Mano-A-Mano by Bryan, Hunter, and Harrison Hall
Bryan, Hunter, & Harrison Hall. Mano-A-Mano. Xulon Press, 2009. 431 pp. $22.99. Purchase at Amazon.com for only $17.93.
Introduction to Mano-A-Mano
The men of the Hall family set down to write a devotional for men who are parents to teenage sons. Bryan, the father, serves as a deacon, small group Bible Study leader, a fourth grade Sunday School instructor, and is a member of the worship choir at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN. Hunter is a biology major at Bryan College while Harrison is a junior at Brentwood High School. All three have participated in multiple missions trips.
Overview of Mano-A-Mano
This devotional is not written by a noted scholar and that is too our benefit. Bryan initially started the project to be able to better reach his sons during family devotions in their home. He then thought it would be best to include his two sons in the writing process. He let each son choose 87 verses that they wanted to discuss with their dad and he chose 86. When they brought their lists together, they quickly noticed that while the content was very similar, their choices of verses were not. Next, they divided up the subject matter into 52 weeks worth of Monday-Friday devotionals. Most are one-week topical devotionals with a few bleeding into a two or three-week topic discussion.
Each week has an introduction section detailing what will be discussed that particular week along with a particular challenge each for the father and his son(s). Each day begins with a verse to read and meditate upon followed by the “Father’s Thoughts” and “Son’s Thoughts.” After reading their thoughts, which are usually no more than three sentences each, they include Discussion Questions to talk about along with some open space to take notes.
Recommendation
This is a gem of a book. The fact that it was written by a father and his two teen-aged sons, all of who are sold out for God, specifically for other fathers and their teenage sons is very appealing. The intentional narrow audience is a benefit to the reader. There will be topics discussed that only a dad and son can comprehend and relate to.
Furthermore, this book will enable a father and son to bond together over the Word of God. That cannot be replaced and will only make for a greater relationship in the future.
I would highly recommend this book to any father who has teenaged sons or will be having teenaged sons in the coming year or so. It would make a perfect gift for those boys graduating grade school and going into college to read over with their fathers.






Tried to order the Mano-A-Mano book but was unable to at Amazon.com. Please let me know how I can purchase the book.
thank-you,
Anthony Cain
@Anthony Cain
Sorry about that, the link is now fixed. I am not sure what happened.
My son just turned 10 – would this be a good resource for him to use with his Dad? Thanks!
Absolutely! There may be a few devotionals that will not necessarily speak to your son at his age, they are all certainly worth using as a guide for discussions between father and son. Sometimes those conversations are tough to begin, but Mano-a-Mano offers an easy ice breaker if you will.
I’m looking for a devotional for my husband/son to do together, but he’s only 6 1/2. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Tina,
This is a great question and one I pray more parents ask! As for devotionals for a father/son (6 1/2 year old), I would recommend not doing devotionals per se. Let me explain.
I have 5 children. My oldest will be 7 at the end of August. We started when he was 2 reading from The Jesus Story Book Bible and The Big Picture Story Bible. After we alternated between those two for about a year, we moved on to The Children’s Story Bible by Catherine Voss and are now currently working through the NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible. We have added children along the way and have they have simply dropped in wherever we are. I have reviewed each of these story book bibles here at Christian Book Notes and would recommend them all.
If your husband has not regularly read to your son, then I would start The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Big Picture Story Bible and build up to the more text-oriented story Bibles. The NKJV is simply the narrative stories from the Bible compiled together apart from the prophetic, apocalyptic, and wisdom literature.
Also, beginning with the first two, he would easily be able to adapt that into a devotional of sorts on the fly. The best encouragement I can give is to keep it simple and short and allow your child to “chart the course” so to speak.
I hope that helps. If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to ask. God bless and may the Lord bless you and your husband as you raise His child.
Terry Delaney
Hi,
My son is 21. Will this be a good book for he and I?
Mike
Mike,
If your son is still living at home and is able (and willing) to read Scripture with you, then by all means, this resource will be of value to you. Blessings to you and your son.
Terry