Men writing well about relationships?

January 11, 2009 9:36 PM

What are some nonfiction books (memoirs included) where male authors are writing about their relationships with women in an entertaining, intelligent, and at least semi-deep way?

I'm looking for examples of guys writing about the ups and downs of love and long-term relationships that isn't whiny navel-gazing, macho posturing or head-in-the-sky academic theorizing.

Fun and accessible but not dumbed down. Emotionally vulnerable, resonant and meaningful without being overly cringe-inducing.

posted by gottabefunky to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

In Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X talks about meeting Betty Shabazz and the start of their relationship and later their marriage in a pretty thoughtful, reflective way. I would say this book isn't fun per se, but certainly accessible, emotionally vulnerable, resonant and meaningful...
posted by Rudy Gerner at 9:50 PM on January 11, 2009

Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live almost certainly fits the bill.
posted by ewiar at 9:58 PM on January 11, 2009

Bob Tarte's Enslaved by Ducks and Fowl Weather.
posted by gum at 10:08 PM on January 11, 2009

Ken Dornstein's The Boy Who Fell From The Sky has some good passages from the diary of his brother on relationships.
posted by mippy at 4:45 AM on January 12, 2009

Things I've Learned from Women Who've Dumped Me
posted by almostmanda at 6:56 AM on January 12, 2009

Can I sneak in an autobiographical novel if it's, like, really really great?

In Praise of Older Women, by Stephen Vizinczey
posted by Joe Beese at 7:17 AM on January 12, 2009

How about Calvin Trillin?
posted by lampoil at 7:21 AM on January 12, 2009

Women, by Charles Bukowski

There are many women, but it is honest, if nothing else.
posted by alice ayres at 8:12 AM on January 12, 2009

On Love by Alain de Botton is super. It is fiction but it is basically written as an extended essay.
posted by dfan at 9:10 AM on January 12, 2009

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.
posted by Unred at 6:45 PM on January 12, 2009