Amateur - Supernormal Reads

Hardcover, 224 pages

English language

Published Aug. 2, 2018 by Canongate.

ISBN:: 978-1-78689-097-9
Goodreads:: 41067631

(1 review)

Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction Shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award *Shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize One of The Times UK’s Best Memoirs of 2018, BuzzFeed’s Best Nonfiction of 2018, Autostraddle’s Best LGBT Books of 2018, and 52 Insight’s Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2018 A “no-holds-barred examination of masculinity” (BuzzFeed) and violence from award-winning author Thomas Page McBee.

In this “refreshing and radical” (The Guardian) narrative, Thomas McBee, a trans man, sets out to uncover what makes a man—and what being a “good” man even means—through his experience training for and fighting in a charity boxing match at Madison Square Garden. A self-described “amateur” at masculinity, McBee embarks on a wide-ranging exploration of gender in society, examining sexism, toxic masculinity, and privilege. As he questions the limitations of gender roles and the roots of masculine aggression, he finds intimacy, hope, and even love in the experience …

Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Nonfiction Shortlisted for the Lambda Literary Award *Shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize One of The Times UK’s Best Memoirs of 2018, BuzzFeed’s Best Nonfiction of 2018, Autostraddle’s Best LGBT Books of 2018, and 52 Insight’s Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2018 A “no-holds-barred examination of masculinity” (BuzzFeed) and violence from award-winning author Thomas Page McBee.

In this “refreshing and radical” (The Guardian) narrative, Thomas McBee, a trans man, sets out to uncover what makes a man—and what being a “good” man even means—through his experience training for and fighting in a charity boxing match at Madison Square Garden. A self-described “amateur” at masculinity, McBee embarks on a wide-ranging exploration of gender in society, examining sexism, toxic masculinity, and privilege. As he questions the limitations of gender roles and the roots of masculine aggression, he finds intimacy, hope, and even love in the experience of boxing and in his role as a man in the world. Despite personal history and cultural expectations, “Amateur is a reminder that the individual can still come forward and fight” (The A.V. Club). “Sharp and precise, open and honest,” (Women’s Review of Books), McBee’s writing asks questions “relevant to all people, trans or not” (New York Newsday). Through interviews with experts in neuroscience, sociology, and critical race theory, he constructs a deft and thoughtful examination of the role of men in contemporary society. Amateur is a graceful and uncompromising look at gender by a fearless, fiercely honest 3 hours and 38 minutes

4 editions

ralentina reviewed Amateur by Thomas Page McBee

Tender machos

4 stars

After transitioning, Thomas undergoes a new gender-identity crisis, as he realizes that some of the 'masculine' behaviors he adopted as a lesbian and/or non-binary person take on different meanings, and have different effects, now that he passes as a man. Many of these behaviours used to help him to demonstrate competence and assertiveness, which are things he no longer needs to work as hard for. In other words, some things that seem integral part of the 'man package' do not appeal to him at all.

Encouraged by his partner, Thomas decide to explore this dark side of masculinity by tackling it heads on, and signing up for a charity boxing event. This environment interestingly brings together two toxic sides of masculinity: the physical violence for which certain working-class men of colour are trained (Tyson towering over the book as a tragic example), and the social violence of the Wall Street …

After transitioning, Thomas undergoes a new gender-identity crisis, as he realizes that some of the 'masculine' behaviors he adopted as a lesbian and/or non-binary person take on different meanings, and have different effects, now that he passes as a man. Many of these behaviours used to help him to demonstrate competence and assertiveness, which are things he no longer needs to work as hard for. In other words, some things that seem integral part of the 'man package' do not appeal to him at all.

Encouraged by his partner, Thomas decide to explore this dark side of masculinity by tackling it heads on, and signing up for a charity boxing event. This environment interestingly brings together two toxic sides of masculinity: the physical violence for which certain working-class men of colour are trained (Tyson towering over the book as a tragic example), and the social violence of the Wall Street type that most often joins this kind of scheme, taking clients to boxing gyms the same way in the 1980s they would have taken them to do coke (sic).

The account of his experience is interspersed with bits of information from social science books and interviews with experts on masculinity, which I didn't think added much. For me, the strength of the book lies in Thomas' desire to engage and see the humanity and tenderness in the macho men he encounters.

Subjects

Men
Masculinity
Trans
Queer
Boxing
United States