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92 reviews for:
The Man They Wanted Me to Be: Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Own Making
Jared Yates Sexton
4.23 AVERAGE
92 reviews for:
The Man They Wanted Me to Be: Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Own Making
Jared Yates Sexton
4.23 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
“Men need to be reminded that some things are much, much more important than their fear.” This is one of the closing sentences in Sexton’s impressive book on toxic masculinity. This is no screed, but an insightful look into the elements that have created the rage and fear we saw manifested today. Sexton knows of what he speaks and his personal journey makes this a compelling read.
I picked up this book in my search for male voices in the global discussion of toxic masculinity. I'm now 100% recommending it to my male friends looking for a way through the trappings of patriarchy. I read a lot of feminist literature, but I've been wondering for a few years now what men are saying to themselves and eachother. Sexton is by all definitions, and his own description, a good old fashioned american boy. We know men like him, and we've met the men he reflects on in this work. They're our brothers, classmates, coworkers, friends, and lovers. We've ached for them, cried over their actions, and wanted to bring them into a world beyond their cage. Sexton crafts a wonderful narrative that draws on good quality research for context and that ends in a kind of call to alternative vision of masculinity. It's an excellent piece of writing.
Good book on the problems of historical conceptualizations of masculinity, but feels lacking in describing a pathway out. Very approachable and personable writing style that is engaging and clear. 4/5
challenging
informative
medium-paced
I've been looking forward to reading this for awhile now. I found the autobiography parts captivating and really drove the points home, however the statiscs could be a little shallow and all over the place.
DNF at page 118
The title and subject piqued my interest, but the book is more concerned with the micro than the macro.
The title and subject piqued my interest, but the book is more concerned with the micro than the macro.
“Shocked at the depth of frustration and despair my dad had suffered, I listened and realized, for the first time, that the masculinity I’d sought, the masculinity I’d been denied, had always been an impossibility. Deep down, I realized that masculinity, as I knew it, as it was presented to me, was a lie.”
3.5 stars/5
Great read. Sexton is a great writer and voices his thoughts and experiences well. Loved the explanation of where the traditional view on masculinity comes from and the breakdown of what cultural moments impacted each generation and how that changed the paradigms of each. Great read
Great read. Sexton is a great writer and voices his thoughts and experiences well. Loved the explanation of where the traditional view on masculinity comes from and the breakdown of what cultural moments impacted each generation and how that changed the paradigms of each. Great read
Very important book for reading, people of any gender and sexuality should read it.