A Nation of Strange, Idle Men
Journalist Jon Ronson’s new book, 'The Castle,' explores the phenomenon of men becoming alienated from modern society. The author examines why some individuals withdraw from traditional social structures and the factors contributing to this growing sense of detachment.
Why it matters
Understanding male alienation is critical for addressing social fragmentation and the rise of extremist or anti-social behaviors in contemporary culture.
Jon Ronson’s The Castle argues that men are giving up on society because they have nothing better to do.
Superstock / Bridgeman Images September 14, 2026, 11:24 AM ET Share Save Like many Millennial men, I used to be pretty invested in Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West —primarily because of his music, but also because of his unique position as the one celebrity who seemed empowered to behave however he wanted. He interrupted Taylor Swift at the Video Music Awards; he said “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” at a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser; he brought a Jesus look-alike onstage. I would shrug, and keep listening. Then his do what I want ethos went very bad. Ye called slavery “a choice”; he came out as a fan of Hitler; he wore a KKK-style hood.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in