Reviews

Something That May Shock and Discredit You by Daniel M. Lavery

parkergarlough's review

Go to review page

lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.5

tildahlia's review

Go to review page

4.0

I can confidently say I am nowhere near as smart as Lavery, as truly so many of the references in this book (literally, biblical or otherwise) went right over my head but I nonetheless loved the humour and creativity of this book so much. He'd probably hate to know I loved the transition/memoir content the most - particularly his ambivalence around transition and identity as a man (loved the joke of trans men being men, but good). Lots of laugh out loud moments and furiously underlined passages. Danny Lavery is a gem.

saprat's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny reflective

5.0

epaulette's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

4.75

4.75 instead of 5 only because some of the obscure references that I didn't get. An amazing memoir that made me laugh AND cry 

charlieblablub's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.5

curiousslam's review

Go to review page

challenging reflective slow-paced

2.0

Although I enjoyed the humor in this book, I found it very difficult to read. The narrative style is confusing with a lot of references to religion and historical literature that I don't have prior knowledge of. It does feel like an honest and authentic recount of Ortberg's experience of gender, I just wish it wasn't written so pretentiously.

nonsenselliot's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.25

historybowler's review

Go to review page

4.0

It is actually closer to 3.5 stars.

lrgranger's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

coleycole's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Mixed feelings, but overall, a beautiful "memoir adjacent" book. The Toast-style interludes are hit and miss for me, depending on how I feel about the source material (Anne or Green Gables comes out as a trans man? Here for it. King Arthur and the Green Knight and... not my bag). The entire book is beautiful still, and a beautifully done look into his life pre/mid/post transition. Highly recommend the audiobook.