The Last Men: Liberalism and the Death of Masculinity, By John Steele and James Reed
The Last Men: Liberalism and the Death of Masculinity (2025) by Dr. Charles Cornish-Dale (writing as the Raw Egg Nationalist), published by Skyhorse Publishing, arrives at a moment when so many men feel quietly exhausted, directionless, and biologically undermined—often without quite knowing why. Cornish-Dale steps forward with compassion and unflinching clarity to name the problem: modern liberal democracy, combined with the industrial assault on our bodies, has produced what he calls the "Last Men" — not just spiritually hollowed-out figures as Francis Fukuyama warned in The End of History and the Last Man, but physiologically depleted ones. He argues that plummeting testosterone, rising infertility, weakened drive, and a pervasive sense of emasculation aren't accidental side effects; they're the predictable outcome of a system and environment actively hostile to masculine vitality.
What makes this book so resonant and supportive is how Cornish-Dale refuses to blame individual men for their struggles. Instead, he places the responsibility where it belongs: on endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plastics and food, on ultra-processed diets that sabotage hormonal health, and on a liberal political order that prioritises equality and comfort (isothymia) over the striving for distinction and excellence (megalothymia) that historically fuelled male purpose and achievement. He draws a powerful parallel between Fukuyama's cultural diagnosis and today's measurable biological reality — testosterone levels have crashed dramatically in recent decades — and the result is a society where men increasingly feel like exiles in their own bodies and lives.
The tone throughout is one of genuine concern rather than mere polemic. Cornish-Dale writes as someone who understands the pain of watching vitality slip away, and he refuses to leave readers in despair. A significant portion of the book is devoted to practical solutions: lifestyle changes to reclaim hormonal health (avoiding plastics, prioritising nutrient-dense foods, strength training, better sleep), and deeper reflections on whether true masculinity can coexist long-term with liberal democracy. These aren't abstract lectures; they're actionable steps offered with encouragement, rooted in the author's own expertise as a historian, anthropologist, and advocate for physical regeneration.
For any man who's felt quietly angry at his own lack of energy, frustrated by a culture that seems to pathologise ambition or male bonding, or simply tired of being told the problem is "toxic masculinity" when the data points to something far more systemic — this book feels like a lifeline. It validates what many sense intuitively: you're not broken; the world around you has been engineered in ways that make thriving as a man extraordinarily difficult. Cornish-Dale doesn't promise easy answers, but he offers hope through knowledge, discipline, and the possibility of resistance, both personal and political.
If you're searching for a work that combines rigorous analysis, biological realism, philosophical depth, and real empathy for men's current plight, The Last Men stands out as one of the most honest and uplifting contributions to the conversation. It's not just a diagnosis, it's a call to reclaim what remains of our strength before it's too late. Highly recommended for anyone ready to stop apologising for wanting to feel alive and powerful again. For being a man.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Men-Liberalism-Death-Masculinity/dp/1510786783
