I spent most of my twenties writing for magazines like GQ, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness and more. Every year we’d do a wrap-up issue with the “Best Of” this and the “Best Of” that. I’m a sucker for these lists. Everyone is, actually. We, as humans, cannot resist a list that’s the best of something: The 5 Best Cheeseburgers in Miami, The 10 Beaches You Must Visit Before You Die, The 7 Best Ice Cream Sundaes in New York City, The 4 Best Gyms in Chicago for Serious Lifters, and on and on.
I’d click on all of these. You would too. In fact, before I visit a city I actively search for stuff like “Best Pizza in Boston” or wherever I’m going (I grew up in Boston and the answer to this one is easy: Regina Pizzeria in the North End).
But when it comes to using “Best Of” to curate your own writing, it’s tough because I can’t be modest. If I publish it I think it’s great. Maybe not the greatest thing I’ve ever written, but at least “so awesome I know our Midlife Male readers will love it”, which means I want everything I wrote to be on my “Best Of” list and that defeats the entire purpose.
Instead, I like the word “memorable” for lists.
What were the most memorable pieces I wrote this year? Memorable works because it’s got a vague definition in terms of degrees. We all remember some stuff way more than others. But Most Memorable means you really, really remembered something. And for me, these twelve columns stick out not even because I wrote them, but because of the way you responded to them.
I don’t so much remember the exact feel of writing them, but I remember the conversations they started, the jokes you all wrote in my DMs, the email responses like, “dude, yes, you nailed it!” And that, in short, is my goal for writing the Manologue column.
Keeping this in mind, here are the 12 most “Dude, You Nailed It” columns from 2025 based on the responses you, the glorious Midlife Male readers sent me:
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Fight Club Was Right: Why Dudes Need Single-Serving Friends
There’s a scene early in one of my favorite movies, Fight Club, where Ed Norton as The Narrator delivers a monologue on the misery of a life spent traveling.
You know the one… Continued
Inside the Hidden World of Luxury Costco
In my 20s I experienced Dad Nirvana: Unlimited budget Costco runs on someone else’s dime. $10,000+ trips. Assistants. 5 Flat Beds. All true.
Let me tell you about the secret world of luxury Costco… Continued
Life’s Too Short: An Old Man’s Masterclass in Forgiveness
This week I witnessed what I can only call the fine art of old dude forgiveness. It was a moment so impactful, yet so understated, that all I can do is describe the scene and you can decide for yourself what lessons you take from it. Here goes… Continued
Seven Secrets of a Half-Billionaire: What I Learned Ghostwriting a Book with a Mogul
I ghostwrote a book a few years ago for a South Florida businessman worth about $500 million. I signed an NDA so that’s all I can say, but I can still share some general fun stuff I witnessed that I still think about. First, I’ll say this: Most of the time we spent together he was a pretty relatable guy… Continued
The Lost Art of Owning Things: Why I’m Buying CDs, DVDs, and Paperbacks Again (And You Should Too)
I am returning to the CD-filled, DVD-ruled, paperbacked and glossy-covered glory of the 80s and 90s and you’re coming with me. Good news: You don’t need a flux capacitor, a DeLorean, or Dr. Emmett L. Brown’s genius to get there. Nope. You just need to take a moment to remember how great our entertainment lives used to be and realize you can take it all back… Continued
When to Say “F*ck It” and Take the Bucket List Trip
Fact #1: There’s never a perfect time to do something.
Fact #2: Often, right now is the perfect time to do something.
These two rules will be our guiding light for this column, because when we’re talking about bucket list things… Continued
Why Men Are Obsessed with Smoking Meat: From Backyard BBQ to Brotherhood
It’s 5:15AM. It’s dark. Crickets echo across the lawn. Moonlight washes the backyard, bright enough so I don’t need my phone flashlight or the patio flood lights on to begin my masterpiece. I take a deep breath, the last that won’t leave a hickory scent in my nostrils for about two days, and fire up my smoker… Continued
Brother, You Had to Experience Hulkamania as a Kid to Understand Hulk Hogan’s Legacy
I know there’s mixed modern feelings about Hogan and that’s for another time… BUT if you grew up in the 80s & 90s there was NOTHING LIKE Hulk Hogan hulking up on TV or pay-per-view or in person… You young kids don’t know… When those “I Am a Real American” chords kicked in they were lightning bolts to the brains of millions of Hulkamaniacs from about ‘83 to ‘94… Continued
A Dad Summer Road Trip Manifesto: 12 Rules We Drive By
Fact: 100% of dads behind the wheel on a road trip are out to beat every other rival dad on the road… and every other dad who made the same road trip in history.
We measure ourselves by following these 12 or so criteria and if a dad doesn’t admit most of these he’s lying… Continued
16 Reasons Summer in the ’80s & ’90s Crushed Summer in ’25 and Why Our Kids Are Soft
Here’s something every dad reading this can sense intuitively: our childhood summers in the 80s and 90s were FAR superior to the summers our kids have now. We had more freedom. More fun. More friends. We roamed. We made shit up. We got into harmless trouble… Continued
How to Read a Book Every Ten Days: 6 Easy Habits I Use that Actually Work
I’ve written over a dozen books. I’ve read thousands and plan on reading thousands more. Over my reading career, I’ve tried everything to “optimize” my reading habits to get more books in and just about none of them work. You know what works? These six tips that anyone can adopt at any time to easily read 30 books a year no matter how busy your schedule is… Continued
Why Pickleball Is Stupid
For roughly 50% of you reading this right now, the short answer is “yes.” From the endlessly annoying “dink” sound to the picklers (awful name) always asking you to try pickleball to the fact that seemingly every ex-NFL Pro Bowler and washed-up celebrity has to post highlights from playing with John McEnroe, the entire pickleball atmosphere is ripe for contempt… Continued
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Jon Finkel
Editor-in-Chief, Midlife Male
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Check out my latest books at jonfinkel.com
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