My initial goal was to write the book alone. I approached a colleague of mine with whom I resonated from my IPEC coaching training. He withdrew from co-editing the book because of his professional commitments, but I decided to make a list of the men who had influenced and impressed me throughout my life. I had more than 40 men on that list. Several dropped out due to time constraints, and one was threatened to be sued by his family if he shared his past, and others never responded to my initial appeal. It took nine months to assemble these 25 stories.
I decided that rather than write the book alone, throwing on “rock” that young men and readers could duck or discount, I would throw multiple “rocks” or stories that would be impossible to duck, defer, deflect, or deny. I have not seen many of these men in 40 or more years; however, whenever I approached them, they responded eagerly and willingly. I lived in a fraternity house with many of these men for the four years I was in college and saw them every day in every way. My criteria for selection were successful but humble men who impressed me by being “real men” who would tell their stories with candor, wisdom, and passion. I am thankful that all of the men stepped up and wrote impassioned and real stories that should be “undodgeable,” even if a hybrid of reading and applying two or more stories is the outcome, I have been blessed by rekindling old friendships, making new ones, and even encouraging the A-ha Moments men to network with each other These men are from all colors and races — black, white, everyone. They are distributed throughout the US and Canada, from a 30-year-old businessman who designed my business cards and redesigned my website to the 93-year-old father of my best friend in Washington, DC.
Thank you, gentlemen. You exceeded my expectations, and I am proud to represent you by championing the collection and distribution of this effort. To God be the glory for the victories he has won. As the editor, I am humbled by the depth and breadth of experiences these men brought to this project. We took notes as we read these short stories and their bios. We only hope and pray that God will enrich what was placed in our spirits to do Women will also benefit from reading this book to better understand how men think. There are several themes that will emerge in reading all of them, and these need not be stated but are evident in the hearts, minds, and behaviors of these unsung heroes.
— Quentin Newhouse Jr., PhD, CPC, PCC (Editor)
