H2: A bold new project to redefine masculinity
Stephen Graham, the Emmy-winning actor renowned for the Netflix hit Adolescence, is launching a worldwide initiative aimed at strengthening father–son relationships through the written word. The project, titled Letters to Our Sons, invites fathers from around the world to pen personal letters to their sons about what it means to be a man in today’s world. The collected letters will be curated into a forthcoming book that Bloomsbury is publishing next October, with input from psychologist Orly Klein.
H2: What the project hopes to achieve
The core idea is simple yet powerful: give fathers a structured, reflective space to share lessons, values, and emotional truths with the next generation. Graham explains that there is “an arguably bigger disconnect between fathers and sons than ever before,” noting that many men struggle to articulate love and guidance in a digital age saturated with noise. Letters to Our Sons aims to bridge that gap by providing a direct, intimate channel for intergenerational conversation.
H3: A global call to action
From Wednesday 15 October to 12 January 2026, fathers can submit letters via the project’s website. Submissions come from first-time fathers, absent fathers, dads who have been deeply involved, and those still seeking the right words to say “I love you.” The project stresses inclusivity and honesty, encouraging contributions that reflect diverse experiences—whether a father is navigating vulnerability, responsibility, or loss.
H3: The collaboration behind the book
Graham is partnering with psychology lecturer Orly Klein, whose research centers on marginalisation, identity, and youth culture. Klein’s own personal experiment—soliciting letters from male friends to her son at age 13—helped spark the concept. A mutual contact between Klein and Graham’s circle facilitated the collaboration, with Klein noting there was “an idea for a book there somewhere.” Klein’s background, including work on youth-focused projects like Room to Rant (which uses rap as a therapeutic tool for young men), grounds the endeavour in evidence-based, therapeutic practice.
H2: Why now? The broader cultural backdrop
Adolescence, the show Graham co-created, examined modern masculinity and the pressures facing teenage boys in a digital era. It sparked debates in the UK and beyond about the role of fathers, male role models, and the influence of online communities often described as the “manosphere.” Commentators highlighted the need for constructive father–son dialogue as a counterbalance to misogynistic online content, while researchers noted that many boys are exposed to harmful ideas through social media and other channels. The Letters to Our Sons project is positioned as a proactive response—an opportunity for fathers to shape their sons’ understanding of manhood through personal, heartfelt correspondence rather than through stereotypes or online noise.
H3: Supporting young men’s wellbeing
In addition to the literary goals, the project includes a charitable element. Graham and Klein have pledged to donate for every published letter to two organizations supporting young men’s mental health:MANUP? and Dad La Soul. The commitment aligns with broader calls from educators and campaigners for healthier masculine identities and more open conversations about emotions, relationships, and self-worth.
H2: What to expect from the published book
Letters to Our Sons is more than a collection of personal notes. Bloomsbury describes it as having the potential to spark a genuine social and cultural movement, encouraging families to rethink fatherhood narratives and the ways men engage with their sons. Selected letters will be published alongside contributions from Graham and other notable figures, creating a diverse tapestry of voices on masculinity, parenting, and growth.
H2: How to participate and next steps
Interested fathers can submit their letters through the project website during the ongoing submission window. The process invites authentic, thoughtfully written messages—stories of fatherly pride, cautionary counsel, hopes for the future, and expressions of love. The book is slated for release in October of the following year, giving participants a chance to contribute to a lasting artifact that could influence conversations in homes, schools, and communities around the world.
H2: A hopeful note for the future
By encouraging fathers to write to their sons, Graham, Klein, and Bloomsbury are investing in intergenerational dialogue that transcends borders. The Letters to Our Sons project seeks not only to document diverse male experiences but to catalyze healthier, more open conversations about what it means to be a man in the 21st century.
