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Reviews tagging 'Addiction'
The Man They Wanted Me to Be: Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Own Making by Jared Yates Sexton
2 reviews
barefootbetsy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
bigheadcam's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Jared Yates Sexton is an author I had not heard of until my partner decided to attend a literary festival. She managed to get a signed copy of the book from him for me without me having any idea. I was a little surprised but she and I had talked about toxic masculinity a lot already as it's something I have always been aware of but have only recently been able to begin describing and clearly identifying it.
J.Y.S. tells a very difficult yet poignant story - his story - growing up in the Bible Belt of the United States and having to deal with the male figures in his life being more hurtful and helpful. However, he also points out that they have been hurting themselves as well, as their fathers have before them and theirs before them as well. He does not excuse the behavior, but he explains it. He pulls back the cover of toxic masculinity and explores the masculine culture in America, and how male (often white, but not always) insecurity plays a big part in the unrest that had existed in America since its inception.
Now, most of the things you read may not be entirely new to you. He's not really trying to propose any really big or revolutionary theories. However, this is one of those topics that you don't really process or recognize fully until someone like Sexton comes by and describes it to you in excruciating detail. Then you begin to more clearly recognize it in your day-to-day life. And maybe you'll even feel more confident in calling it out. I think that's all Sexton is really asking for with his book.
Highly recommend.
J.Y.S. tells a very difficult yet poignant story - his story - growing up in the Bible Belt of the United States and having to deal with the male figures in his life being more hurtful and helpful. However, he also points out that they have been hurting themselves as well, as their fathers have before them and theirs before them as well. He does not excuse the behavior, but he explains it. He pulls back the cover of toxic masculinity and explores the masculine culture in America, and how male (often white, but not always) insecurity plays a big part in the unrest that had existed in America since its inception.
Now, most of the things you read may not be entirely new to you. He's not really trying to propose any really big or revolutionary theories. However, this is one of those topics that you don't really process or recognize fully until someone like Sexton comes by and describes it to you in excruciating detail. Then you begin to more clearly recognize it in your day-to-day life. And maybe you'll even feel more confident in calling it out. I think that's all Sexton is really asking for with his book.
Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse