
The Compleat Gentleman
The Modern Man's Guide to Chivalry
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Narrated by:
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Christopher Lane
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By:
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Brad Miner
About this listen
Despite our confusion, real manhood is not complicated. It is an ancient ideal based on service to one's God, country, family, and friends, a simple but arduous ideal worthy of a lifetime of struggle.
Miner's gentleman stands out for his dignity, restraint, and discernment. He rejects the notion that one way of behaving is as good as another. He belongs to an aristocracy of virtue, not of wealth or birth. Proposing neither a club nor a movement, Miner describes a lofty code of manly conduct, which, far from threatening democracy, is necessary for its survival.
Miner traces the concept of manliness from the jousting fields of the 12th century to the decks of the Titanic. The three masculine archetypes that emerge, the warrior, the lover, and the monk, combine in the character of the "compleat gentleman". This modern knight cultivates a martial spirit in defense of the true and the beautiful. He treats the opposite sex with the passionate respect required by courtly love. And he values learning in the pursuit of truth, all with the discretion, decorum, and nonchalance that the Renaissance called sprezzatura.
The Compleat Gentleman is filled with examples from the past and the present of the man our increasingly uncivilized age demands.
©2004 Brad Miner (P)2004 Blackstone AudiobooksListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"What can the word 'gentleman' have to do with 21st-century America? A lot....Miner writes with wit and charm." (Wall Street Journal)
"In erudite and witty prose, Miner explores these three facets of his concept of the gentleman through an engaging survey of knighthood, warfare and courtship....Miner's theories are consistently entertaining." (Publishers Weekly)
Seems too short because it's so good!
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The argument for chivalry stumbles when the author tries to make a case for martial combat. Simply, our age cannot condone martial combat because technology has eliminated the possibility of honorable combat. School shootings and the prospect of nuclear war are proof that we should find a better outlet for physical prowess. Sport is the closest thing I can think of, but it is not mentioned in the book.
The big problem with Miner?s examination is his exaltation of coolness. The way he puts it, cool (sprezzatura) is the ultimate aim of the gentleman. And while a solid case can be made for sprezzatura, coolness means nonchalance and insouciance, and those things do not always lead to refinement and excellence. Indeed, coolness is the primary aim of our culture these days and it leads directly to all the problems that Miner is trying to correct with the compleat gentleman.
It is a fine collection of refreshing ideas and is well worth the read despite its near-fatal flaw. The author is diligent in locating the source of words and ideas and it is worth the read just to know where the word ?romance? came from. Ultimately, the book will probably add some energy to the growing movement toward a more civilized society.
Good argument (with a single near-fatal flaw)
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What the author does get right is a semi-comprehensive view of masculine virtue (an idealized view of how elite men should behave) through history using actual stories or figures to illustrate his point. There’s one about a knight that takes great offense to his underling being insulted that sticks with me. If you watched “Kingsmen” by Matthew Vaughn, you will understand where Brad Miner is coming from: does being a gentlemen depend on birth, upbringing, or an attitude? It can be all three, or one; it’s tough to nail down. I’ve heard others take similar views, Miner’s falls under a somewhat traditional and “refined” viewpoint. The book covers a lot of ground, and even jumping off and on it over a few weeks it never fell into a rut of monotony. There’s too much to read to get bored if you’re genuine about the topic, although he does like referencing the movie “Titanic” a lot.
If you looking for a how-to, this isn’t it. If you want a decently long and multi-faceted examination on what makes “Better Men” what they are, this is for you
Slightly dated, but worth the listen
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Not what I expected, either
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If you could sum up The Compleat Gentleman in three words, what would they be?
History. Definition. Guide.Any additional comments?
The book is a great history and definition of the gentleman for men who are constantly aspiring to grow and improve. My wife and I listened this book and enjoyed and learned from it.History and definition of the gentleman.
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Good luck with the karate Brad Miner. You are my hero!
So Toxic its Funny
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Being a gentleman is living a tradition
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a need for every man to read/listen
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The writing is excellent and narration perfect for the content.
The more men read this, the better our future
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The history is good acurate and interesting. Good narriation.
Guilty much?
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