NEW BOOK: “Man on the Run”

An avid outdoorsman and popular pastor shows men how they can pursue their passions and still maintain a balanced life. Men are notorious for immersing themselves in their pursuits. Whether it’s a favorite sport, hobby, or job, most men go “all in.” Enthusiastic guys accomplish great things and make excellent husbands, fathers, doctors, artists, teachers, and pastors. But impassioned men—what the author calls “hyper-hobbied”—often chase their pursuits to the point that they break commitments and damage relationships. The author himself has had up to thirty-four hobbies at one time. When men overextend themselves wives and children are neglected, friends are pushed aside, and churches and civic organizations experience the void of male participation.

Man on the Run helps both men and women understand why men race toward their interests with dogged intensity. It explores the importance of community and provides ideas for how wives, friends, and families can help men live passionate lives, while still focusing on the relationships that matter most. Everyone wins when men chase the right pursuits to the right extent. Man on the Run helps men accomplish this goal and motivates them to live well.

Endorsements for Man on the Run:

“If you or someone you love is suffering from the tricky obsession targeted in Man on the Run, you will find that the author is sympathetic (he’s been cured), knowledgeable (he’s an experienced counselor) and practical (no hocus-pocus here). He also has a hair-trigger sense of humor that puts the spoonful of sugar into the right medicine. I highly recommend this book, not only to all who are afflicted with hyper-hobby syndrome, but also to those who want to help them.”

– Warren W. Wiersbe, author and former pastor of Moody Church, Chicago, IL

“Because far too many men have allowed their passion for the outdoors to cause them to miss the target when it comes to hitting the all-important mark of being a good husband and father, a book like Man on the Run is a must resource. The good news about this book is that it is written in a language that sportsmen and men of all types will readily relate to and clearly understand. This vital feature of the text is true because Zeke Pipher has been there. He has made the painful misses, but he’s also successfully dialed in his sights and now enjoys the fruit of change. His longing to help his fellow men know that success is as strong as the guidance he has written into this book.”

– Steve Chapman, author of A Look at Life from a Deer Stand

“Man on the Run contains some insights that are very important to most men. All of us at times let our occupation or our hobbies consume us to a degree that is unhealthy in terms of maintaining balance in our lives, particularly as it relates to our families. Zeke Pipher writes informatively about a way to keep things in perspective and to maintain a healthy relationship with our wives and our children. I recommend it highly.”

– Tom Osborne, athletic director and former head football coach, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

“Zeke Pipher’s Man on the Run is a must read for every man, especially if he happens to be an outdoorsman. As one spouse so correctly points out, guys are addicted to pursuing ‘the next thing.’ No sooner do we complete or vanquish our current project or pursuit, and then we are already planning the next. Is this wrong? Not necessarily. I believe it’s how God wired men. Beginning a few million years ago, males had two major roles in the tribe, providing sustenance (hunting) and procreation. These roles allowed mankind to survive and flourish. Modern man however, must learn how to balance these roles with that of caretaker, husband, and parent.

I highly encourage you to follow along as Zeke leads us to a greater understanding of the need for balance and what it means to live a life of intentionality and purpose in Man on the Run. It will make a positive difference in your life and that of your family.”

–  Jay Houston, president/CEO of The Outfitter Network, founder of Outdoor Speakers Agency (OSA), author of Elk Hunting 101-301 series, founder of www.elkcamp.com

Publishers Weekly Review of Man on the Run:

Both an outdoorsman and writer as well as pastor of the Heartland Evangelical Free Church in Nebraska, Pipher notes, “As a pastor, I spend several hours a week counseling pursuit-driven, ambitious men” in need of strategies to form healthy relationships. Reflecting on a period when he had 34 hobbies, Pipher observes that while many “hyper-hobbied” men are motivated by a desire for adventure, a need for challenge, and an inability to suffer a dull moment, a surfeit of activity leads these men to neglect those who are close to them. He examines issues and ideas he’s learned from personal experiences and those of his family, friends, and others. Pipher’s optimistic, up-tempo essays encompass a wide range of subjects: ambition, community, competition, depression, fatherhood, friendship, loneliness, loyalty, marriage, shame, and strength of character. His flair for motivational writing peaks in the final chapter when he outlines how active, hard-charging men are driven by dream images of the future they desire. “Dreaming is easy,” Pipher writes. “The challenge is choosing the best dreams.” Agent: Rachelle Gardner, Books and Such Literary Agency. (Mar.)

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