Looking at modern society, an honest assessment would highlight the Brave New World style pacification of men. This decline of the modern man and corresponding degradation of masculinity and Christianity is the main rot of the Western world. This rot has compromised the foundation of our society and we are now stumbling towards the precipice of oblivion. At best, we need a dire course correction only a faction of strong men could affect. At worst, we require a worthy group of men to lift us from the ashes of a failed civilization. A fully-realized man capable of bearing this responsibility would embody many characteristics. One of the most valuable being a keen intellect: a worthy trait for fledgling men to foster early in their journey. To overcome the challenge before them and move society in a positive direction, men must stimulate and develop this intellect. Those who are serious about developing themselves should ditch the man cave, and bring back the study.
Though many men historically had studies, the glut resulting from technological advancement has enticed today’s men with cheap thrills. The man cave has a place in many homes and directs the aggressive, competitive, and passionate nature of men into an abyss of video games, movies, sports entertainment, poker, billiards, and the works. Before I am accused of being a buzz kill, let me say I enjoy many of these activities, but countless hours are drained in the man cave with nothing to show for them. All the while, these men grow fatter as they eat and drink their way through fridges stocked with beer and junk food; an unhealthy lifestyle that feminizes them through lowering testosterone and increasing estrogen. Additionally, let’s consider the allocation misallocation of a man’s resources to construct his ostensibly desirable man cave and we might start to wonder if it was in fact designed as a weapon against men: a Trojan Horse.
The man cave is indeed insidious in its packaging, as it is no doubt sold as desirable and there is a definite cultural pressure to have one: everyone from aspiring to mature [sic] men wants a man cave. Case in point, at the early age of six I can remember visiting friends and being mesmerized by these monuments to mediocrity in their homes. The attraction of the man cave is easily marketed to generations of men addicted to electronics and sports entertainment (certainly, sports are a healthy outlet for masculine energy and watching a favorite sport occasionally is enjoyable, but the degree to which some men engage in this lifestyle is bordering on athletic voyeurism akin to watching porn). While these cultural pressures entice us through selling an escape from daily life, there are also negative pressures aimed at repelling men from the study; nerd branding (though this is falling out of favor) shames men who choose to spend time in a study outside their recreational pursuits.
People are conditioned to crave constant stimulation and instant gratification. Acquiring knowledge through study is a way to unplug and merely requires the discipline of delayed gratification. We play video games because we want an immediate payoff, but an evening of study will have a positive impact on the development and day-to-day well-being of a man, measurable in time and incomparable in reward. By having a space to educate yourself on current events, history, skills, scripture, and be well-read in general, you will become a more refined man. Exposure to good literature will also improve your writing skills which will in turn help you personally and professionally. The value of a quiet space for a man to work and think is vastly underestimated. While women work through ideas by talking, men do the same by thinking. By granting yourself this tranquil space, you will accelerate personal growth through self-reflection and also be more productive at work; where the man cave is an inherent drain of mental productivity and financial resources, the study is a boon. All these benefits will make you a better provider and leader, and the mental exercise will hone your intellect and allow you to retain your full mental faculties while you age. The study is just as much a room to relax as it is a workspace, and it is in this balance that you should take pride.
Once you recognize the value of the study, it’s time to build it. Though this space will be ideally a separate room, a small designated area will suffice. Perhaps, what is not in the study is as important as what is. To maximize productivity and avoid sabotaging yourself, the study must be absent of video games, television, intrusive noise (choose a location in a quiet section of your home), and any other things that would distract you from more rewarding pursuits. To start, the space might have a desk, bookshelf, work computer, and possibly a reading chair or couch. You have the freedom to fill your study with the things that help you work, contemplate, and relax. The general atmosphere of a space and the state of mind it puts you in impacts how you will operate within it, so choose wisely.
After your study (or the beginnings of one) is established, set aside time on a regular basis to work, read, or just unwind with your thoughts. Be careful to prevent your study from becoming a place you run to escape your responsibilities. Use this space to ambitious ends rather than to retreat from matters that need attention. Furthermore, this is a room where you can generally work uninterrupted, but it is still a room that others can feel welcome in provided they are respectful; think of the example you can set for your children who see their father devoted in his study. While the study is a space in which to spend time, this isn’t to say all free time should be spent in the study. By all means, work outside on your property, complete odd jobs around the house, and enjoy healthy indulgences in your down time.
The more men you see who have a study, the more you will take note of their corollary success. The contrary will trend true concerning the man cave, and though many men can do just fine while spending much time here, virtually none will rise above mediocrity. The man cave works against your mental, physical, and financial health whereas the study sharpens your intellect and makes you a better man. Recognize the man cave gives no return on your input and is therefore worthless to you. Embrace the study as the space that harnesses masculine creative energy, amplifies it, and focuses it to epic ends. Bring back the study and reap the rewards.
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