Becoming Better Men

“To me, this is a remarkable story of the role of faith in sustaining the richness of life. As each of the three men in the ‘Neighborhood’ navigate relationships, parenthood, activism, and work, they find discernment and sharpen the values that drive them through these epistolary exchanges. Filled with humor, insights, and provocative questions interlaced in the recordings of ordinary life experiences, we come away enriched by the emotional and cognitive intimacies shared with us by these lifelong friends in their journey into wakefulness.”


—Zayn Kassam, professor emeritus of religious studies, Pomona College





“Amid the changing world of the 1970s, three young men seeking answers to challenging questions connected, and it changed their lives. By the mid-1980s they had scattered, and their struggles deepened by the pressures of marriage, family, and work. Soon they began writing letters, filling them with dreams and heartbreaks old and new. Men and all others might discover a deepened path forward while immersing themselves in the intimate stories of these three individuals who were determined to journey openly while learning from one another.”


—Eleanor Scott Meyers, author of Stories from an Unintentional Preacher: A Memoir





“It takes courage for men to become vulnerable to each other. We have been taught to hold each other at a distance, to play out of our strengths and hide our weaknesses. To commit oneself to set aside this enculturation and intentionally open our deepest places to other men is to challenge the surrounding culture. I have known the power of such moves in my life and commend the conversations in this book as groundbreaking for men.”


—Paul Kittlaus, author of Organizing Justice Church





“A refreshing and meaningful take on male friendships! Becoming Better Men gives the reader front row seats to the formation and deepening of wonderful relationships between men. Excerpts from letters between these three offer a tasty recipe of sharing, vulnerability, and support. They are a worthy lens through which any man (or woman) could examine the relationships in their own lives. This book truly illustrates the value of cultivating a vibrant and complex Neighborhood of men.”


—Joshua Mann, engineering manager, Hewlett Packard