Notes on Being a Man – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Notes on Being a Man

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

78%

WISE Score

4.3

Amazon

Scott Galloway’s blunt, 'tough love' letters to his sons about money, muscles, and why being a decent man in 2026 is harder—and more important—than ever.

Notes on Being a Man

book

2025

78%

WISE Score

4.3

Amazon

Scott Galloway’s blunt, 'tough love' letters to his sons about money, muscles, and why being a decent man in 2026 is harder—and more important—than ever.

4.3

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4.3

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Scott Galloway is an acquired taste. He’s the guy who tells you to go to the gym and make more money, but he’s also the guy telling you to cry more and be nicer to your mom.

'Notes on Being a Man' is essentially a survival guide for the modern male ego. It’s not 'brain rot'—it’s actually quite the opposite—but it is very much 'The World According to Scott.' If you have a high school senior or a college kid who is struggling to find their footing, this is a solid, no-BS read that avoids the weirdness of the 'manosphere' while still acknowledging that being a guy right now is complicated.

Age Fit

This is strictly for parents and older teens (16+). It's written as a guide for young men entering the real world, so the themes of financial ambition and adult relationships are too heavy for the middle school crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Galloway pushes for kindness, treating women with respect, and active fatherhood, which is great. But the heavy focus on wealth-building and 'boomer' platitudes keeps it from being a pure heart-warmer.

Imaginative

It's a non-fiction advice book/memoir. The 'letters to my sons' framing is a solid narrative device, but it’s not exactly a spark for creative exploration.

Safe

Safe for adults and older teens, but definitely not for younger kids. It dives into testosterone use, drinking, and the messy realities of divorce and depression.

Enriching

High marks for practical life advice. Whether you agree with his 'hustle' vibe or not, his takes on mental health, mentorship, and avoiding 'status' traps are genuinely useful for young men.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

It tackles the 'masculinity crisis' without falling into the toxic 'alpha male' traps found on TikTok.
Galloway is refreshingly honest about his own failures, depression, and the work required to be a good partner.
Practical advice on 'getting out of the house' to combat anxiety is exactly what a lot of modern guys need to hear.
Strong emphasis on kindness and treating women well as a core component of being a man.

⚠

What to Watch For

The language is blunt and aimed at adults—expect talk of drinking, testosterone, and sex.
Galloway’s obsession with wealth and status can feel a bit intense and might not align with every family’s values.
Some of the advice leans into 'boomer-style' tropes about frats and traditional fitness that might feel dated to some.

Conversation Starters

"What does 'being a provider' actually look like in 2026?"
"Galloway says to 'pursue talent rather than status'—how do we tell the difference?"
"Why do you think so many young men feel lonely or lost right now?"
"Is physical fitness about health, or is it just another way we're pressured to perform?"

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