This collection investigates the interior lives of men by curating personal journal entries that reveal the private struggles and identities hidden behind public personas. Michael Rubin, an editor and writer, compiles these primary source documents to examine how men across various roles—sons, lovers, workers, and explorers—articulate their experiences of masculinity. By organizing these writings into thematic sections, the book provides a framework for understanding the evolution of male self-perception throughout the twentieth century.

Readers frequently note the raw and unvarnished nature of the entries, which provide a stark contrast to the public images of the men involved. Experts highlight this as a useful resource for those interested in the history of male introspection and the evolution of personal narrative writing.