Best Books & Podcasts for Men — Fatherhood, Mental Health & Identity

October 2026 — Book of the month

Lost Connections

Johann Hari

Hari went looking for why so many of us are flat, anxious or quietly miserable, and came back with an answer most blokes already half know: it isn't only chemistry. It's disconnection. From people, from work that means something, from the outdoors, from a future we believe in. He isn't against medication. He's against pretending it's the whole story.

It's World Mental Health Day this week, so this is the one. If you've got a long list of mates and nobody who'd know when you're not okay, read the chapter on loneliness and then do the one thing it asks: call someone, don't text. If you're separated, the loneliness he describes is the exact one that lands at 9pm in a quiet house, and the way out is the same. Read it alongside The Rebuild.

Added October 2026

All books

Book01

The Body Keeps the Score

Bessel van der Kolk

How trauma lives in the body — and what we can do about it. Essential reading for anyone who's been through sustained stress or emotional disruption.

Mind & body

Book02

Atomic Habits

James Clear

The most practical guide to building habits that actually stick. Not about motivation — about designing a life where good behaviour is the path of least resistance.

Habits & routines

Book03

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor Frankl

Written in a Nazi concentration camp, this short book is about finding purpose in even the most brutal circumstances. The most powerful case for meaning as the foundation of resilience.

Purpose & resilience

Book04

The Way of the Superior Man

David Deida

A challenging, honest look at masculine purpose, relationships, and what it means to live with full presence. Polarising but genuinely thought-provoking for men at a crossroads.

Masculinity & purpose

Book05

No More Mr Nice Guy

Robert Glover

Brutally honest about the patterns that make men resentful, passive, and disconnected. If you've ever put everyone else first and wondered why nothing felt right, this is for you.

Identity & self-respect

Book06

The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruiz

Four simple principles that, when genuinely applied, strip away unnecessary suffering and make relationships — especially with your kids — cleaner and more honest.

Mindset & clarity

Book07

Lost Connections

Johann Hari

A surprising investigation into the real causes of depression and anxiety — and why human connection, meaning, and belonging matter far more than we've been told.

Mental health

Book08

The Whole-Brain Child

Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson

Practical neuroscience for parents. Helps you understand why kids react the way they do — and gives you tools to stay calm and connected when things get hard.

Parenting

Book09

Can't Hurt Me

David Goggins

Raw, unfiltered, and confronting. Goggins shows what's possible when you stop making excuses and hold yourself to a higher standard. Not a comfortable read — and that's the point.

Discipline & grit

Book10

Attached

Amir Levine & Rachel Heller

Explains adult attachment styles and why relationships unfold the way they do. Genuinely useful for understanding what happened in your relationship and how to show up better going forward.

Relationships

October 2026 — Podcast of the month

Where Should We Begin?

Esther Perel

Real couples in real therapy sessions, with one of the best in the world in the room. You hear two people fail to say the thing, then you hear her get them to say it. Nothing else on this list teaches you as much about how a conversation with your partner, or your ex, actually goes wrong.

If you're separating, listen for how often the fight is about something neither of them has said out loud. Then read The Middle Stage on keeping it calm and practical; the same moves work on a text at 10pm. If you're still together and it feels off, start with Repair.

Added October 2026

All podcasts

Podcast01

Huberman Lab

Andrew Huberman

Neuroscience-backed tools for sleep, stress, focus, and physical performance. One of the most practically useful podcasts for men who want to understand and improve how they function.

Performance & wellbeing

Podcast02

The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss

Long-form conversations with world-class performers. The episodes on mental health, depression, and psychedelics are particularly valuable for men who haven't talked openly about struggle before.

Life & performance

Podcast03

Unlocking Us

Brené Brown

Brené Brown unpacks vulnerability, courage, and human connection. Don't let the audience put you off — the research and insights apply directly to men trying to reconnect with their families.

Connection & vulnerability

Podcast04

The School of Greatness

Lewis Howes

Howes is a former professional athlete who openly shares his journey through trauma and identity. The episodes on fatherhood and masculinity are worth seeking out.

Masculinity & identity

Podcast05

On Purpose

Jay Shetty

Mindset, purpose, and how to live with more intention. Draws on Shetty's time as a monk to offer a calm, grounded perspective on the things that actually matter.

Purpose & mindset

Podcast06

Where Should We Begin?

Esther Perel

Real couples therapy sessions, made public. Even if your relationship is over, listening to how couples communicate — and fail to — changes how you approach co-parenting and future relationships.

Relationships

Podcast07

The Good Dad Project

Larry Hagner

Specifically for men. Practical conversations about being present, staying connected to your kids, and doing the work to become the father you want to be.

Parenting

Podcast08

Modern Wisdom

Chris Williamson

Honest, wide-ranging conversations with psychologists, athletes, and thinkers. Chris asks the questions other hosts don't, particularly around men's mental health and modern masculinity.

Masculinity & culture

Podcast09

Feel Better, Live More

Dr Rangan Chatterjee

A GP's approach to genuine wellbeing — covering sleep, stress, food, and movement without being preachy. Practical and easy to listen to on a commute or walk.

Health & lifestyle

Podcast10

The Knowledge Project

Shane Parrish

Deep dives into how to think more clearly, make better decisions, and understand human nature. Particularly useful if you're trying to break patterns that aren't serving you or your kids.

Thinking & decision-making