Anatomy of Misery, Part I: Men’s Misery, Ms. Mithu Chakraborti’s debut book, was released at Oxford Bookstore by Pages and Chapters. Prominent figures from literature, film, and psychology came together for the launch to have a stimulating conversation about men’s mental health, emotional well-being, and the taboo around male vulnerability.

The evening’s panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Oindrila Dutt, an arts curator, broadcaster, and writer. Renowned actor-author Mr. Barun Chanda, National Award-winning filmmaker Mr. Ashoke Vishwanathan, and Dr. Nilanjana Bagchi (WBES), a seasoned professional and Head of Department, Psychology, Bethune College, joined the author in an interesting discussion that covered the book’s main themes and the pressing need for empathy-driven discussions about men’s emotional struggles.

The twelve interconnected case narratives in Anatomy of Misery, Part I: Men’s Misery, a work of narrative nonfiction and popular psychology, center on seasoned psychologist Dr. Leela Menon and the men who seek her advice after years of repressing their feelings behind the well-known I’m fine statement. The book explores themes like loneliness, emotional isolation, domestic violence against men, the demands of being a provider, and the personal cost of a culture that frequently expects men to keep their emotions to themselves through these stories.

“I worked in corporate India for more than 20 years, and during that time I saw men break quietly and advance as a result. I wrote this book because the man who most needs to hear this discussion is unlikely to pick up a self-help book, but he might decide to read a story instead. Empathy is an endless resource. Extending compassion to men does not diminish it for women,” said author Mithu Chakraborti.

The author also revealed that the second book in the series, Anatomy of Misery, Part II: Working Women’s Misery, is presently being written. It is a book about two jobs, one guilt, and everything a woman carries between them, supporting her overarching goal of fostering discussions based on empathy for people of all genders.

The book’s consulting-room structure is reminiscent of Arthur Conan Doyle’s storytelling architecture, and it has already been compared to the case-study tradition of Oliver Sacks and the narrative sensitivity of Mitch Albom.

A discussion with readers at the launch’s conclusion reaffirmed the increasing importance of discussions about mental health and emotional well-being in today’s society. All major bookstores and online retailers will sell Anatomy of Misery, Part I: Men’s Misery for Rs 499/-.

Priyanka Dutta