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lamphouse's review
first day of class on this book
someone: there's just some... weird vibes?
instructor: well he DID turn out to be a republican
everybody, immediately: *various noises of understanding*
someone: there's just some... weird vibes?
instructor: well he DID turn out to be a republican
everybody, immediately: *various noises of understanding*
batsworthy's review
2.0
This book has aged pretty poorly and I would not recommend it as a primer for a guy considering/early in transition, or for non-trans people who want to read about the trans male experience. For a more educational, realistic, politically sensitive resource I would still recommend the first FTM book I read, Becoming A Visible Man by Jamison Green.
I suspect that some of this is exaggerated, even if Max Valerio really believes it himself. There are other things that if I had not experienced them myself I would think he was also making up (like not being able to cry after a few months on Testosterone, or receiving more hostility from strangers in public). A lot of his opinions remind me of the ones I held when I was pre- and early into transition. The misogyny and essentialism he touts is dangerous. He seems to take pride in being as sexist as the typical cis man tends to be. Thus I moreso enjoyed the book for its readability and references to other trans male figures like Lou Sullivan and Pat Califia, both of whom I would also recommend reading rather than The Testosterone Files.
I suspect that some of this is exaggerated, even if Max Valerio really believes it himself. There are other things that if I had not experienced them myself I would think he was also making up (like not being able to cry after a few months on Testosterone, or receiving more hostility from strangers in public). A lot of his opinions remind me of the ones I held when I was pre- and early into transition. The misogyny and essentialism he touts is dangerous. He seems to take pride in being as sexist as the typical cis man tends to be. Thus I moreso enjoyed the book for its readability and references to other trans male figures like Lou Sullivan and Pat Califia, both of whom I would also recommend reading rather than The Testosterone Files.
caedocyon's review
3.0
Pretty mixed feelings about this. He's a great writer, but I just don't buy his premise that T made his politics and beliefs about women's rights change all on its own.... I'm sure he wants to believe that. Towards the end he makes his first motions towards "Hmm, maybe I shouldn't indulge every manly impulse I have, T or not. Maybe some of them aren't acceptable no matter where they come from." So there's that.
_desertbookreader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
retto314's review
1.0
From what I remember this book was super misogynist and cringe. Though it was one of the only trans memoirs I had access to when first transitioning.
mckenzierichardson's review
2.0
I am still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I really like that the author was so open about his life regarding a topic that a lot of people discourage or are uncomfortable with. I admire his bravery and the hardships that he faced along his journey to become his true self.
However, a lot of the remarks he made about women came off as... really creepy. There is no other way to put it. At one point, he describes the thrill of a woman crossing the street because she is scared of him when she sees him alone on the deserted street. While I understand that Valerio takes this as a representation of manhood, the pleasure he feels in inadvertently making a woman feel uncomfortable in public makes me actually grimace. I think this book goes great things for people who are transgender, but does horrible things for stereotypes of men and what masculinity means. He seemed to blame a lot of sexist behaviors and belief on the increasing testosterone, which I felt was a cop on. But of course I have no idea what it's like to physical transform from a female to a male, so maybe those are really common changes due to the increases in that hormone.
This book made me more interested in the topic as a whole and has inspired me to read other author's memoirs who were transgender or transsexual. I think there are better ones than this, so if you are interested in the topic, I would suggest starting with a different book.
However, a lot of the remarks he made about women came off as... really creepy. There is no other way to put it. At one point, he describes the thrill of a woman crossing the street because she is scared of him when she sees him alone on the deserted street. While I understand that Valerio takes this as a representation of manhood, the pleasure he feels in inadvertently making a woman feel uncomfortable in public makes me actually grimace. I think this book goes great things for people who are transgender, but does horrible things for stereotypes of men and what masculinity means. He seemed to blame a lot of sexist behaviors and belief on the increasing testosterone, which I felt was a cop on. But of course I have no idea what it's like to physical transform from a female to a male, so maybe those are really common changes due to the increases in that hormone.
This book made me more interested in the topic as a whole and has inspired me to read other author's memoirs who were transgender or transsexual. I think there are better ones than this, so if you are interested in the topic, I would suggest starting with a different book.
choirqueer's review
4.0
I had a really complicated time with this book! I loved a lot of it. I loved the narration style and how it shifted tone as the story moved back and forth from inside the narrator's head to outside in the world he experienced. I loved the extensive detail in his descriptions. He does a lot of objectifying women, though, and while on one level it was insightful to read about how he objectifies women in such first-person detail, it was also...really gross and uncomfortable at times. It was absolutely a worthwhile read, but definitely brace yourself for the sexism.
saturn_xoxo's review
1.0
There's something unsettlingly misogynistic about a lot of his views. And as someone who has also taken testosterone for several years, Valerio seems to have fallen into the trap of linking everything to him taking testosterone which I feel very off-putting. I don't think people who are considering taking testosterone want to hear someone say that they openly objectify women because of testosterone when that's not particularly a thing with a lot of trans men I know. Sure, taking it changes you, but his accounts seem extreme at best
Overall, the writing itself is beautiful, but the content is honestly a lot of garbage with only a few redeeming moments
Overall, the writing itself is beautiful, but the content is honestly a lot of garbage with only a few redeeming moments