The testosterone files

What could Max W. Valerio have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you? I think maybe I just don't like his personality or approach to life. How did the narrator detract from the book? I found his voice really irritating or annoying, as though he was trying to portray the coarse half-hung over sex-driven bar fly that is the worst mono-dimensional stereotype of what men can be. It didn't sound like a natural voice, but like someone faking it.

It does portray a strong point of view. Any additional comments? This book is at the same time boring and troubling. The author tells of a journey of self-hatred in which she finds traces of what she identifies as male qualities, such as aggressiveness and a desire to hurt and dominate women, in her early history and then cultivates the very traits she found objectionable, in what almost seems to be a self-challenging show of bravo, until they become her identity.

What she becomes is nothing like any man Ive known, but someone acting out the worst most superficial stereotype imaginable. There were many sex scenes, but they were dull and boastful rather than erotic.

I had hoped that the book would give insight into the reality of men from the perspective of someone who'd experienced both sets of hormones, but it seems clear that this author doesn't like men very much, even though she opted to become one, and therefore can't portray their reality in an engaging way.

It somewhat reminds me of stories about Amish youth who take a year to see how the rest of us live, but get into trouble because they assume life outside the church consists of constant debauchery: The story of that year makes you feel sad for the individuals involved, but doesn't tell one much of what the non-Amish world is like.

Likewise, this book doesn't tell me what its like to be a man from a special perspective of someone who can talk to me as a woman or give me insight into an experience broader than this author's own dogma. I will confess, the book became too tedious and repetitive and I ended up deleting it after finishing only about a quarter. Valerio Narrated by: Max W.

Add to Cart failed. Please try again later. Add to Wish List failed. Remove from wishlist failed. Adding to library failed. Please try again. Follow podcast failed. Unfollow podcast failed. Stream or download thousands of included titles. Narrated by: Max W. I am still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I really like that the author was so open about his life regarding a topic that a lot of people discourage or are uncomfortable with.

I admire his bravery and the hardships that he faced along his journey to become his true self. However, a lot of the remarks he made about women came off as There is no other way to put it.

At one point, he describes the thrill of a woman crossing the street because she is scared of him wh I am still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. At one point, he describes the thrill of a woman crossing the street because she is scared of him when she sees him alone on the deserted street.

While I understand that Valerio takes this as a representation of manhood, the pleasure he feels in inadvertently making a woman feel uncomfortable in public makes me actually grimace. I think this book goes great things for people who are transgender, but does horrible things for stereotypes of men and what masculinity means. He seemed to blame a lot of sexist behaviors and belief on the increasing testosterone, which I felt was a cop on.

But of course I have no idea what it's like to physical transform from a female to a male, so maybe those are really common changes due to the increases in that hormone. This book made me more interested in the topic as a whole and has inspired me to read other author's memoirs who were transgender or transsexual.

I think there are better ones than this, so if you are interested in the topic, I would suggest starting with a different book. Sep 21, Sadie Forsythe added it. I had a hard time accepting some of it. I acknowledge that this could easily be my inability to let go of my own worldview however, but it still posed a challenge. I thought it an interesting read all the same. Edit: I see a number of people stating in their reviews that this book includes a justification of rape. I think this is a shallow and I had a hard time accepting some of it.

I think this is a shallow and reactive interpretation of the subject matter. I know the part they are referring to. It was a painfully honest, blunt discussion of the subject, but I do not believe Valerio intended it to justify rape. Admitting feelings and impulses is not the same thing as condoning actions based on them and I think conflating the two discourages honest discussion of such subjects.

It the same as insisting that if we never admit to somethings existence then it doesn't actually exist. That elephant is still in the room, even if we studiously never mention it. View 1 comment. Jul 09, Saturn rated it did not like it. There's something unsettlingly misogynistic about a lot of his views. And as someone who has also taken testosterone for several years, Valerio seems to have fallen into the trap of linking everything to him taking testosterone which I feel very off-putting.

I don't think people who are considering taking testosterone want to hear someone say that they openly objectify women because of testosterone when that's not particularly a thing with a lot of trans men I know. Sure, taking it changes you, There's something unsettlingly misogynistic about a lot of his views.

Sure, taking it changes you, but his accounts seem extreme at best Overall, the writing itself is beautiful, but the content is honestly a lot of garbage with only a few redeeming moments Apr 27, Aaron rated it liked it Shelves: trans , non-fiction. My reaction to this book was very mixed. I did not like the author and didn't like spending time with him in the book; I don't think he's someone I'd like to know in person.

He has some personality traits, interests, and perspectives that I don't appreciate or agree with. The book was very well-written and even poetic at times. Some of his experience resonated with me quite strongly, while some of it was quite foreign and even off-putting.

I'm glad I read it, but don't think I'd recommend it to My reaction to this book was very mixed. I'm glad I read it, but don't think I'd recommend it to anyone else or ever want to read it again.

Jan 05, Danni Green rated it really liked it Shelves: genderawesome , tft , q4p. I had a really complicated time with this book! I loved a lot of it. I loved the narration style and how it shifted tone as the story moved back and forth from inside the narrator's head to outside in the world he experienced.

I loved the extensive detail in his descriptions. He does a lot of objectifying women, though, and while on one level it was insightful to read about how he objectifies women in such first-person detail, it was also It was absolut I had a really complicated time with this book! It was absolutely a worthwhile read, but definitely brace yourself for the sexism. Sep 12, CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian rated it did not like it.

There's a justification of rape in this book that is completely unacceptable. Sep 28, Fer rated it it was ok Shelves: lgbt , memoir , trans-interest. I suspect that some of this is exaggerated, even if Max Valerio really believes it himself. There are other things that if I had not experienced them myself I would think he was also making up like not being able to cry after a few months on Testosterone, or receiving more hostility from strangers in public.

A lot of his opinions remind me of the ones I held when I was pre- and early into transition. The misogyny and essentialism he touts is dangerous. He seems to take pride in being as sexist as the typical cis man tends to be. Thus I moreso enjoyed the book for its readability and references to other trans male figures like Lou Sullivan and Pat Califia, both of whom I would also recommend reading rather than The Testosterone Files. Feb 28, Lauren rated it really liked it Shelves: I am a major proponent of reading books from different perspectives.

I can appreciate his honesty and bluntness, but I do believe those were written at face value without a comprehensive analysis. I also believe he should have further clarified certain broad statements as being part of his experience rather than seemingly factual. Overall, if you are interested in reading about a transgendered person's very personal experience, I would recommend this book.

Dec 09, Zoen rated it it was amazing. I related with so much of this book, and am surprised at how long it took me to read this, based on the reviews I'd read previously. Coming from a similar background as Max, I have begun to understand myself even better through his wonderfully expressive words. I nodded many times while reading this, disagreed minimally, and had several epiphanies while processing this information. Though I did not have the same level of aggression as he experienced, I realize this is his authentic experience wh I related with so much of this book, and am surprised at how long it took me to read this, based on the reviews I'd read previously.

Though I did not have the same level of aggression as he experienced, I realize this is his authentic experience which he has openly shared with us. My rating is not based on whether I would hang out with the guy, it's a well written book that delivers its promise to tell you of the experience of one transexual man. His words are sewn together like a true poet, painting a vivid picture of the silvers of his life he chose to share in these pages.

Hearing the inner dialogue of his thoughts as he transitioned, it sounded similar to things I have thought throughout mine, some of which I was too uncertain to say aloud. It is reaffirming to see that I am not the only one. Thank you, Max, for sharing this intimate experience.

Loads of reviewers took issue with things he said in the course of this book - choosing tiny moments to capture and even misquote. I read one review the other day that quoted him as saying that "if I had a penis, I'd rape! I also read that someone was upset about his descriptions of the differences between women and men, and also upset that he said he preferred the simplicity of the binary "male" to all the ambiguous labels I'm paraphrasing - I'm sorry - there's nothing anyone can do to quell all the sensitivities and triggers out there.

If you've put off reading this because of similar reviews, my advice is, read this book with the mind that you are reading someone ELSE'S experiences and inner dialogues: not your own. Jul 18, Gayle Pitman rated it really liked it Shelves: lgbt-nonfiction. This book was engaging and unnerving at the same time. The Testosterone Files details Max Wolf Valerio's gender transition and early experience with testosterone.

On T, Valerio experienced powerful changes to his body, but was somewhat unprepared for the impact T had on his thoughts, perceptions, and day-to-day experiences. Valerio's writing is poetic and lyrical, with a raw and edgy quality. It reads almost like poetry. Moreover, his writing is brazenly honest, to the point of being uncomfortab This book was engaging and unnerving at the same time. Moreover, his writing is brazenly honest, to the point of being uncomfortable.

That said, I value the deep level of honesty. If this were a sanitized and politically correct account of Valerio's transition, I would have found it wholly uninteresting. The reason I gave The Testosterone Files four instead of five stars is that I wanted to hear more about the experience of being an active lesbian feminist of color and subsequently going through a gender transition. Valerio writes extensively about his experiences in the San Francisco Mission District '80s anarchist counterculture, but includes little about his shift from lesbian feminism.

I still did not see what I wanted even though weight was consistently lost. After finishing the program, I ended up with a job at a gym where I would work out after my shifts. I was then offered employment with other companies last year and I had to get clean so I worked my ass off. I did not completely diet but I added smoothies to my options of meals around this time. With the months of lifting and carrying packages and garments, any extra weight I had came right off and I was starting to look like a stick figure.

I was pounds at this time. Walking all those city blocks and avenues in a day will really kick your butt! I was also enrolled in school and I took advantage of the free workout sessions during the week. I ended up being laid off from the position a few months ago so I used that time now to work out. I quickly got a gym membership and added some weight back on and now here I am. I took this picture in June of this year. As you can see I have done a lot of work. I thank all of the Beachbody products I have used to get myself where I am.

Shawn T is my favorite trainer from the organization and I endorse his workouts. Thanks for reading. Thanks for sharing that. Your physical transformation is amazing. I can definitely relate to the sweating buckets situation lol. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Google account. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account.