BLOT asked our male readers over on Reddit what books they thought best depicted men’s mental health – here’s what they had to say!
And don’t forget to check out BLOT’s #ReadForYourMind campaign over on Instagram.
1. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.
“It’s a book about trauma and the human body. I found it really interesting, and it gave me a lot to think about regarding past experiences and how they resonate in different ways throughout your life. It was something I’d never thought much about.
2. The Thursday Murder Club booksby Richard Osman
“The Thursday Murder Club books by Richard Osman weave men’s mental health into the stories REALLY well, with really good discussions of grief, depression, and binge eating disorder (which Richard himself has experienced). They’re warm-hearted, funny reads, though sometimes gut-wrenching.”
3. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
“Ironically, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest captures much of the internal struggle of masculinity and friendship realistically through Bromden and McMurphy.”
4. It’s kind of a funny story by Ned Vizzini
Comment
by u/15volt from discussion What’s a book that depicts mental health well for men?
in suggestmeabook
More on the Comfort Crisis
“Comfort Crisis. There’s a side theme in the book about attempting things that have a less than 50% chance of success.
“For me, that was running a marathon. I might not have attempted it were it not for the challenge brought to life by putting it in print. It was a thought, a dream, a “what-if”. But as soon as the dude said try it, even if you fail, the game was on. It gave me permission to try.”
Check out the rest of the thread here
What’s a book that depicts mental health well for men?
by u/BLOTmagazine in suggestmeabook
Comment
by u/ShivasKratom3 from discussion What’s a book that depicts mental health well for men?
in suggestmeabook
If you liked this post then read What is mindful reading? (And why you should be doing it) or “Reading helped me understand my mental illness” – Why mental health representation in books matters next.
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Liseli Thomas
liseli.blotmag@gmail.com
Liseli is a journalism student with a costly love for travelling and new books. She loves a good solo adventure but when she can’t be jetting off to a new destination, the next best thing for her is discovering new places through books. And if she’s not reading a book, she’s looking for her next read. Liseli is passionate about how our identities are represented within literature today.
Favourite genres: Romance and Sci-Fi.
What a great topic- as arguably overlooked as it is essential to acknowledge.
One cannot deny the general lack of recognition and subsequent understanding of the psychological struggles that many boys face while growing up, or the consequences of this reality. It is an area that I may be able to rationalize, but have failed to adequately understand. It is an area that some men may have also failed to understand, but perhaps books like these can lead to a turning point.
The first step to solving a problem is by recognizing there is one.