We talk about how Eisenhower’s Midwestern upbringing shaped his character, and how his most important education happened outside the classroom. Michel shares how crucial mentors were in Ike’s development, and how Eisenhower made the most of those relationships. We discuss the books that were most formative in shaping his thinking, including what he got from Nietzsche. We also get into some of the practices Eisenhower used to lead effectively, including how he budgeted his time to maintain his morale while under the pressure of planning D-Day and what he did the evening before the invasion to deal with the stress. RESOURCES RELATED TO THE PODCAST * AoM Podcast #641: How Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike’s Granddaughter * AoM series on Eisenhower’s leadership [https://www.artofmanliness.com/career-wealth/leadership/leadership-lessons-from-dwight-d-eisenhower-1-how-to-build-and-sustain-morale/] * AoM Podcast #996: Remembering D-Day 80 Years Later [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/military/podcast-996-remembering-d-day-80-years-later/] * The Line Man’s Bible: A Football Textbook of Detailed Instruction by Ernest Graves. [https://www.amazon.com/Line-Mans-Bible-Foot-Ball-Instruction/dp/0371724171?&linkCode=sl1&tag=stucosuccess-20&linkId=bc86c9a014f89e03bf2127d551eb5a42&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl] * Sunday Firesides: You Never Know How Many Chapters Are Still to Come [https://www.dyingbreed.net/p/sunday-firesides-you-never-know-how?utm_source=publication-search] * Fox Conner [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Conner] * The Czar of Halfaday Creek by James B. Hendryx [https://amzn.to/4dw6m4u] CONNECT WITH MICHEL PARADIS * Michel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michel-paradis-77721610] * Michel's faculty page [https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/michel-paradis] Book cover for [https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/06/71Q33zein2L._SL1500_.jpg]

The British just seem like a classier bunch. Part of it is that winning accent. But it's also because English culture has long been steeped in the tradition of learning and practicing etiquette. Here to share some of the essentials of modern etiquette that are important no matter which side of the pond you live on is William Hanson, a British etiquette expert and the author of Just Good Manners [https://amzn.to/4kyChDN]. William shares the difference between manners and etiquette, and why young people are especially interested in both. He then takes us through how to introduce yourself and others, the history behind the "no elbows on the table" mantra, the rules of small talk, some overlooked guidelines for table manners, how to enter a conversational circle at a party, considerations for elevator etiquette, and much more. Whether you're dining at a fancy restaurant or just want to navigate social situations with more confidence, William's insights will help you present yourself with the panache of a proper English gentleman. RESOURCES RELATED TO THE PODCAST * AoM Podcast #897: Answers to the FAQ of Modern Etiquette [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/podcast-897-answers-to-the-faq-of-modern-etiquette/] * AoM Podcast #422: Men & Manners — Tipping, Emojis, and Much More [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/podcast-422-men-manners-tipping-emojis-and-much-more/] * AoM Article: The Importance of Good Manners [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/importance-good-manners/] * AoM Article: How to Acquire Good Manners [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/how-to-acquire-good-manners/] * AoM Article: A Man’s Guide to Dining Etiquette and Proper Table Manners [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/guide-dining-etiquette-table-manners/] * AoM Article: How to Make Introductions Like a Gentleman [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/etiquette/how-to-make-introductions-like-a-gentleman/] * AoM Article: How to Make Small Talk [https://www.artofmanliness.com/people/social-skills/how-to-make-small-talk/] * AoM's Complete Guide to Giving a Great Handshake [https://www.artofmanliness.com/skills/manly-know-how/the-complete-guide-to-giving-a-great-handshake/] CONNECT WITH WILLIAM HANSON * William's website [https://www.williamhanson.co.uk/] * William on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@williamhansonetiquette?lang=en] * William on IG [https://www.instagram.com/williamhanson/?hl=en] Book cover for [https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/05/717YS3GhO1L._SL1500_.jpg]

Uncertainty is a constant of human existence. How will market conditions affect your new business venture? What will be the results of the medical test you just took? Will a new relationship work out? For most of us, situations of uncertainty trigger anxiety, even fear. But the stress of uncertainty doesn't have to overwhelm you. You can learn to navigate it with secure, adaptable confidence so you can keep thriving and progress towards your ultimate goals. Today on the show, Rich Diviney, a retired Navy SEAL commander, returns to share insights from his new book Masters of Uncertainty [https://amzn.to/45mUmjE]. He first explains why thinking that life will be predictable keeps people from realizing their potential. He then walks us through practical techniques for dealing with uncertainty like "moving horizons," creating meaningful goals that work with our brain chemistry, and de-stressing your body so you can be more resilient and make better decisions under pressure. We also discuss how understanding your unique attributes will help you understand how you react to uncertainty and how teams can implement "dynamic subordination" to adapt in rapidly changing environments. RESOURCES RELATED TO THE PODCAST * Rich's previous appearance on the AoM podcast — #738: The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance [https://www.artofmanliness.com/career-wealth/leadership/attributes-that-drive-optimal-performance/] * AoM Article: 5 Tools for Thriving in Uncertainty [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/5-tools-for-thriving-in-uncertainty/] * AoM Article: The Best Books to Read in Uncertain Times [https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/reading/the-best-books-to-read-in-uncertain-times/] * The Physiological Sigh [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSZKIupBUuc] CONNECT WITH RICH DIVINEY * The Attributes website [https://theattributes.com/] * Rich on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richdiviney] * Rich on IG [https://www.instagram.com/rich_diviney/?hl=en] Book cover of [https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/05/71nNKcwx9qL._SL1500_.jpg]

Community is one of life's most valuable but increasingly scarce resources. While we hear about a supposed epidemic of male loneliness, many men still resist joining groups or struggle to maintain involvement after initial enthusiasm wanes. Today on the show, Frank Schwartz will help us understand the barriers to building male community and how to overcome them. Frank is the CEO of F3 [https://f3nation.com/], a free, all-volunteer men's leadership organization that uses workouts to bring men together and supports hundreds of decentralized chapters worldwide. In the first half of our conversation, Frank explains the psychology behind men's hesitation to join groups, how to navigate the "wish dream" of idealized community, and why expecting perfection kills participation. We then discuss what makes leadership in a decentralized group different from traditional hierarchies, the importance of embracing messiness, and why allowing men to make their own decisions creates stronger leaders than giving them a rulebook to follow. We end our conversation with Frank's perspective on cultivating patience as a leader and how to measure success when building a community of men. RESOURCES RELATED TO THE PODCAST * F3 [https://f3nation.com/] * AoM Podcast #324: How Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith Are the Cure for Sad Clown Syndrome [https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/fitness/podcast-324-fitness-fellowship-faith-cure-sad-clown-syndrome/] * QSource: The F3 Manual of Virtuous Leadership by David "Dredd" Redding [https://amzn.to/4jPIHOq] * AoM article on phronesis/practical wisdom [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/behavior/practical-wisdom/] * Dying Breed article on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's vision of community [https://www.dyingbreed.net/p/a-new-kind-of-monasticism-the-power] CONNECT WITH FRANK SCHWARTZ * Frank on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankschwartz] * Frank on X [https://x.com/darkhelmetF3?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor]

Figuring out the pitfalls and best practices of adulthood can be tricky. It's helpful to have some pearls of wisdom to guide you along the way. My guest today has spent decades collecting these kinds of helpful truths and has crafted her own guiding mantras of maturity. Gretchen Rubin is the author of numerous bestselling books, including The Happiness Project, and her latest, Secrets of Adulthood [https://amzn.to/431jrhB]. Today on the show, Gretchen shares how she came to write hundreds of aphorisms on how to navigate life, and we dig into some of my favorites of these concise, sage sayings. Amongst many topics, we discuss why "happiness doesn't always make us feel happy," the best strategy for changing ourselves, a very useful heuristic for making decisions, why you should wear a favorite sweater more often, and even why big top tables at restaurants are one of my pet peeves. RESOURCES RELATED TO THE PODCAST * Gretchen's books [https://amzn.to/4m0pATO] * Gretchen's "What's the next new habit that will make you happier?" quiz [https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-habits-for-happiness-quiz/] * AoM Article: The Self-Deception Destroying Maxims of Francois de La Rochefoucauld [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/knowledge-of-men/the-maxims-of-francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/] * AoM Article: Nietzsche’s 66 Best Aphorisms [https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/knowledge-of-men/nietzsches-66-best-aphorisms/] * AoM Article: Just Go to Sleep [https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health/just-go-to-sleep/] * Sunday Firesides: Life Is for Living [https://www.dyingbreed.net/p/sunday-firesides-life-is-for-living] CONNECT WITH GRETCHEN RUBIN * Gretchen's website [https://gretchenrubin.com/] * Gretchen on IG [https://www.instagram.com/gretchenrubin/] * Gretchen on FB [https://www.facebook.com/GretchenRubin] * Gretchen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenrubin/] Book cover for [https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/2025/05/814i9u-norL._SL1500_.jpg]