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.