The Hearts of Men: Tales of Happiness and Despair

The Hearts of Men reveals the emotional lives of men as told in their own words. With gut-wrenching honesty more than a hundred men from all walks of life share their stories with Chris Barker. They include sportsmen, executives, retired soldiers, homeless drug users, Buddhists and members of the men’s movement. What Chris Barker finds is a striking divergence in the ways in which men’s emotional lives can generate personal happiness or despair. The book shows that men do talk about their emotions and with a surprising degree of insight. Thoughtful, provocative and carefully researched, The Hearts of Men reveals much about emotion and happiness, and the possibility of change, both for men and their partners and families.

Men have surged ahead in recent years in creating freer and more emotionally connected lives. But some still struggle, and for those dealing with difficult childhoods, depression, or drug and alcohol problems, this compassionate and insightful book gives a very personal map of the journey towards hope. -Steve Biddulph