Mustached and burly, former President Theodore Roosevelt embodied all the characteristics that Brett McKay, founder of The Art of Manliness, believes a man should possess.

“Roosevelt was a really cool guy who valued things like hard work and self-responsibility,” said McKay, a 26-year-old law student and part-time blogger. “At the same time, he was still very compassionate, and he rooted for and protected the underdog.”

In January 2008, McKay and his wife (married when McKay was 22) Kate started The Art of Manliness as a way to express their disappointment in men of their own generation. McKay had few male role models, and he himself wanted to explore the meaning of manliness. Said McKay, “I used to really like Men’s Health, but all the editors do is recycle the same content: pictures of gratuitous cleavage and articles about how to get six-pack abs.”

McKay earned his undergraduate degree in Classics and Letters from Oklahoma University, and he is inspired by his study of historical figures like Plato and Socrates because they spent their lives trying to define how a man could be virtuous.

“Making and Keeping Man Friendships,” published October 28, 2008, explores the virtue of friendship. When several male readers complained about how difficult it is to find and keep friends, the McKays responded by offering tips about how men can increase their social circles and maintain meaningful relationships with other men.

“If you love sports, instead of spending your weekend alone watching them on TV, join an intramural league and get back on the field,” they wrote. “From flag football to ultimate frisbee, your town is sure to have clubs that meet for some good old fashioned man competition.”

Kate has a background in history, and she checks the historical accuracy of the articles. Said McKay, “What’s nice about having my wife working with me is that she tempers my manliness and keeps me from being a jerk. She tells me what women want in a man, and she helps me get a woman’s perspective.”

Many of the articles on the website highlight the ways that certain historical figures defined and expressed manliness during their time. In addition to Roosevelt, the McKays have described manly qualities possessed by Robert E. Lee, Private Ross A. McGinnis, Petty Officer Michael Monsoor, and Benjamin Franklin. However, they have not yet celebrated any contemporary public male figures.

“We always idealize vintage manliness, but we know the good old days weren’t that great,” said McKay. “I think we should look at history and take the good things: personal responsibility, and hard work. My grandfather inspires me because he served his country and supported his family.”

According to McKay, today’s manly men include Clint Eastwood, especially as a character in the new film Gran Torino, and Barack Obama. He admires Obama’s “cool, confident demeanor,” “manly swagger,” and his man hug, which Chicago Tribune reporter Colleen Mostony recently described as “…a handshake, followed by a quick one-handed hug and two hearty pats on the back.”

Many women read the site and send McKay feedback; they admit to how tired they are of the ways that men in their twenties and thirties treat women in relationships and even casual social situations. In the comments, the women thank him for creating a website that they can send to their brothers and male friends.

“I think there’s a hunger among men, especially American men, for society to ask more from them. A lot of men think society doesn’t expect much from them, and they act accordingly,” said McKay. “They don’t commit to relationships or the academic world. More men are struggling to thrive in college and in jobs.”

McKay has one more semester of law school remaining, and he plans to update the blog as long as he sees the interest and need. Said McKay, “The website is a hobby that has gotten out of control. I never imagined it getting this big this fast. I don’t want to take over the world with manliness. We’re still having an ongoing discussion about what manliness means.”