According to Dr. Aron’s research on sensitivity, men account for roughly half of the 15-20% of the population who are Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs). With a world population nearing 8.1 billion people, that means roughly 810 million men, give or take, should be HSPs. But looking around, it seems that very few men are aware of their sensitivity or have suppressed it to adjust to masculine requirements in modern society. While conditions are far better today for men to share their sensitivity, sensitive men face an uphill battle going against cultural norms. These eight beneficial books for the Highly Sensitive Man may shed additional light on the subject.
Table of Contents
#1 – The Highly Sensitive Man: How Mastering Natural Instincts, Ethics, and Empathy Can Enrich Men’s Lives and the Lives of Those Who Love Them
The Highly Sensitive Man is a book by cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, Tom Falkenstein, that offers a psychological guide specifically addressing highly sensitive men and the unique advantages and obstacles they face. The book draws from the most up-to-date research on high sensitivity and provides one-of-a-kind advice and practical tools to help redefine masculinity and reveal how high sensitivity can enrich men’s lives, their communities, and the lives of those who love them.
Five essential points:
- This book is a psychological guide specifically addressing highly sensitive men and the unique challenges they face.
- The book draws from the most up-to-date research on high sensitivity and incorporates the author’s own groundbreaking work.
- Highly sensitive people think deeply, empathize instinctively, and tend to behave in an ethical way that benefits everyone.
- For men in particular, being highly sensitive brings distinct challenges, such as gender stereotypes that portray them as too emotional or not “manly” enough.
- The book provides one-of-a-kind advice and practical tools to help redefine masculinity and reveal how high sensitivity can enrich men’s lives, their communities, and the lives of those who love them.
#2 – Confessions of a Sensitive Man: An Unconventional Defense of Sensitive Men
Confessions of a Sensitive Man is a book written by William Allen, a highly sensitive man himself, for other highly sensitive men and boys who have been told they are too emotional. The book aims to validate the experiences of highly sensitive men and provide a roadmap for navigating masculinity in a way that embraces their sensitivity.
Five essential points:
- The book is written by William Allen, a highly sensitive man who has been researching the topic for twenty years.
- The book aims to validate the experiences of highly sensitive men and provide a roadmap for navigating masculinity in a way that embraces their sensitivity.
- The author believes that highly sensitive men need to take their keen insights and intuition and make them public.
- The book is written from the viewpoint of a newly enlightened layman, who is less constrained by convention in pushing new ideas and topics in HSP thinking.
- The book sheds light on highly sensitive males and the much-needed role they need to take in our society.
#3 – The Strong, Sensitive Boy
The Strong, Sensitive Boy is a book by psychologist Ted Zeff that explores the challenges faced by sensitive boys growing up in a culture that values toughness and aggression. The book offers practical advice for parents, educators, and mentors on how to help sensitive boys grow into strong, happy, and confident men.
Five essential points:
- This book explores the unique challenges faced by sensitive boys growing up in a culture that values toughness and aggression.
- The book shows parents, educators, and mentors how to help sensitive boys grow into strong, happy, and confident men.
- The book offers practical advice on how to increase a sensitive boy’s self-esteem and help him thrive in various areas of life.
- The book is also helpful for sensitive men to heal their childhood wounds and navigate through our overstimulating world.
- The book is important for sensitive women since how society treats sensitive men deeply affects highly sensitive women and all women close to sensitive males.
#4 – Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul
Empowering the Sensitive Male Soul is a book by Dr. Tracy Cooper that explores the topic of highly sensitive men. The book draws on original research and years of experience working with highly sensitive men to provide insights into topics such as anger, perceptions, and Misophonia. The book seeks to empower sensitive men to find their voice and express themselves in ways that move them closer to self-realization and wholeness.
Five essential points:
- The book explores the topic of highly sensitive men and provides insights into topics such as anger, perceptions, and Misophonia.
- The author draws on original research and years of experience working with highly sensitive men.
- The book seeks to empower sensitive men to find their voice and express themselves in ways that move them closer to self-realization and wholeness.
- The book challenges stereotypes and emphasizes the high potential, high empathy, and creativity of sensitive men.
- The book is valuable for both sensitive men and those who know them.
Dr. Cooper has several other excellent books on sensitivity including Thrill: The High Sensation Seeking Highly Sensitive Person and Thrive: The Highly Sensitive Person and Career. Dr. Cooper is also involved in the Sensitive Men Rising documentary.
#5 – The Vulnerable Man: Break your patterns. Master your emotions. Reclaim your life.
The Vulnerable Man is an inspiring life story about the difficulties of breaking patterns, managing emotions, and finding the way back to oneself in an overwhelming world. Written by Swedish entrepreneur and life coach Thomas Anderson, the book chronicles his journey from the brink of burnout to finding happiness by understanding his Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) trait and learning how to manage his emotions and thoughts.
Five essential points:
- The Vulnerable Man is a personal story about doing the inner work and how it can feel on the inside going through change.
- The book offers experience, learnings, and inspiration for breaking patterns and managing emotions.
- The author’s understanding of his HSP trait gave him the courage and confidence to take action and make the changes he needed in life.
- The book includes a workbook for self-reflection that can be used by oneself or together with others.
- The author hopes that sharing his story will help others on their vulnerable journey, breaking free, and reclaiming their lives.
#6 – On Being a Sensitive Man: Success Strategies for Harnessing Your Highly Sensing Nature
On Being a Sensitive Man is a companion volume to Confessions of a Sensitive Man that provides strategies and tools for highly sensitive men to navigate their lives. The book emphasizes the importance of developing a healthy mindset, expanding the comfort zone, dealing with change and strong emotions, finding the right livelihood, calming the mind, and moving towards self-acceptance. It also discusses the need for highly sensitive men to stand up for their sensitivity and share their insights to guide men to a more humane view of masculinity.
Five essential points:
- This book provides strategies and tools for highly sensitive men to navigate their lives.
- The book emphasizes the importance of developing a healthy mindset, expanding the comfort zone, dealing with change and strong emotions, finding the right livelihood, calming the mind, and moving towards self-acceptance.
- Highly sensitive men are encouraged to stand up for their sensitivity and share their insights to guide men to a more humane view of masculinity.
- Finding the right environment is paramount to happiness and flourishing for highly sensitive men.
- The book concludes with how highly sensitive men can be an impactful force in helping to change the role men can play in a troubled and complex world.
#7 – Facing Fear Through Adventure: An HSP’s Story
Facing Fear Through Adventure: An HSP’s Story is a book by Randy Grasser, who was born with traits identified as High Sensation Seeking and Highly Sensitive Person. The book challenges the notion that highly sensitive people are broken and overwhelmed by life, and instead focuses on the positives of being a High Sensation Seeking (HSS) Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Through his adventures, challenges, and experiences, the author has learned that highly sensitive people are not weak or broken, but rather incredibly strong and have remarkable gifts.
Five essential points:
- Randy’s story challenges the notion that highly sensitive people are broken and overwhelmed by life.
- The book focuses on the positives of being a High Sensation Seeking, highly sensitive person.
- The author has learned through his adventures, challenges, and experiences that highly sensitive people are not weak or broken.
- Highly sensitive people are caring and empathetic, but also incredibly strong and have remarkable gifts.
- The book aims to shine a light on the fact that being a highly sensitive person is not a weakness, but rather a unique and valuable trait.
#8 – The Highly Sensitive Man: Embrace the Kind, Strong, and Wholehearted Man Within
The Highly Sensitive Man is a book by Dan McLeod, who shares his story as a highly sensitive man and his journey to explore and manage his high sensitivity. The book is written as a legacy to his best friend David, who committed suicide. He aims to provide a voice for the kind, strong, and wholehearted men of high sensitivity everywhere. The book is for highly sensitive men, their partners, friends, and relatives.
Five essential points:
- This book by Dan McLeod shares his story as a highly sensitive man and his journey to explore and manage his high sensitivity.
- The book is written as a legacy to Dan’s best friend David, who committed suicide.
- Approximately one in five men have the innate trait of high sensitivity.
- The book aims to provide a voice for the kind, strong, and wholehearted men of high sensitivity everywhere.
- The book is for highly sensitive men, their partners, friends, and relatives, and aims to give hope and the message that “you are not alone.”
We hope that these books on sensitive men and boys will be helpful resources for yourself, your father, your brother, your son, or any male person in your life who wants to better understand themselves or others who are highly sensitive.
Be sensitive, be free
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