Amateur Audiobook By Thomas Page McBee cover art

Amateur

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In this groundbreaking new audiobook, Thomas Page McBee, a trans man, trains to fight in a charity match at Madison Square Garden while struggling to untangle the vexed relationship between masculinity and violence.

Through his experience of boxing - learning to get hit and to hit back; wrestling with the camaraderie of the gym; confronting the betrayals and strength of his own body - McBee examines the weight of male violence, the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes and the limitations of conventional masculinity. A wide-ranging exploration of gender in our society, Amateur is ultimately a story of hope, as McBee traces a way forward: a new masculinity, inside the ring and out of it.

A graceful and uncompromising exploration of living, fighting and healing, in Amateur we gain insight into the stereotypes and shifting realities of masculinity today through the eyes of a new man.

©2018 Thomas Page McBee (P)2018 Canongate Books Ltd Biographies & Memoirs Combat Sports & Self-Defense Essays Gender Studies LGBTQ+ Studies Social Sciences Sports

Critic reviews

‘Such an important piece of trans literature to support and one that spoke to me deeply’ Elliot Page
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I bought the book because of the unusual perspective it had to offer, and the book does deliver that in spades. There were many moments in which a poetic observation or an idea caught me off guard and I was extremely delighted to make the choice to listen.

The parts I didn't very much care for are the political parts that strongly tilt twords the idea that masculinity is almost always on the verge of toxic. While I understand this is one person's point of view and it is what he really thinks I found it a little tiresome after a while. To be fair, this is the first book by a trans person I have read and what sparked my interest was this unique perspective of someone who chose to change their form into that of a male body dealing with what does it mean to be a man. So once again, the perspective is true and valid, even if the delivery can be a little annoying at times.

All an all the book would be a good choice for anyone interested in 🥊 gender relations and large cultural issues. You get a very limited peek into one human life and leave richer for it.

interesting, but very specific

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