I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Sean Murphy shares a series of short stories exploring what it is to be a man in this world in the book “This Kind of Man”.
The Synopsis
THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.
These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of late-stage capitalism, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.
The Review
One of the most profound aspects of this modern world is the discussion around gender and “what it is to be a man.” While I have taken a viewpoint that gender norms are nothing but social constructs, constantly changing depending on the era. Yet, as this book so artfully explores, gender norms for men, in particular, have always stemmed from some hard-hitting truths. What I think the author does brilliantly here is write stories that don’t serve as excuses but as insightful nods towards the circle of repeated behavior that has instilled anger and a sense of rash actions within men, more so now than ever.
Each story was witty yet engaging, skirting the line between comfort and disturbance as the stories explored the many aspects of being a man in this world. Ironically, the emotional depth and honesty with which the author presented each story, and the exploration of troubling behavior linked to toxic family situations, a history of alcoholism, and unrealistic expectations of power and fortune placed on men from an early age, with a faux knowledge that people will view them as weak somehow if they don’t shut out their emotions and focus on career over family and emotions.
The Verdict
Vulnerable, heartfelt, and engaging author Sean Murphy’s “This Kind of Man” is a must-read collection of short stories. The author explores manhood and masculinity and how these men and their struggles impact the women around them. In doing so, he captures the mindset of many post-war American men and the often tragic circumstances between a father and their son and the relationship they form. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Sean Murphy is the Founding Director of 1455, a non-profit that celebrates storytelling. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Sequestrum, Blue Mountain Review, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, is forthcoming in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I’m Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine’s 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, and read his published short fiction, poetry, and criticism, please visit seanmurphy.net/ and @bullmurph.
