Review: "The Real Win"

Colt McCoy, an NFL quarterback, and Matt Carter, the founding pastor of a mega-church, have written:  The Real Win:  A Man’s Quest for Authentic Success.  I approached the book with skepticism, but found it to be a strong, biblical primer on manhood.  This is a book I would recommend giving to every high school boy – and perhaps even junior high boys – because of the messages it contains and need to be heard and believed – especially before entering the free-for-all of college.

McCoy and Carter alternate throughout the book telling their stories – the good times, the bad times, the wise decisions, and the sins.  Perhaps the one caution I would make in giving this book to a young person would be that following God will not guarantee his being a NFL quarterback, pastor of a mega-church, or, necessarily any other form of worldly success.

In the first chapter, they look at the truth that there is no “winning” without believing the God of the Bible and following Him.

In the second chapter, they look at the difference between worldly achievement and idolatry and following God’s purposes.

In the third chapter, they present complementarianism, and argue that the biblical model is for the man to be the spiritual head of the household and of his wife.

In the fourth, they explain the being head of the household and wife does not negate the fact that the husband is to love his wife and attend to her needs.

In the fifth, they go into detail about what it means to be the spiritual leader of the home.

In the sixth, they set out a strong warning against idolatry and guidance for pursuing the work the God has given to each individual.

In the seventh, they show that whatever work a man ends up doing, he is to work to please God and not men.  (And, if he works to please God, that will often be more than your boss will require.)  They also make it clear that work is part of God’s creation order and not a result of the Fall.

In the eighth, they distinguish between temptation and sin, and they look to the Scripture to see how men may reject temptation and keep from sinning.

In the ninth, they look at the fact that we are yet sinners, though saved, and they look to the Scripture to see that there is forgiveness for sin to those who repent – that God has grace and mercy for the repentant believer.

In the tenth, they look at suffering and how God uses suffering to make us into the men God wants us to be.

In the eleventh, they argue that the best legacy a man can leave is to be faithful to God.  Here, they also recap how following the other chapters – and Scripture – show that a man is faithful

The book comes with a detailed and useful study guide.  As I said to begin with, this would be good for a high school (and possibly junior high) boy’s study – or perhaps, retreat.

In a day of men being absent, abusive, and far from leaders, this is a very helpful book to begin the journey with the young men in our lives.

[This review appears on Amazon.com and on my blog.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.]