Plot Summary

The Men in My Life

Vivian Gornick
Guide cover placeholder

The Men in My Life

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008

Book Brief

Vivian Gornick

The Men in My Life

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2008
Book Details
Pages

216

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 2000s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In her collection of critical essays, The Men in My Life (2008), Vivian Gornick examines the pervasive self-doubt experienced by both men and women, questioning why men are more often able to articulate these feelings in literature. Gornick's essays explore how renowned male writers grapple with inner freedom, societal expectations, and personal despair, illustrating their struggles with depression, anxiety, and anger. Each essay, from "George Gissing: A Neurotic for Our Times" to "James Baldwin and V.S. Naipaul: America Made the Difference," delves into the lives of these men, whose literary works elevate understanding of the human condition and the challenge of achieving inner freedom. The book addresses experiences of depression, isolation, and suicide.

Contemplative

Emotional

Nostalgic

Melancholic

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.0

133 ratings

71%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Vivian Gornick's The Men in My Life offers a candid exploration of her relationships and the impact they've had on her development. Praised for its raw honesty and perceptive prose, the memoir showcases Gornick's intellectual rigor. Some readers may find the tone bitter and repetitive, though others appreciate its unflinching self-reflection.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Men in My Life?

Readers who enjoy The Men in My Life by Vivian Gornick are typically drawn to introspective memoirs and feminist literature. They appreciate nuanced explorations of personal relationships and intellectual growth. Fans of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex and Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking will find Gornick's narrative compelling.

4.0

133 ratings

71%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

216

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

New York City • 2000s

Publication Year

2008

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!