Amateur

By: Thomas Page McBee

Narrated by: Thomas Page McBee

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

Critic reviews

‘Such an important piece of trans literature to support and one that spoke to me deeply’ Elliot Page

interesting, but very specific

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.