Why the worry about young men? -- 'Are you a hippy or a kicker?': a personal story and a way of understanding manhood -- 'Don't worry, I'm not a thief': the story of João -- The trouble with young men: coming of age in social exclusion -- In the headlines: interpersonal violence and gang involvement -- No place at school: low-income young men and educational attainment -- 'If you don't work, you have to steal': low income young men and employment -- In the heat of the moment: relating to women, having sex -- Learning to live with women, becoming fathers -- Dying to be men, living as men: conclusions and final reflections.