Both my grandfathers died before I was born. When I was a young man, my father couldn't have given me counsel. We had a difficult relationship, and he didn't know how. Consequently, I learned far too much the hard way. I fumbled, I hurt others, and I was often bewildered.

Over the decades, I've come to realize that while my particular situation was unique, a great many men, perhaps the majority, didn't have an older man who could have provided advice. This is my motive in writing this book. If a few men make a few less consequential mistakes than I did, my efforts will be rewarded.