A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man [NOOK Book]

Why did you decide to write a book for guys about being a man's man?

FV: I think a lot of guys today haven't learned the traditional values of being a real man's man, in work, life, love and play. Men need to get back to the basics.

How did your upbringing prepare you for being a real man's man later in life?

FV: My father was a true man's man. I learned everything from him. He taught me very early on that a man's man has integrity, honor, respect, and loyalty. I have never lost sight of those traits throughout my entire life.

How do you think being a man's man has helped you get ahead in your acting career?

FV: On-screen, I think the characters I've played throughout my career have usually been strong and carried a large presence. Off-screen, working as a professional actor is tough. There's a lot of rejection no matter how much talent you have. So, I think the man's man qualities of a strong work ethic and never giving up have served me well.

What kind of guys stand to get the most from your book?

FV: I think any guy who is willing to take a close look at himself and wants to strive to make himself better will get something out of this book. Hey, there's always room for improvement with anybody!

Will women benefit from reading this book, too? If so, how?

FV: Absolutely. This is the ultimate resource for any woman who desires to turn her "guy" into a man's man. We're mixing old school values like always opening the door for a lady and "just because" flowers with hip and cutting-edge ideas. I think actor Denis Leary said it best in his blurb on the book jacket, "Men should read this book and take lots of notes. Women should read it and take even more."

For those guys out there who need to practice becoming men's men, how much training do you think a guy should devote to it? What kind of hits and misses can he expect?

FV: Practice makes perfect. It's an old cliché, but it's definitely still applicable. You have to put in the effort to get the results. The dating section might be the most complicated. Why? Well, because women are complicated. No two women are alike so there will be some trial and error in this area. But, you will get better and better as time goes on. After reading the section "Dating Like a Man's Man," men will be very pleased with the results.

Some guys might have trouble affording the must-haves for being a real man's man - fine cigars, playing it up in Vegas, or high-end restaurants. Can you offer any tips for them that won't make them look like a total loser or a cheapskate to the ladies?

FV: If you can't afford to take your lovely lady out to eat, you should follow one of my recipes in the book and make a romantic dinner at your place. If you can't afford a dozen roses, then buy one rose and give it to her with style. A man's man also remembers, "it's the thought that counts."

In the book's Epilogue, you explain what being a real man's man is all about. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

FV: Well, I talk about some pricey things in the book such as lavish trips to Las Vegas, top restaurants, expensive suits, etc. However, those are not the core qualities of being a man's man. For instance, you could be dressed in the best custom-made tuxedo at a friends wedding, but if you're drunk, grope the bride's sister, and knock over the wedding cake, you're not a man's man. It's about how you carry yourself in all the situations that life throws your way. Also, a man's man does not have to make a lot of money. A man's man can be a blue-collar worker or a CEO of a top company. It doesn't matter because it's what's inside you that truly matters. James Gandolfini summed it up nicely in his foreword, "There's an old saying that 'clothes make the man.' In Frank's case, as with many members of The Sopranos cast, it's also what's under the clothes that make the man."