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Employing Courage
Building Men is your tribute to the men and moments that shaped your character, offering twenty virtue-driven stories as blueprints for building a meaningful life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The lessons of character gifted to me are less available in today’s world. The traits offered by the mentors in the book are digestible and understandable in story form for anyone who longs to improve their character and life’s outcome.
What inspired you to center each chapter around a specific virtue, and how did you choose which ones to include?
The character traits found in Building Men were in a somewhat chronological order according to the time they were experienced. I found myself focused on the stories of impact, and then distilled the character trait as the true benefit that was a natural outcome of the lesson.
Was there a particular story or person that was the hardest or most emotional for you to write about?
Because I have so little understanding of the war experience encountered by my son, Major, the nature of the lesson is more emotional than practical. I will not pretend to have experienced war except through the phone calls that were interrupted by gunfire. While my parental experience was real, the actual person running towards danger was the one who was employing courage.
How do you hope younger readers, especially those without strong male mentors, will connect with this book?
I long for my readers to grasp the low-tuition learning available to them from others. There are many within the community, school, and church settings who have much to offer. Some of these unlikely learning environments are not at first apparent. The lesson classroom in the book happened at virtually every place I found myself willing to watch and listen. While the mentors and stories in the book were all positive, rest assured, I have also learned from negative teachers and experiences as well. It is my active choice to dwell and honor the positive people who helped to form my life.
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What defines the making of a man?
Jim Tracy didn’t just establish multi-million-dollar family-owned businesses from his humble garage; he, alongside his family, embodied the American Dream. Jim attributes this success to the mentors who helped shape him into the entrepreneur and Hall of Fame inductee he is today.
In Building Men, Jim explores the essence of true character building, sharing stories of pivotal figures who influenced his business acumen, integrity, and leadership. He offers invaluable insights for anyone looking to guide young men toward becoming conscientious individuals who consistently make wise decisions.
From lessons learned from his grandfather to the principles he instills in his grandchildren, Jim provides a roadmap for raising young men in our complex modern world, offering a wealth of inspiration and practical advice.
Building Men – Character Lessons from Influencers
Jim Tracy’s Building Men is a heartfelt tribute to the people who shaped his life, a book built on memories, grit, love, and gratitude. Through twenty chapters, each rooted in a distinct virtue like loyalty, perseverance, courage, meekness, and more, Tracy shares rich and vivid personal stories of mentors, family members, and friends who left their fingerprints on his soul. These aren’t just character sketches; they’re emotional blueprints for becoming the kind of man who builds others. The central theme is clear: character is forged over time, in the fires of family, hardship, faith, and community. It’s deeply Christian, unabashedly nostalgic, and at times moving in its simplicity.
Tracy writes with warmth and vulnerability, and I really appreciated how he didn’t try to sound like a scholar or a preacher. He just tells it like it is, with stories that ring true. Sometimes the writing gets a little old-fashioned or sentimental, but that’s part of its charm. He doesn’t use fancy words or dance around the point. What he says, he means. I found myself underlining passages not because they were eloquent, but because they were true. The chapter on his grandfather and those small, faithful acts of love resonated with me. It made me think about the legacy I’m leaving, not through success, but through attention and time.
Some chapters had real emotional punch, while others were more like lists of traits with memories added on. I got the sense that Tracy had so much he wanted to say, and he tried to fit everyone in. You can tell every word was written with intention and love. There’s a strong religious current, too, that added a spiritual backbone to the stories.
If you’re someone who loves personal stories, values old-school virtue, or just wants to be reminded of what matters, this book is for you. Dads, grandfathers, coaches, teachers, and mentors will feel right at home here.
Pages: 145 | ASIN: B0F98RCG3B
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