Reviews (5)

NOTHING SHORT OF A GREAT BOOK
Riki Wilchins has crafted a marvelous primer on the major gender issues facing Americans today, and it's worth reading the book for that purpose alone; but Wilchins manages to provide more than a primer, she gives new life to the long dormant idea that King, Gandhi and Jesus died for, the idea that across the board social constructs must be abandoned, and the fight must be for equal rights for all. Period. No sub-divisions, no special rights, just rights that each and every person is entitled to simply because they are a person.
great for undergraduates or those new to queer/gender theory
I assign this book in a class called Sexual Identity. It offers an introduction to queer/gender/postmodern theory, situatedwithin contexts of social and political movements. It is extremely accessible, and guides readers through difficult concepts that are often complicated and dense in their original works (e.g., Foucault, Derrida, Butler). For people who want to sample some of the central theoretical concepts related to gender and sexuality, this book is a great resource. The students reading this book often comment on the accessible reading and Wilchins' connections to personal stories and experiences. Such comments starkly differ from when I previously assigned the more abstract and antiquated Queer Theory (Jagose).

A Perfect Primer for Gender/Queer Theory!
This book does exactly what it sets out to do: whereas my initial attempts at reading and understanding Foucault and Butler left me interested but confused, now, after reading this book -- in a mere four days -- I actually get postmodernism, a.k.a. the theory behind gender rights. I've retained more from this book in less than a week than from an entire semester of a college philosophy of race and gender class. In other words, thanks Riki!
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Subjects:  1. Bisexuality    2. Gender Studies    3. Gender identity    4. Homosexuality    5. Postmodernism    6. Sex Roles (Sociological Aspects)    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Transsexualism    10. Gay & Lesbian studies    11. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Reviews (7)

One of the best on this topic out there
While I have yet to find a good comprehensive book on this topic, this is the best I've read yet.Carol Grever treats the subject with compassion, and interweaves many personal stories that the reader can relate to.I also appreciated that, while it may be rare or tough for a mixed orientation marriage to stay together, it's not impossible and the book reflects that message.
Compatibility and change
It can only be a good thing that this book provides positive support for women who suddenly find themselves in a marriage that is not what they thought. After all, spousal compatability is the most important aspect of a lasting marriage. It does seem remarkable to me, though, that in 30 years of "mostly happy" marriage, the author never realised her husband was gay. Surely the marriage's general long-term happiness should have the author questioning her own status, vis-a-vis the whole gay issue? Different personality types and their relative compatibility are usually issues that are sorted out in the pre-marriage courting stage, or at least in the early stages of marriage. For it to take 30 "mostly happy" years for the author to realise her objections to her husband's gaiety indicates the likelihood that she had actually changed over time. It's natural for some people to become more melancholic and morose as they get older, but it seems a bit unreasonable to be taking it out on your spouse!

This book saved my life
nobody ever knows...until it happens.one day you come home and your husband is sitting at the kitchen table with his best cashmere sweater and his workout partner, Javier.next thing you know, he is telling you that his business trip to fire island wasnt for exactly company business.well, what can i say, this book helped me through those times and now i can say i am a proud survivor.my kids and i are adjusting, but it was all due to the book.it is good to know i am not the only one out there.
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Subjects:  1. Bisexuality in marriage    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family relationships    4. Family/Marriage    5. Gay men    6. Husbands    7. Love / Sex / Marriage    8. Marriage    9. Sexual behavior    10. Gay & Lesbian studies    11. Sex & sexuality   

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Counseling of    3. Gay Studies    4. Gays    5. Human Sexuality    6. Medical    7. Mental Health    8. Psychology    9. Psychotherapy - General    10. Counselling    11. Gay & Lesbian studies    12. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory    13. Psychotherapy    14. Self-Help / Substance Abuse   

Reviews (3)

A breakthrough book
The first book to really tackle the issue of bisexuality that is not meretriciously academic, nor is this pop-sociology.
Burlesons tackles Invisibility!
William Burleson does an incredible job describing the Bisexual community - from it's roots, to the current state, to the overlaps to other communities, to the divisions within.
An important book
I just finished reading Bi America and found it profoundly emancipating. Burleson brings decades of experience to his topic, clarifying controversial and difficult topics. The book is complete with copious notes, bibliography and index, but also reveals Burleson's personal and complex involvement. His treatment of the entire range of LBGT history and his insight into bisexuality in America, past and present, will be of value to anyone willing to look honestly and courageously at the broad range of human sexuality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Gay Studies    3. General    4. Social Science    5. Social conditions    6. Sociology    7. United States   

Reviews (1)

Homophobia
An excellent resource manual of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered psychology with a strong emphasis on their segregation from mainstream America.Includes strong literature on the structural isolation of lesbians and gay males and how the creation of a subculture leads to negative stereotypes, warped images, and fictional creations that are used to justify oppression of members of the disadvantaged group.Depicts and explains the homophobic image of homosexuals as a small, self-interested group, favoring their own, commanding a disproportionate world influence.Relates homophobia to other oppressed groups, including Jews as self-interested and cliquish, and African American males as sexual predators.The book also addresses how homophobes justify their behavior through logic and morality.Finally, it provides interesting research on reducing homophobia, including studies on contact and cooperation as means to resolve group conflict. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education & Training    2. Gay Studies    3. Gays    4. Human Sexuality    5. Mental health services    6. Psychology    7. Research    8. Research & Methodology    9. Study and teaching    10. Bisexuals    11. Gay studies (Gay men)    12. Lesbian studies    13. Sexual behaviour    14. Social Science / Gay Studies    15. Transsexuals   

Reviews (6)

Wonderful Work!
This is an amazing book for anyone who is bisexual or just plain interested in gender studies. It is well written, informative and all encompassing when it comes to the many realms of sexuality outside the terms "gay" or "straight". Through reading this book I was able to realize that although I am a bisexual women, I often identify myself as a male gender phsycologically. That you Marjorie for this wonderful piece of literature!

Pardon me?
I thought this was an enjoyable book for the most part, but I am bewildered by the blurb on the back comparing the author's scholarly contribution to the work of Copernicus. Wouldn't that suggest that she would at least have an original and clear thesis in there? Instead, we get a mish-mash of gossip, innuendo, and lame puns for over 500 pages. The closest I came to finding a thesis was the idea that bisexuality is extremely common yet has been denied for centuries... which wasn't even original when Freud said it. The book reads like the sort of thing Entertainment Weekly would have published; the thinking is fuzzy and superficial, and the writing is glib and confused. Entertaining for what it is, but, as scholarship, it shows mostly how far the Ivy Leagues have fallen.

Like ... THIS is the real thing
This is a complete and wonderful work of scholarship.I have delighted in and enjoyed every page. It is a thorough exploration of bisexuality, the bisexual experience, and bisexual eroticism.There are some profound observations in the book that have given me now insights into myself.As a bisexual who has read most - if not all - of the books on the subject; I can say that - in my opinion - this is the ONLY book on bisexuality that is actually worth reading.Ms. Garber is the only author I have read who has grasped the essence and the meaning of the "Bisexual Experience".It is clear that - unlike most writers on the subject - she is not guessing.She knows.She has also miraculously managed to make what she knows accessible to any reader.I made my psychologist buy a copy and read it.Now he knows what I'm talking about.Ms Garber demonstrates quite clearly that we bisexuals are not straight, we are not gay, we are not lesbian.We are a whole other breed of cat. This book should help anyone to understand what sort of cat we are. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Sexual Behavior    2. Bisexuality    3. Gay Studies    4. Gender Studies    5. Human Sexuality    6. Lesbian Studies    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Art / Popular Culture    10. Bisexuals    11. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (17)

From a psychologist
This book is the other version of Forbidden Love with a Married Man by Dennis Schleicher, which it is a 'must read' for all. His memoir is groundbreaking along with cutting edge, a first of its kind.
Misses the point entirely.
Although this woman should be admired for how she was able to get back on track after the many things she endured she misses the point entirely. For starters, men who live "on the DL" do not want tobe discovered--in the unlikely event that a surefire or foolproof test to determine wether or not a man is on the DL were ever devised, those men in this lifestyle would find a way to dodge or evade it. Her suggestions that homosexuality and bisexuality can be cured are ludicrous at best. After having read this book my only question is "Did she write this to get back at her ex-husband?".

www.valderbeebeshow.com
Brenda's book is not sensational (as her husband J. L. King, On The Down Low).It is personal, reflective, cautious with a focus.
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Subjects:  1. African American bisexual men    2. African American women    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family relationships    6. Family/Marriage    7. Gay Studies    8. Homosexuality    9. Life skills guides    10. Love / Sex / Marriage    11. Marriage    12. Sex Relations    13. Sexual behavior    14. Sexuality    15. Marriage, family & other relationships    16. USA   

Reviews (2)

Crichlow speaks for many black Caribbean gay men
Wesley Crichlow is a hero in the black gay community in Toronto Ontario Canada. This book PUTS A FACE TO THE STRUGGLES OF BLACK GAY MEN IN CANADA that are immigrants or children of immigrants. Black MSM to the North
Dismissing the word "gay" as Eurocentric, Crichlow is a black Canadian man who loves men who interviews similar men in two English-speaking Canadian cities.His primary purpose is to illustrate the severe homophobia in black Canadian communities and demonstrate how it hurt many black men.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual men    2. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - Histor    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay men    6. Gender Studies    7. Halifax    8. Nova Scotia    9. Ontario    10. Social Science    11. Social conditions    12. Sociology    13. Toronto    14. Black studies    15. Canada    16. Gay studies (Gay men)    17. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family relationships    4. Family/Marriage    5. Gay Studies    6. Gays    7. Lesbian Studies    8. Lesbians    9. Reference    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Marriage & Family    12. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Subjects:  1. Gender Studies    2. Human Sexuality    3. Psychology    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. Social Science / Gender Studies    8. sex    9. sexuality    10. homosexuality    11. bisexuality    12. postmodernism   

Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Psychology    3. Current Events / Mass Media    4. Sexual behaviour    5. Trafford Publishing,1-55395-732-6,1553957326,03-0095,Barry Klar,adult sites,pornography,exhibitionism,bisexual,women who like sex,lifestyle,life alternatives,commercial sex,respectability,amateur sex sites,sex in society,inhibition   

Reviews (2)

lots of good stuff, a few problems
First the problems.When a scholar uses such a wide range of sources, it is inevidentual that some will be used better than others.I think Cantarella has a good grasp of the legal and epigraphical evidence but heruse of literature and plays is more tenuous.Likewise she crosses overfrom time periods at times, combining Greek sources from a Roman contextinto her discussion about Greece when they might best be a reflection of anew multiculture world.Finally, I can tell this was done on a computer. Several pages are word for word from her previous book "Pandora'sDaughters".Computers are wonderful things but I don't think theyshould take the place of writing something new. There are several goodpoints about this book.She uses a wide range of sources and attempts toplace "reality" apart from "philosophy" a differenceoften overlooked in scholarship it seems.Her attempt to look at women'sbisexuality is good though limited by the sources available.Finally thebook is written clearly so that both scholar and non-scholar can appreciateand learn from it.

Not as recent as some might have us believe...
This is a delightful book that makes a delicious change from the normal books on bisexuality. Full of great stories and a wonderous insight from start to finish, it kept me enthralled until the last page and then made me wish for more. It's rather refreshing to see something that deals with ahistory of bisexuality, rather than a personal insight. This made it evenmore of a gem, but in itself it is a must for every bi bookcase. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Sexual Behavior    2. Ancient - General    3. Bisexuality    4. Gay Studies    5. Gender Studies    6. Greece    7. History    8. Homosexuality, Male    9. Human Sexuality    10. Rome    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. Ancient Greece    14. Ancient Rome    15. BCE to c 500 CE    16. Bisexuals    17. European history: BCE to c 500 CE    18. Social Science / Gender Studies    19. Social history   

Reviews (5)

Beautiful photography...
This is a must have for anyone with an alternative family. We can't wait to share this book with our family & friends.

Very Interesting, Very Surprising
What I enjoyed about this book is that it covered not only the people like me (gay, male, plans to have children), but it also gave me an insight into some others who have very different lives but the same issues of"alternative-ness."It actually contained a few surprises andgave me some ideas about how a family could be built from things I'd neverconsidered before.

fantastic
a look into the lives of different people. it makes one think that one in simular cercumstances is not alone.A infomative book that shows real people in real lives.well done!!It does need though, more family portrates oftransgendered people. Im glad I waited over two monthes for this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexual parents    2. Gay fathers    3. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    4. Interviews    5. Lesbian Studies    6. Lesbian mothers    7. Parenting - General    8. Portraits    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - Marriage & Family    12. Biography: general    13. Family & relationships    14. Gay & Lesbian studies    15. Gender studies    16. Multicultural studies    17. Social issues    18. USA   

Subjects:  1. Bisexuals    2. Gays    3. Mental Health    4. Mental Health And Hygiene    5. Mental Illness    6. Psychiatry - General    7. Psychology    8. Sex Relations    9. Transsexuals    10. Gay & Lesbian studies    11. Mental health services    12. Social groups & communities   

Subjects:  1. AIDS & HIV    2. Bisexuals    3. Gays    4. Health Care Delivery    5. Medical    6. Medical / Nursing    7. Medical care    8. Public Health    9. Transsexuals    10. United States    11. Gay & Lesbian studies    12. Public health & preventive medicine   

Reviews (4)

Great starter
This is the very first book I ever read on bisexuality.Since then I've found better books on the subject, but this is still a book I'll put my nose into again.The reason it's not the "best" is because I didn't relate to most of the bisexuals Klein interviewed.It was kind of a downer, some of the uptitebis in this book.Then again, he didn't interview very many people.Especially compared to "Bi Any Other Name:Bisexual People Speak Out".Now that is a book where I related to many more of the people.Just goes to show we (bis) are all different.I will always have a lot of respect for Fritz Klein and found his scale on bisexuality very good.Although I don't agree who we prefer to socialize with has anything to do with orientation.I could enjoy a cup of coffee with anyone, that says zilch about orientation! Other than that, I liked the scale.This is an interesting read, for the most part.

Bisexuality: A Feelgood Scholarly Book
As one half of a long-time male to male rlp, with a three year periodic sexual rlp with a bisexual male, I was interested in reading Dr Klein's book. This is a scholarly and thoughtful addition to the scant litteratureon bisexuality. Dr Klein is a Psychiatrist who specialises in sexualorientation and rlp problems. An engaging exploration of human sexuality
This well-written book is a must-read for anyone struggling, as I have, with bisexuality.It is hopeful, insightful, and very liberating.Dr. Klein presents an engaging balance of theory, research, and case examples. This is a very real and honest presentation of bisexuality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bisexuality    2. Gay Studies    3. Gender Studies    4. Human Sexuality    5. Lesbian Studies    6. Sex (Psychology)    7. Sex customs    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Gay & Lesbian studies   

Subjects:  1. Bisexuality    2. Bisexuals    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Human Sexuality    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Marriage    8. Sexuality   

Reviews (7)

Dull Dull Dull
I think my title says it all really. Not insight very repetitive and not well written. What should have been an interesting topic poorly handled. The only interest was the changes of attitudes over the decades. Borrow this from the Library or but second hand

Some interest, little insight
David Leddick's volume of interviews with gay men who once were or are currently married to women promises a good deal more than it delivers. Organized by the age of interviewed subjects, starting with the oldest, the mostly short interviews are sometimes touching, sometimes titillating. After a very short while, however, monotony sets in, due to the sameness of the subjects (handsome, successful, professional, and with a very few exceptions, white) and the persistent lack of any real insight into the motivations of the men profiled. Credit must be given to Leddick for not attempting psychoanalysis for which he is obviously not qualified; but the lack of any compensating interest or other profundity means the final impression is quite similar to many of his collections of male nude photographs--polished, facile but hard to remember when one has closed the book.

OK, so it's not the best book you'll ever read...
...but while I respect the opinions of my fellow reviewers, please give this one a chance.EVERYONE out there---straight AND gay---can relate in one way or another to one or more of the personal declarations in this anthology.What is of interest here is the inflexible march of time and how things change and evolve as the clock ticks on...from oldest to youngest, the contributors share with us a chronicle of feelings, perceptions, fears, hopes, expectations, aspirations, losses---you name it, the list is almost endless---not only for themselves but their families, friends and loved ones as well.Leave your judgement behind---this is real life and it really happens, whether or not you choose to believe or accept it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Bisexuality in marriage    5. Gay Studies    6. Gay men    7. Gender Studies    8. Literary    9. Multicultural Education    10. Relations with heterosexual wo    11. Relations with heterosexual women    12. Gay studies (Gay men)    13. Social Science / Gay Studies   

Reviews (1)

Really good subject, a little rough in some spots...
Where are the bisexual men?Why are bisexual activist usually women?If the whole world thinks bisexual men are the ones guilty of spreading AIDS to "innocent" straight women, then why are they so invisible?These are some of the questions that this anthology attempts to answer.A big and important question they pose is the following:"too often writing lumps gay and bisexual men together, so how do bisexual men differ from gay men?"The editors specifically state that they would like readers to read this book next to/along with their other book "Bisexual Men in Culture and Society."This book is the academic-scientific book compared to its more pop culture, literary companion.As much as this book complains of women dominating the bisexual rights movement, with few exceptions, the articles in this book are written by women.This book cites the stats that say Black and Latino men exhibit higher rates of bisexual behavior than white men; this book does a good job in trying to be racially-diverse. The worst article is by Paula Rust.I was so disappointed by this entry when her book "The Bisexual Challenge to Lesbian Politics" was so excellent.Finally, the cover of the book is cheap and tacky.I am glad I bought the book, but then again I'm fascinated by the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Physical    2. Attitudes    3. Bisexual men    4. Bisexuality    5. Gender Studies    6. Men's Studies - General    7. Public opinion    8. Social Science    9. Social conditions    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Bisexuals   

Reviews (1)

practical and uplifting!
This book is a collection of daily meditations for Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered, and bisexual people.Each day features a very short meditation: about two paragraphs, which gives insight on what it means to be a G/L/T/B person in today's world.Very positive!This book has helped me, as a gay person, examine how I live my life and how I can change for the better.Make it part of your daily ritual!This book sometimes gives a challenge for the day: i.e. one day gives us the challenge that if we hide our sexual identity from others, we are only making things more difficult for us.Others will let us take a break: i.e. today, maybe we shouldn't think about our sexuality at all.Sometimes, this little book asks us to stand up for ourselves, and perhaps confront others who have "pushed us around" in the past because of our sexuality; other times, it suggests perhaps we are not accepting straight people, or making false assumptions about what they are thinking about us.I have to say, this book is definitely encouraging.I only wish I was given this book the first day I knew about my sexuality. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Affirmations    2. Bisexuals    3. English    4. Gay Studies    5. Gay men    6. Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction    7. Lesbian Studies    8. Lesbians    9. Prayer-books and devotions    10. Self-Help    11. Social Science    12. Gay & Lesbian studies    13. Popular psychology    14. Self-Help & Practical Interests    15. Self-Help / Substance Abuse