Friendless American Male

by David W. Smith

The book deals with topics the high cost of being male; how men and women differ in the area of friendship; principles and stages of friendship; establishing and maintaining lasting friendships; how a woman can help a man develop friendships.

Genres: Nonfiction

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book was mentioned in “Samson and the Pirate Monks” and I added it to my to read list. I picked it up cheap on eBay…it even tore in half while I read it. It’s from 1980 and yet it is probably more true today than even then! We men are ISOLATED, Living in the relatively nee idea of Privacy and under the culture’s thumb that wants to keep us from showing emotion. This interferes with us making true deep relationships. By God’s grace I have begun this past year in forming some of these relationships. I pray that other men will see the benefit and need, and make a change for the better.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title says it all. As obscure as this book is, I have seen it referenced by other authors now and then.

Makes good points about the differences between the American ideas of masculinity and that of other countries. European men, for example, are often much more affectionate, particularly the Mediterranean nations. But there are more subtle differences as well, and the author critiques the way American guys do friendships. Clearly the stoic, unemotional, taciturn approach creates a lot of pain and heartache, not only for families but for men themselves. They may not know what they're missing, but their heart does, or so the author might have put it.