What it’s about:
Male depression doesn’t usually look like weeping on the couch. More often, it looks like anger, isolation, workaholism, or hitting the bottle. Renowned family therapist Terrence Real calls this “covert depression.” In this groundbreaking book, Real goes deep into the secret legacy of male suffering. He explores how traditional masculinity forces boys to silence their feelings, how that trauma is passed down from fathers to sons, and—most importantly—how men can break the cycle to build genuinely fulfilling lives and relationships.
Why we’re reading it:
As a men’s group, we talk a lot about showing up for ourselves and our families. This book gives us the actual vocabulary to do that. It’s raw, it’s honest, and it cuts through the usual self-help fluff. Real doesn’t coddle men, but he doesn’t bash them either; he gives us a blueprint for “fierce intimacy” and real emotional strength.
Key themes we’ll be tackling:
The Hidden Symptoms: How male depression masks itself as anger or numbness.
The Father-Son Legacy: How we inherit emotional habits (and how to stop passing down the toxic ones).
Moving Past Isolation: How to actually connect with partners, kids, and friends when our default mode is to shut down.
“Privately, men suffer from a blank, aching loneliness… We are a culture of codependent women and narcissistic men. But beneath the narcissism lies a profound fragility.” — Terrence Real
Grab a copy, start reading, and come ready for an open, no-BS conversation.
NOTE: Start date and time to be determined.