Introducing Books, Routines, and Habits: The Founders' Guide to Self-Improvement from The Art of Manliness.

Follow the show: The Art of Manliness

A lot of self-improvement advice and content feels empty. And there's a reason for that. It often offers routines and habits to practice, but doesn't offer a strong, overarching reason to practice them.

That's why the self-improvement advice of the Founding Fathers is particularly compelling. Though they were imperfect men, they had a clear why for trying to become better than they were. For the Founders, life was about the pursuit of happiness, and they equated happiness with excellence and virtue — a state that wasn't about feeling good, but being good. The Founders pursued happiness not only for the personal benefit in satisfaction and tranquility it conferred, but for the way the attainment of virtue would benefit society as a whole; they believed that political self-government required personal self-government.

Today on the show, Jeffrey Rosen, a professor of law, the president of the National Constitution Center, and the author of The Pursuit of Happiness, shares the book the Founders read that particularly influenced their idea of happiness as virtue and self-mastery. We talk about the schedules and routines the Founders kept, the self-examination practices they did to improve their character, and how they worked on their flaws, believing that, while moral perfection was ultimately an impossible goal to obtain, it was still something worth striving for.

• AoM's series on Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues
• Ben Franklin Virtues Journal available in the AoM Store
• AoM Article: Young Benjamin Franklin’s Plan of Conduct
• AoM Article: Thomas Jefferson’s 10 Rules for Life
• AoM Article: The Libraries of Famous Men — Thomas Jefferson’s Recommended Reading
• AoM Article: The Best John Adams Quotes
• AoM Article: George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation
• AoM Podcast #366: Teach Yourself Like George Washington
• AoM Article: The Spiritual Disciplines — Study and Self-Examination
• Tusculan Disputations by Marcus Tullius Cicero
• The Golden Verses of Pythagoras 

• The National Constitution Center website 
• We the People podcast
• Jeffrey's faculty page
• Jeffrey on X

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Uncle Si gets the goods on the nude neighbor in Willie’s neighborhood. Martin winces with the memory of Si upsetting the crowded football stadium at Christian’s alma mater and John-David is shocked by the strange remedy Si’s wife undergoes for her latest injury. Si wouldn’t even turn down a poker game in the Angola State Prison Rodeo.

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si remembers an old friend and fellow “Duck Dynasty” cast member who has since passed away. Jay explains a Southern rite of passage that nearly everyone has experienced, even though it’s extremely unpleasant. Martin finds a bag of Si’s castoffs in his office thanks to Si’s wife’s decluttering kick. John-David wonders if Si has a secret time machine after hearing about his run from the law after borrowing a neighbor's horse. Si and the boys weigh in on modern day tipping culture.

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si peeks back behind the curtain of his old viral video clip show “Going Si-ral” and explains why he thinks his beard isn’t growing back in. Godwin has a few ideas on how to make millions selling American staples to Europeans, and Martin’s twin boys get their first taste of angler life, though they’re pretty unimpressed. John-David has beef with sea turtles, and Si’s cat, Sweet Pea, goes missing for two days. The boys give some advice on what to do when a Christian who’s committed to their faith finds themselves dating a non-believer. 

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si reckons there’s a big reason someone tried to do away with Donald Trump, and he’s got a message for anyone who thinks hurting someone over politics is okay. Martin is surprised to find out that even major college football games come with security snipers these days, and Phillip encourages parents to speak to their children about major events in age-appropriate ways. John-David reveals the way he handled the Trump rally shooting news coverage with his oldest son who’s fascinated by presidential history.

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si is excited to meet the newest members of Willie and Korie's "West Monroe Family." Martin is shocked by their new friends unique habits and John-David gushes about an old school viral video that he still can’t get enough of. The boys are interested to try all the crazy Dominican dishes Luis raves about. Si and his wife, Christine, have their own predictions about the end of the world, though Si’s works out particularly poorly for everyone in California.

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si unwittingly gets a snack and a seat on the front row to a sweet surprise proposal in the Duck Call Room! Phillip and John-David put a lot of effort into their own proposals and Godwin gets misty-eyed retelling the best days he’s ever spent with his friends and family. Si has seen some crazy side hustles in his day and Phillip tries to take John-David with a clever trick for a thousand bucks! Godwin looks forward to “Drive Your Tractor to Church Day.”

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si takes the boys on the road to Sportsman’s Camp for a live episode with a roomful of teenagers. Willie shows up to tell some lesser-known tales of the “Duck Dynasty” era, and John-David shoots his shot with his single hunting story. Si cracks everyone up with his unique skill at playing the game Two Truths & a Lie, and Martin and Godwin turn out to be terrible liars. A fan question leads Si to calculate his tea drinking over his lifetime, and it’s pretty staggering! Then Si and Phillip are joined by Bishop & First Lady Martin of Possum Trot fame to explore the power of pouring love into the lives of kids. 

https://campchyoca.org/sportsmans-camp-page — Learn more about Sportsman's Camp

https://Angel.com/Hope — Get showtimes for "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot," in theaters now!

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uncle Si’s new look says he’s in his “Godwin Era” and Stone relives an embarrassing Godwin moment on a fishing boat that was caught on camera. John-David helps Si plan his space tourist trip with Dolly Parton and Martin starts up a thought-provoking game of “Would You Rather?” Si feels nostalgic for Vietnamese cuisine and Martin reveals exactly how much it would take to get him into a spacecraft.

-

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing The Fascinating Differences Between Male and Female Friendships from The Art of Manliness.

Follow the show: The Art of Manliness

Friendships are a central part of the lives of both men and women. But from personal observation, you've probably noticed that the dynamics of male and female friendships aren't always the same. You may not, however, have been able to articulate what those differences are or have known what's behind them.

While there's still a lot of facets of friendship that haven't yet been researched, Dr. Jaimie Krems, who runs UCLA's Social Minds Lab, has a lot of interesting insights about what we do know about how and why men and women approach friendship differently. Today on the show, she explains why men and women form friendships and the differences in the size and nature of their social circles, how long their friendships last, and what they look for in friends. We also discuss why men have a greater tolerance for their friends' flaws than women do, why men and women would want to be friends with each other, and how each sex experiences friendship jealousy.

• The Banker's Paradox
• Joyce Benenson's research on "Males' Greater Tolerance of Same-Sex Peers"
• Jaimie's research on women's interpretation of disgust faces
• Jaimie's study: "Friendship Jealousy: One Tool for Maintaining Friendships in the Face of Third-Party Threats?"
• AoM Podcast #229: How Men and Women Socialize Differently
• AoMPodcast #360: Understanding Male Friendships
• AoM Podcast #726: What’s Causing the Male Friendship Recession?
• AoM Podcast #772: How Long Does It Take to Make Friends (And How Does That Process Work, Anyway)?
• AoM Article: How Not to Be Disappointed With Your Friends

• The Social Minds Lab at UCLA
• Jaimie's faculty page
• Jaimie on X

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].