Conn Reads From 'American Men' at Still North
Author Jordan Ritter Conn read from his nonfiction book on modern American masculinity at a Nashville bookstore and bar, followed by a conversation with subject Ryan King.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Sex Life
Live Poll
Do you think American men have enough room to express emotional vulnerability?
Jordan Ritter Conn held a reading of his nonfiction book 'American Men' at Still North Books and Bar on Oct. 28. Ryan King joined Conn for a discussion after the reading.
Why it matters
The book, featured as a New York Times Book Review pick in March, examines modern American masculinity through the lives of four men. Its reporting drew on hundreds of online contacts over five years, offering a close look at how men describe their lives today.
The book profiles four men, the result of five years of reporting in which the author initially reached out to hundreds of acquaintances and strangers online. The extraction does not specify how many of those contacts agreed to participate.
The players
Jordan Ritter Conn
Nashville-based author of the nonfiction book 'American Men,' which examines modern American masculinity.
Ryan King
A gay communications engagement professional, former mixed martial arts athlete and runway model from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory, who is one of the four men profiled in the book.
The details
Conn read passages from the chapter about King during the reading at Still North Books and Bar. The event was arranged through a collaboration between the Office of Pluralism and Leadership and the Native American Program, and King's real first name is used in the book while two other subjects are identified without theirs to protect privacy.
Timeline
- March: 'American Men' was featured as a New York Times Book Review pick.
- Oct. 28: Reading and discussion held at Still North Books and Bar.
Big Picture
The New York Times Book Review's March selection of 'American Men' gave the book national visibility before this Nashville reading, which places the local event within the wider conversation the book has entered about modern masculinity.
Readers interested in the book can seek out its ideas in local bookstore events and discussions. The format offers a direct way to hear the author and subjects discuss how men's lives are portrayed in nonfiction.
The takeaway
Nonfiction that follows real people over years can reveal how men describe identity, relationships and purpose. Reading such work alongside local discussion can broaden understanding of those experiences.
Further reading
Explore more on Sex Life in Nashville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dartmouth.
Live Poll
Do you think American men have enough room to express emotional vulnerability?
