On Being A Man

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About the Book: 

What does ‘masculinity’ mean today?

On Being a Man brings together four men to consider the condition of Scottish men, reflect on their own backgrounds and experiences, and confront some of the most difficult issues men face. These include the changing roles of men in Scottish society, the role of work and employment.

What it means to be a man is very different from forty years ago: in terms of expectations, relationships, how men relate to partners, bring up children and what constitutes a modern family. However, there is a dark side of Scottish masculinity – seen in the drinking, violent, abusive behaviour of some Scots men, and this book addresses this directly, getting into issues many of us often shy away from confronting.

Draws on the wide-ranging voices of: journalist, writer and broadcaster, David Torrance; founder of a youth employment and mentoring charity, Sandy Campbell; public health researcher, Pete Seaman; and former policeman and head of the violence reduction unit, John Carnochan.

About the Author:

DAVID TORRANCE is a freelance writer, journalist and broadcaster who specialises in the politics and history of the long-running debate about Scottish independence. After being educated in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Cardiff he worked as a newspaper and television reporter before taking a brief career break to dabble in politics at Westminster. For the past seven years he has been a freelance commentator as well as the author or editor of more than ten books about Scottish and UK politics, biography and history. Like all good Scotsmen he has lived in London for long stretches but is currently based in Edinburgh.

SANDY CAMPBELL is the founder of Working Rite – a youth employment and mentoring charity. His interest in the role of men in today’s society has been a constant since his early adulthood.

JOHN CRANOCHAN was a cop for 39 years. He encountered people at their worst and their best and as a result is an optimistic cynic who likes to keep things simple. He believes in people but is wary of those people who take themselves too seriously. He has been married to the same woman for 39 years and has two grown up daughters.

PETE SEAMAN is a public health researcher based in Glasgow. His current and past research interests include families, alcohol, young people and resilience.