Welcome to Litsy!

This was a enlightening exploration abt masculinity by a trans gender man, a journalist, who trains to fight at madison sq garden for a charity event. As a child abused by his step father, + concious that in his transition he seems to be slipping into toxic masculine traits including anticipating violence + sexism, he finds in the gym relationships which help him come to terms with his conflicted thoughts and being a man, whatever that means.

Tackling the masculinity crisis & toxic masculinity by drawing from his own experiences as a trans man, McBee's insights complement the works of Julia Serano and Brené Brown. If you're like me and aren't into reading about boxing - it wasn't too bad, and he connects it to broader, important points. There were a lot of points to mull over, things I'd never considered before. This book sparks compassion, encourages discussion, and effects change.

This story of learning to box packs a punch*...Um, I mean it‘s well crafted and affecting. McBee‘s work to craft a healthy, kind masculinity for himself while engaging in boxing shone a light into corners of life that remain hidden most of the time. *That just happened on its own, I‘m very sorry.

In Denmark, men said to “be a man” meant not being a boy. America men said that to “be a man” was not to be a woman. ...If being “feminine” is the opposite of being a man, then many qualities that Americans associate with women (such as empathy...) are...destroyed in boyhood. “You‘re only a man by not being a woman...basing someone‘s humanness on someone else‘s dehumanization.” Thomas McBee and Niobe Way

Magnificent. McBee's second memoir is even better than the first (not that “better“ is the right word). In it he explores his own relationship to masculinity before and particularly after his transition began. It's both hugely personal and a brilliant contribution to discussions about masculinity, toxic and otherwise. Profound, lucid, honest and powerful.

This book was excellent, even better than his first, Man Alive. It‘s part memoir but also a very tender exploration of masculinity, violence, cultural pressure, and privilege.

Would definitely recommend.

#transbooks #lgbtq

“My abiding fear remained for years after I began injecting testosterone that I would be made strange, and that in my strangeness, I would not be loved.”

Same.

#transbooks

“The next time I found myself behind a woman running alone, I thought, I would do what I wished men had done for me: I would announce myself. “Passing on your right!” I‘d call. I would be careful to give her a wide berth. I would be aware that my body was, for much of the world, a weapon until proven otherwise.”

Empathy and understanding are much needed skills.

#transbooks

Currently reading Thomas Page McBee‘s second memoir, Amateur. After finishing Man Alive, it‘ll be nice to see where he is now. This one discusses masculinity, violence, and his experience being a trans man in the world of boxing.

#transbooks

#nakedbookspines
#riotgrams

I can‘t express how much I love Thomas Page McBee‘s writing style. He is so careful and thoughtful and wise and open. I loved his last book, but this one might stick with me even more. I didn‘t know that was possible.