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Real Men Do Cry: A Quarterback's Inspiring Story of Tackling Depression and Surviving Suicide Loss
Real Men Do Cry , by former NFL quarterback Eric Hipple, is an incredible story of tragedy and triumph. After his 15-year-old son died of suicide, Eric fell into a debilitating downward spiral. Bankrupt and jailed for drunk driving, he found the strength to seek therapy for his own depression and was able to make an amazing comeback. With unflinching honesty, Eric shares his journey, thus opening the door for others to realize that depression is treatable. This page-turner is packed with practical resources for families living with depression and is a valuable tool for counselors and mental health professionals nationwide. Resources include a Nine-Symptom Checklist for Depression along with Signs of Depression and Possible Suicide Risk.
- GenresNonfiction
132 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2008
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57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 18, 2018
I picked this book up after Eric Hipple came to Bahrain to speak to the Navy base personnel about suicide and depression. He was working as a part of the University of Michigan's suicide and depression center and his story was captivating and chilling, all at the same time.
Written by a former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions, this book is a fantastic book about depression in men and how the "suck it up" nature of sports and raising boys tends to result in men not wanting to talk or discuss their depression.
He tells a gripping personal story about his life as an NFL quaterback who appears to have everything you could ever want in life but secretly lives with massive depression leading to his attempted suicide. Other family tragiedies highlight the effects of depression on other members of his family and are a chilling wake up call to all men (and those who love them) about the real dangers of depression.
Absolute must-read for anyone dealing with depression, especially boys and men facing the stigma that comes with revealing your feelings.
Written by a former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions, this book is a fantastic book about depression in men and how the "suck it up" nature of sports and raising boys tends to result in men not wanting to talk or discuss their depression.
He tells a gripping personal story about his life as an NFL quaterback who appears to have everything you could ever want in life but secretly lives with massive depression leading to his attempted suicide. Other family tragiedies highlight the effects of depression on other members of his family and are a chilling wake up call to all men (and those who love them) about the real dangers of depression.
Absolute must-read for anyone dealing with depression, especially boys and men facing the stigma that comes with revealing your feelings.
September 30, 2020
I can see how this book would be a great one for people who are just starting to understand how difficult (and common) mental health struggles can be. Through telling his own life story, Eric Hipple provides one person's example of how depression can "look." I appreciated his courageous candor about surviving his son's suicide. It was a quick read, written in an unpretentious, conversational style--which clearly served the author's goal for the book: to help break down the stigma of mental illness, especially in sports. Several resources were included (depression checklist and more).
January 2, 2026
I had the opportunity to meet and talk at length with Eric Hipple about his football career as well as his personal journey through devastating loss and to finding hope. He is now a mental health advocate who is changing lives of all ages as he remains open and honest about his own struggles and how he overcame them. He is a wonderful man with a heart for helping others of all ages!
June 4, 2020
Short and very informative.
February 7, 2025
I've read this book many years ago but each time I find it just as good as the first time I read it. Highly recommend.
January 15, 2015
The book I read for my Senior English class was called Real Men Do Cry by Eric Hipple. I chose this book because it mixes a man success making it to the NFL and also his struggle through it all and even after his retirement. I also chose this book because it is an easy read and is not bad on length. The book starts off by explaining the main character, Eric Hipple, who was someone who struggled with depression before he even knew what it was. He says that he had a lot of success and is really grateful of his talent and also how he was extremely lucky with how everything played out. From, getting recruited to Utah State University, being able to start there early in his career, to him getting drafted by the Detroit Lions. What made his depression worse was all the injuries he sustained from playing football throughout his life and the off season, where he was away from football. What made him stray away from depression was football itself and the passion he had for it. I would easily recommend this short read to anyone really due to the fact that it teaches you a little more about depression and suicide. It even gives you signs and symptoms to look out for depression in other people especially loved ones.
What made this story very easy to read was how he conveyed his message throughout the book. The message of no one, not even a good NFL quarterback is invincible when it comes to depression or even life itself. Hipple also gave a repeated analogy between his life experiences and football. Which was an element very easy to pick up and really made it a page turner in my aspect. I would say the audience intended are really anyone who doesn’t know too much about depression or how to look for depression in other people. Some audience types that wouldn’t like this book to much are people who do not enjoy sports, specifically football because that is what Hipple incorporates in his story many times. I haven’t read anything similar styles to Hipple because he does have a unique way of showing his story rather than telling.
I can relate to the Hipple’s experiences with having a mother who is sick and depression that comes along with her disease. What was nice about his story was he didn’t focus too much on the other character, just told the important parts, like what their reactions were to some of the experiences they went through. Again, I couldn’t really picture the other characters because he stuck to his main purpose and story by explaining to people about depression and how he and his son went through it. What also made it an easy read was he told in chronological order of his life. Hipple started by talking about high school to college, then college to the NFL, and then retirement. Reading this book gave me an interest in depression and how it works. I also learned the warning signs and symptoms to having depression.
I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone who believe they, or someone they know who is dealing with depression. I’m going to take this book and really go in depth to learn more about depression and what it is down to the molecular level. I encourage people to do the same to have a better understanding of the disease.
What made this story very easy to read was how he conveyed his message throughout the book. The message of no one, not even a good NFL quarterback is invincible when it comes to depression or even life itself. Hipple also gave a repeated analogy between his life experiences and football. Which was an element very easy to pick up and really made it a page turner in my aspect. I would say the audience intended are really anyone who doesn’t know too much about depression or how to look for depression in other people. Some audience types that wouldn’t like this book to much are people who do not enjoy sports, specifically football because that is what Hipple incorporates in his story many times. I haven’t read anything similar styles to Hipple because he does have a unique way of showing his story rather than telling.
I can relate to the Hipple’s experiences with having a mother who is sick and depression that comes along with her disease. What was nice about his story was he didn’t focus too much on the other character, just told the important parts, like what their reactions were to some of the experiences they went through. Again, I couldn’t really picture the other characters because he stuck to his main purpose and story by explaining to people about depression and how he and his son went through it. What also made it an easy read was he told in chronological order of his life. Hipple started by talking about high school to college, then college to the NFL, and then retirement. Reading this book gave me an interest in depression and how it works. I also learned the warning signs and symptoms to having depression.
I would defiantly recommend this book to anyone who believe they, or someone they know who is dealing with depression. I’m going to take this book and really go in depth to learn more about depression and what it is down to the molecular level. I encourage people to do the same to have a better understanding of the disease.
January 23, 2016
Most football fans remember Eric Hipple as the tough Detroit Lions quarterback who played his heart out and did whatever he could to win. That's all true, but what they don't know is the darkness he had to overcome to get there, and the terrible tragedy that changed his life.
Eric, like millions of other men, had to battle depression. But he came of age in an era without the understanding and treatments available today, and his only option was to "suck it up" and keep going. As a result, he never dealt with his depression. Even worse, he was not able to recognize the signs of depression in his young son, who eventually took his own life at age 15. This tragedy, coupled with his existing mental illness and other pressures of life, caused him to spiral out of control, and he landed in prison. From Monday Night Football to a Monday night in jail, as he tells it.
Down but not out, Eric began to take responsiblity for his own life, and to battle back against the darkness. He stopped blaming everyone for his bad decisions, and became strong enough to seek additional help. Through treatment, courage, and sheer perseverance, he got his depression under control and his life on track. Now he teaches other men that depression is real, and educates communities around the country on depression and the signs of suicide. He has sworn that the loss of his son would not be in vain.
There's no boastfulness of an ex-NFL great in this book. There's no ego either, except when he talks about how it was detrimental to his life. The story is very real, told in a comfortable, personal style, and is an emotional rough ride. But in the end, it's the story of a courageous man who battles back from darkness and pain, and now does what he can to help others find their way out. Anyone suffering from the loss of someone close from suicide or who is battling depression will get something out of this book, and will appreciate its simple but important lessons.
Eric, like millions of other men, had to battle depression. But he came of age in an era without the understanding and treatments available today, and his only option was to "suck it up" and keep going. As a result, he never dealt with his depression. Even worse, he was not able to recognize the signs of depression in his young son, who eventually took his own life at age 15. This tragedy, coupled with his existing mental illness and other pressures of life, caused him to spiral out of control, and he landed in prison. From Monday Night Football to a Monday night in jail, as he tells it.
Down but not out, Eric began to take responsiblity for his own life, and to battle back against the darkness. He stopped blaming everyone for his bad decisions, and became strong enough to seek additional help. Through treatment, courage, and sheer perseverance, he got his depression under control and his life on track. Now he teaches other men that depression is real, and educates communities around the country on depression and the signs of suicide. He has sworn that the loss of his son would not be in vain.
There's no boastfulness of an ex-NFL great in this book. There's no ego either, except when he talks about how it was detrimental to his life. The story is very real, told in a comfortable, personal style, and is an emotional rough ride. But in the end, it's the story of a courageous man who battles back from darkness and pain, and now does what he can to help others find their way out. Anyone suffering from the loss of someone close from suicide or who is battling depression will get something out of this book, and will appreciate its simple but important lessons.
January 22, 2009
I was warned this isn't a literary great, and it wasn't a superbly written story. But, as I hoped, it did give me insight I appreciated and wanted to learn: life experiences that trigger depression, signs of depression and how people display them, and how real people deal with depression. Eric Hipple (the author) really emphasizes that depression is an illness, not unlike the flu, that can be treated. You can pull out of the dark clouds that weigh down on you. This book also deals with the sad subject of suicide and possible warning signs.
Hipple offers good "game plans" for the game of life when it comes to dealing with these life threatening griefs.
Hipple offers good "game plans" for the game of life when it comes to dealing with these life threatening griefs.
December 16, 2014
I recommend this book for laypeople, especially males, who don't know much about depression. The author was an NFL quarterback who didn't discover and address his long term depression until the suicide of his 15 year old son and his retirement from football. It tells a good story of his life while also providing the warning signs and symptoms of depression and an explanation of the variety of solutions.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews