Five Young Men: Messages of Yesterday for the Young Men of To-day

In this compact collection a seasoned dean shares the sermons he delivered to Yale students during Lent, offering counsel that still resonates with today’s young men. The talks examine the stark choices confronting a generation living through a world‑shaping crisis, urging listeners to build character on values as enduring as gold and silver rather than on fleeting comforts. With clear, conversational language, the author invites readers to reflect on the moral weight of their ambitions, friendships, and daily decisions.

One of the central essays uses the biblical figure of Joseph, the favored son, as a mirror for modern pride and responsibility. By tracing his early popularity, envy, and susceptibility to contempt, the piece illustrates how privilege can breed vanity and how self‑examination can prevent it. The narrative encourages young readers to balance confidence with humility, reminding them that true strength lies in honest self‑ scrutiny before judging others.