non-fiction text about masculinity. i had heard great things about the text so i was very happy to find it in a charity shop. it definitely wasn’t what i expected. i wanted a text which leans into the male role in feminism, which i have found is unexplored in a lot of the feminist texts i have read. it was a text which challenged my views - i certainly didn’t agree with everything he says or believes, however i think the text is great for men who are interested in how society penalises them. i believe the text would help these men to see how the root of this is patriarchy, and how the answer is feminism. i would recommend this to anyone interested in what masculinity means, especially considering the frequent criticisms in the media of masculinity.

This is a fun little book about what it means to be "manly" in the modern world. The author Grayson Perry -- a cross-dressing British artist who likes to race mountain bikes -- gives a lighthearted but critical argument that the sooner men let go of old-school masculine behaviors, the better his life will be.

He makes a point early on that men are generally conditioned to perform a specific way to fulfill the role of what society deems acceptable for a man, and we mock each other or feel inferior when we fall short of those societal expectations. Some people just don't fit that perfect idea of masculinity that has been internalized by us through our parents, grandparents, teachers, government, books, and movies. Some, if not many, of those people start to berate themselves for being different from what a man is "supposed" to be. And to top it off, they probably don't know how to talk about it.

Perry has a lot of fun breaking down other stereotypically masculine behaviors and it's fun to read. Not an academic work by any means, but it might make you think critically about a few things. The traditional idea of masculinity is outdated. A better idea of masculinity, Perry argues, is one that promotes flexibility, acceptance, and openness. There's no one way to be manly. And for the love of your God or lack thereof, it's ok to have feelings.

It's always frustrating to read a book that you agree with in its over-arching theory, but don't enjoy as a reading experience. The Descent of Man is right, but I read more than half and too much of it seems petty (yes, I realize this sounds like some defensive guy position - I'll have to live with that if you dismiss my review). He spends pages upon pages dwelling on the performative aspects of how men dress (which is true), but there's no solution, there's no alternative.

I didn't find the book very funny, and I didn't find it at all illuminative. Toxic masculinity is a real problem, but Grayson Perry is just repeating what I already know - I give it a second star, because he's clearly given the matter some thought and realizes how deeply ingrained in the cultural the issue is.

A thoughtful and personal perspective on the impacts of rigid masculinity on men, with a call for a new normal.

This book carries a quote from [a:Caitlin Moran|939363|Caitlin Moran|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1340897771p2/939363.jpg] exclaiming 'GRAYSON PERRY FOR KING AND QUEEN OF ENGLAND. Imagine how BRILLIANT our country would look if he was?', which I found interesting as for me it's a great companion to her own masterpiece, [b:How to Be a Woman|10600242|How to Be a Woman|Caitlin Moran|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405909800s/10600242.jpg|15507935]. It has a slightly more academic feel to it (being much shorter and a little lighter on hilarious anecdotes) but it's just as trailblazing in exploring gender roles in this crazy world. Personally, I can't get enough of Mr Perry, not least because he reminds me quite a lot of my husband (they're both cross-dressing Essex boys who went to art school and love skateboarding and bicycles) and he's become a much-need voice in the campaign for gender equality from the all too silent cis men's side. Juicy bedtime read this isn't but it is fascinating to hear from a man who has REALLY considered his gender and the effect the standards masculinity have on men. Turns out, they could benefit hugely from equality too. A very engaging, worthwhile and quick read.

Read it and give lots of copies away for presents. Brilliant.