Wisdom of Crowds UNPAYWALLED: The Antidotes to Male Loneliness
Sep 27, 2025
In this conversation, Jordan Castro, a writer and deputy director of the Cluny Project, discusses his new novel, Muscle Man. He explores themes of masculinity, loneliness, and the mind-body connection. Castro delves into the protagonist's self-loathing and how weightlifting serves as a coping mechanism. The chat also highlights the novel's anti-campus elements, the role of humor, and the impact of modern alienation. Castro emphasizes the need for empathy in understanding flawed characters amidst today's societal pressures.
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Let The Novel Reveal Its Politics
- Jordan writes by letting themes emerge rather than starting with ideological aims.
- He reads drafts as a reader to discover the novel's real concerns.
Rendering Mental Sensation In Fiction
- Castro aims to render inner sensation so readers can participate in self-loathing experiences.
- He treats mind-body sensations as central literary material to convey lived frustration.
Relating To The Underground Man
- Jordan recounts being the only student in a class who related to Notes From Underground.
- The professor reacted as if no one should identify with that character.
