Mike Farris:
Our guest today is Dr. William J. Bennett; who is the former Secretary of Education, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a significant national leader on important policy issues for many years. Bill, welcome to the program.
Secretary Bennett:
Thank you, Mike. It’s always my pleasure.
Mike:
What prompted you to put together the book The Book of Man: Readings on the Path to Manhood?
Secretary Bennett:
Two things: the current parlous condition of man; men are not doing what they’re supposed to do; they’re in increasing numbers not meeting their duties and responsibilities. Their numbers in the workforce are record low, and I don’t think the messages we’re sending to boys about what it means to be a man are the good ones, the right ones, in enough quantity in our society and in our culture.
Mike:
Can you describe for our listeners how you organized The Book of Man?
Secretary Bennett:
Yes. It’s in six chapters, six different contexts in which men find themselves or may find themselves. The first chapter is men at war, then there’s a chapter on men at work, men at play, sports, recreation, so on. Men in the polis, or in the community, the political community, men as citizens. Man in the family, with family and children, and then the last chapter, men in prayer and reflection and the end of man’s life. I’ve organized it that way because I think those are the six defining contexts of human life and of men’s lives particularly.
Mike:
Bill, this sounds very good. I’m Mike Farris.
