Modern manhood and the Boy Scouts of America

Benjamin Rene Jordan's book examines the Boy Scouts of America in the early twentieth century, analyzing how the organization shaped ideas of modern manhood, civic responsibility, and conservation.

It explores the Scouts' approaches to citizenship, inclusion of marginalized groups, and engagement with urbanizing American society from 1910 to 1930.

Jordan situates Scouting within broader cultural and political debates about adolescence, national identity, and public lands.

He highlights the organization's progressive and inclusive practices on race and religion during its formative decades.

The book connects Scouting's environmental activities to its civic education mission, showing how outdoor training fostered public-spiritedness and community engagement.