If it was difficult to be a young man in the days of the nineteenth century when Ryle penned Thoughts for Young Men, it is all the more difficult to be a young man in the twenty-first century world of image overload, radical individualism, and rampant sensuality. Thanks be to God, the answers available for the boys of Ryle’s day remain every bit as potent for boys today. The reason, of course, is that these truths spring from an eternal font of life — the Word of God — which knows no historical boundaries.

Thoughts for Young Men addresses the four great temptations that plague most young men: sloth, lust, love of pleasure, and peer pressure. J.C. Ryle, the last of the great Puritans, tackles each of these subjects with a tenderness and tact that is unsurpassed. First written toward the end of the nineteenth century, it remains to this day the most relevant and helpful book on the subject in print.

There is more good news: it is wonderful to be a young man. Notwithstanding the many temptations and challenges that all young men face, there is a world of tremendous possibility in Jesus Christ. Young men are brimming with potential, in part because they have yet to be jaded by the cynicism and compromise that often cloud the thinking of adults. For this reason, we must never brush aside young men. We must invest in their lives, listen to their dreams, and encourage them to have a big vision for Jesus Christ.

There is great urgency for us to raise strong, courageous men of faith. The twenty-first century, with its terrorism, its changing cultural and social climate, and its technological and ethical challenges, demands a new type of Christian boy — a hearty, ferociously principled, chivalrous, Christ-loving boy who is willing to stand alone. Without such boys, our culture is doomed. It is these boys who will be the fathers of the next generation.

Customer Comments

Thank you so much for ... J.C. Ryle’s book Thoughts for Young Men. This book has been such a blessing to me, and I look forward to sharing it with family and friends. I have just ordered a copy for each of my sons and nephews. May God continue to bless the mighty work you do.
K.M.

Thank you, thank you. The first brochure you sent out with Thoughts for Young Men caught my attention. When I read the description of the book, I ordered seven copies. My husband and I have read it cover to cover and are sharing it with our sons (age 12 and 15). We are constantly on the lookout for quality reading that will encourage our sons to look to God in EVERY situation. Thank you again for your vision!!!
M. and M. W.