Why So Many Men Are Unraveling
This article explores the modern 'masculinity crisis' through the lens of deindustrialization and shifting societal expectations. It features a discussion on how men are responding to these changes by either withdrawing from society or spiraling into radicalized behaviors.
Why it matters
Understanding the psychological and economic drivers of male disengagement is critical for addressing rising social instability and political polarization.
The disinhibited men looking for purpose in all the wrong places
Illustration by The Atlantic September 4, 2026, 1 PM ET Share Save Listen − 1.0 x + Seek 0:00 47:12 Jon Ronson had never really thought about the term masculinity until a strange series of events led him down a rabbit hole involving castles, cage fights, and an actor playing a horse. Host Charlie Warzel talks to Ronson about the disinhibited men who are looking for purpose in all the wrong places.
The following is a transcript of the episode:
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