A diagnosis and a prescription for a generation of young men in crisis, Be the Awesome Man is a must-read guide for young men who want to achieve lasting success and personal happiness.

Young men are underachieving in unprecedented numbers. More and more young men are not attaining standard benchmarks of maturity, such as entering and graduating from higher education, finding a career, establishing their financial independence, and living on their own. Be the Awesome Man approaches the challenges of being a young man from a unique and practical perspective. Written in a sensible, easy-to-read format, Be the Awesome Man delves into the roots of male underachievement and provides practical guidance for young men and their parents, teachers, ministers, coaches, and other mentors.

Drawing on real-world experience as a coach, mentor, and father, author Dennis Gazarek provides methods to counter the negative influences that encourage underachievement, and shows how effective decision making can lead to a better life. Be the Awesome Man emphasizes that freedom requires responsibility and offers specific guides and advice for taking full responsibility and control over one's life.

Combining old-fashioned wisdom, a critical analysis of modern culture, and a pragmatic program of character development, Be the Awesome Man offers a better way of life for young men who want to break out of mediocrity and underachievement.

Born in a working-class neighborhood of Windsor, Ontario, Dennis Gazarek paid for college by working on farms, in factories, and in horse racing tracks. His early work experience taught him the reality of heavy manual labor and an appreciation for the challenges faced by working people in everyday life. After receiving an honors degree in business administration from the University of Windsor, Gazarek worked in sales for Procter & Gamble and General Motors, as well as working in real estate and as a business consultant. He is the author of Whacked! How GM Careened into Bankruptcy and Took the Innocent with Them. Gazarek lives with his wife in the Toronto area, where he plays saxophone with the Markham Concert Band.

Dennis Gazarek's profile page

"Gazarek has provided a road map to maturity with specific and measurable goals. A must-read for the young man in your life."

<b>Doug Manning, educator</b>

"Be the Awesome Man is a great resource for young men wanting to make a change and difference in their lives. Dennis provides great advice, supported by real-life examples and practical tools to start any young man on his awesome journey."

<b>Kerry Johnson, EdD, Ontario Tech University</b>

"A compelling read — Be the Awesome Man diagnoses the problem, then provides inspiring yet practical advice for men who wish to change their life's trajectory from mediocre to awesome! Highly recommended."

<b>Daniel Whittal, lawyer and martial arts instructor</b>

"Dennis Gazarek has done an awesome job. Using his experience and knowledge, he gets into the minds of young men and provides them with an insight to explore, estimate and establish themselves to fight the battles, not only for themselves but to inspire others"

<b>Vaqar Raees, president of Friends Indeed Canada</b>

"With a society currently lacking in empathy, inclusiveness, and direction, Be the Awesome Man is the right book at the right time. Sprinkled with relatable examples, this book is a guide for young men to make the right choices and become the leaders and overall good people the world so desperately needs."

<b>Barry Finlay, best-selling and award-winning author of <i>Kilimanjaro and Beyond</i> and the Marcie Kane thriller collection</b>

"Young adult males should all receive this book as a graduation gift to new adulthood. Its specifics and outline of pitfalls and promises along the way are nicely done and provide much practical food for thought."

<b><i>Midwest Book Review</i></b>

"Be The Awesome Man by Dennis Gazarek is a valuable blueprint for self-actualization that every man should have. The book provides readers with a step-by-step guide on how to become the best version of themselves. Through the use of real-life examples from his life, and the lives of others, Gazarek is able to draw in readers from various backgrounds. His clear and direct language enables readers to easily understand the strategies mentioned; and his practical tips inspires the reader into action to begin their journey of transformation. Regardless of what stage you are at in your life, every man, young or old, will find great value in reading Be The Awesome Man. Parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, this book is also for you. If you have a role in shaping boys into young men, this book will assist you in helping them become awesome. Get it for yourself. Buy it for a friend. You will not be disappointed."

<b>Jeannine Henry, youth minister, St. Francis de Sales Parish, Toronto</b>

"Gazarek offers a mother lode of valuable advice to help young men strive for self-excellence ... a practical, solid guide for any young man looking to improve himself as he matures."

<b>Bookz, Cookz, & Nookz</b>