Smart. Strong. Soft.

About the Book

A joyful, instructive, three stories in one!

On its surface, this book is an informative and entertaining exploration into the lives of a curated selection of influential people in world history - in politics, in philosophy, in sports, in the arts, and in literature. The author examines the critical events in their lives, their historical context, their gifts, and their shortcomings in order to glean some lessons for the modern reader.

Amidst the historical profiles and their lessons, the author takes aim at the competitive athlete’s most-dreaded adjective: soft. He examines what soft connotes in popular culture, who gets tagged with it, who will never be tagged with it, and what it truly means to readers in its most useful form. You’ll be surprised by where that adventure takes you.

Lastly, the author presents a thought-provoking inquiry into the current trend of young American men continuing to fall behind their female counterparts in academics and the economy. Are they truly falling behind? Is it a crisis, as some call it? What are its roots, and more importantly, its remedies? And what are its implications in today’s political climate?

The author offers an assortment of experts’ perspectives on and recommendations to address this trend, as well as his own solution: look to the true greats - and not to imposters - for how best to inspire and infuse passion, excellence, and character into our young men in a constantly changing and always challenging world.

This book is perfect for anyone with a casual interest in world history, philosophy, sports, coaching, literature, and current events.

But it is a must-read for all parents seeking to uncover and instill the skills, character, and mindset that served history’s greats and that remain relevant and critical today.

This is the author’s second book, after his acclaimed family-travel saga Ramble On: Six Months Around The World With Yer Typical American Family.

About the Author

Roger Tauchman is a detached observer of contemporary urban and suburban life, currently residing outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He lives with his loving wife Karen and enjoys participating - from a mutually comfortable distance - in the lives of his three delightful grown children. While occasionally helping a neighbor, supporting a local volunteer effort, or raising funds for a charitable concern, he appears mostly to shirk all responsibility under the guise of taking a “gap year,” now in its forty-fourth month. If he is not at the local gym, you’ll find him hiking the Middlesex Fells in Melrose or the White Mountains in New Hampshire, biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, or getting “caught up on correspondence” at the Lamplighter Brewery.