Boys are missing their fathers both physically and emotionally. For a young man, the absence of an involved father in his life can create a powerful sense of loss that he takes into adulthood. Such an absence; whether caused by his father's death, divorce, lack of time or lack of interest; can leave a crippling legacy for the young man that may lead to real difficulties in his adult relationships, his role as a parent, his happiness and his success at work.
In On Their Own, men in Australia and New Zealand relate how they were affected by the experience of growing up without the active involvement of a father. The book considers the needs of young men as they mature, the passage from boyhood to manhood, and the roles of fathers and mothers. Rex McCann relates his own story of the loss of his father and his struggle to learn what it means to be a man. In an important section of the book, Rex McCann offers practical guidance to men who are trying to heal their relationships with their fathers.