Status
Available
Collections
Publication
New York : Seven Stories Press, c2006.
Description
Psychology. Sociology. Nonfiction. HTML: Celebrated transsexual trailblazer Kate Bornstein has, with more humor and spunk than any other, ushered us into a world of limitless possibility through a daring re-envisionment of the gender system as we know it. Here, Bornstein bravely and wittily shares personal and unorthodox methods of survival in an often cruel world. A one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive outside the box, Hello, Cruel World is a much-needed unconventional approach to life for those who want to stay on the edge, but alive. Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 101 alternatives to suicide that range from the playful (moisturize!), to the irreverent (shatter some family values), to the highly controversial. Designed to encourage readers to give themselves permission to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings its reader on a self-validating journey, which forges wholly new paths toward a resounding decision to choose life. Tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy, Kate Bornstein is the radical role model, the affectionate best friend, and the guiding mentor all in one..… (more)
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cynara
A book I might give a kid of mine, if that kid were having a rough time, and particularly if I suspected he or she might not be straight. It gets to the tough stuff; yes, in the last resort it may be okay to recommend cutting, drug addiction, or anorexia if the alternative is immediate suicide.
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It's funny, because although it delivers some bare-bones honesty, the tone of the writing is rather adult-to-child, perhaps too much so for an older teen. Show Less
LibraryThing member locriian
Not just for teens, freaks, and other outlaws - I think this book could be life-saving for anyone thinking about suicide. Even if you don't need it now, read it anyways: you or someone you know might need it later. Unlike a lot of other suicide prevention, this book really takes a harm reduction
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approach in that its list of alternatives considers anything that isn't suicide and isn't "being mean" to be better than suicide. Its setup as a numbered list of alternatives makes it especially useful, as opposed to something like a list of reasons to live, these are all literally things you can do, right now, instead of killing yourself. This book saved my life, so I can definitely say it worked for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member PhoenixTerran
Kate Bornstein's most recent book, despite its heavy subject, is a quirky and even fun little volume. While initially written for and aimed towards teenagers, the title and book was expanded to incorporate "freaks and other outlaws" as well, since the information offered is really invaluable
Part 1 serves as an introduction of sorts--to Kate, to the subject, and to the book--almost as if initiating a conversation with the reader. In Hello, Cruel Me we learn Kate's personal story and history and how it can apply to other people's struggles. Which is why this book was written, making it a deeply personal work. Hello, Cruel Bullies addresses issues of power and a society that demands people be either/or, regardless that nothing is ever really that black and white. Hello, Cruel Desire touches on how desire can be a positive source of motivation, but also on how it can be rather problematic.
Then comes Part 2, the real substance of the book. First is the Hello Cruel Quick Start Guide. Here Kate offers seven fairly well-accepted and sanctioned strategies that are recommended above the less unorthodox alternatives. But, it is noted that these strategies don't always work, or stop working after a time. That's when it's time to switch to something different, something that works even if its temporary. There is only one rule according to Kate, "Don't be mean. Anything else goes, anything at all."
With that, the 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws commences. And they are just that--alternatives. Some are more positive, life and self-affirming options while others are more dangerous or even illegal. But, if it makes life worth living, even when considering the possible consequences, keep doing it.
Kate's beliefs and points of view are not particularly mainstream and some people might find them irredeemable and even offensive. Individual freedom and the expression of personal identity, regardless of society's (and other's) blessing or approval is very important and emphasized. Personally, I find Kate's approach and perspectives refreshing and compelling. Sex, sexuality, and gender play a major role in Hello, Cruel World, partially because this is what Kate knows and typically writes about, but also because these issues tend to be very important to self identity.
This is the first book I've read by Kate Bornstein. After reading it, and getting a chance to meet Kate in person, I definitely plan on reading more. Hello, Cruel World was funky and vibrant, just like remarkable Kate. While I was a little hesitant to read it at the beginning (mostly because of my own experience with depression and other people "trying to help"), even before the end I knew that what I was holding was a marvelous and potentially life-saving book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Experiments in Reading
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regardless of age.Part 1 serves as an introduction of sorts--to Kate, to the subject, and to the book--almost as if initiating a conversation with the reader. In Hello, Cruel Me we learn Kate's personal story and history and how it can apply to other people's struggles. Which is why this book was written, making it a deeply personal work. Hello, Cruel Bullies addresses issues of power and a society that demands people be either/or, regardless that nothing is ever really that black and white. Hello, Cruel Desire touches on how desire can be a positive source of motivation, but also on how it can be rather problematic.
Then comes Part 2, the real substance of the book. First is the Hello Cruel Quick Start Guide. Here Kate offers seven fairly well-accepted and sanctioned strategies that are recommended above the less unorthodox alternatives. But, it is noted that these strategies don't always work, or stop working after a time. That's when it's time to switch to something different, something that works even if its temporary. There is only one rule according to Kate, "Don't be mean. Anything else goes, anything at all."
With that, the 101 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws commences. And they are just that--alternatives. Some are more positive, life and self-affirming options while others are more dangerous or even illegal. But, if it makes life worth living, even when considering the possible consequences, keep doing it.
Kate's beliefs and points of view are not particularly mainstream and some people might find them irredeemable and even offensive. Individual freedom and the expression of personal identity, regardless of society's (and other's) blessing or approval is very important and emphasized. Personally, I find Kate's approach and perspectives refreshing and compelling. Sex, sexuality, and gender play a major role in Hello, Cruel World, partially because this is what Kate knows and typically writes about, but also because these issues tend to be very important to self identity.
This is the first book I've read by Kate Bornstein. After reading it, and getting a chance to meet Kate in person, I definitely plan on reading more. Hello, Cruel World was funky and vibrant, just like remarkable Kate. While I was a little hesitant to read it at the beginning (mostly because of my own experience with depression and other people "trying to help"), even before the end I knew that what I was holding was a marvelous and potentially life-saving book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Experiments in Reading
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LibraryThing member deliriumslibrarian
Awesome awesome book that really could save a life. Carry one at all times and offer it to the shy kid who is being bullied at the back of the bus. If you were the bullied one, and you made it, read this and celebrate. If you were a bully, read it too, you need Kate's compassion. And if you have
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lost someone who couldn't take the bullying, read this and remember them with love. Can I give it six stars? Show Less
LibraryThing member jemsw
Step one, don't kill yourself, step two, what? Well, according to Kate Bornstein, author of this book, there are a lot of possible step twos.
She starts out her book with the simple, obvious stuff--call a suicide hotline, get on medication if it will help, talk to a friend, whatever. Then she gets
The whole book is written from a strongly queer-friendly, transgressive perspective, in case that wasn't already clear, so that really appealed to me, though it might not to some people, and while it's aimed to some extent at young people (they being the most likely to try and shuffle off the mortal coil), it's not oppressively youth-oriented. Most of it is just good, sound advice for anyone who needs some good ideas about how to keep on living for a little longer.
She starts out her book with the simple, obvious stuff--call a suicide hotline, get on medication if it will help, talk to a friend, whatever. Then she gets
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into the more interesting options for what to do instead of killing yourself. Some of them didn't appeal, some of them appealed a lot. "Finish Your Homework" resonated a lot with me. I have at least a year to go before I have that PhD after my name, so that one should keep me ticking for twelve more months minimum. "Treat Yourself Like an Honored Guest" sounded very good as well. "Run Away and Hide" sounded almost too good. "Make a Deal with the Devil" and "Tell a Lie" didn't appeal, but maybe someday I'll "Make Art out of It" and write an amazing novel about all this. "Serve Somebody" reminds me that the community is out there waiting for me to be a part of it. And these are just a few of her amazing suggestions. Each option is rated on how easy, self-loving, and effective it is, so that you get an idea of how desperate you should be before you give it a crack.The whole book is written from a strongly queer-friendly, transgressive perspective, in case that wasn't already clear, so that really appealed to me, though it might not to some people, and while it's aimed to some extent at young people (they being the most likely to try and shuffle off the mortal coil), it's not oppressively youth-oriented. Most of it is just good, sound advice for anyone who needs some good ideas about how to keep on living for a little longer.
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LibraryThing member Zura27
I love this book. It made me feel more secure and wonderful about my self. Kate Bornstein has a very special way of communicating with people that just makes them feel better and their lives better. I only wish I could have read it sooner so I could have been sharing it longer. Thank you, Auntie
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Kate! :-) Show Less
LibraryThing member TrIQ-Archiv
"This is a one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive outside the box for marginalised youth. Celebrated transsexual trailblazer, Kate Bornstein bravely and wittily shares personal and unorthodox methods of survival in an often cruel world. This title features a catalogue of 101 alternatives to suicide
Show More
that range from the playful (moisturise!) to the irreverent (shatter family values) to the highly controversial (get laid, please). Designed to encourage readers to give themselves permission to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean". It is this guiding principle that brings readers on a self-validating journey, which forges completely new paths toward a resounding decision to choose life. A celebrated pioneer for the LGBTIQ community, KATE BORNSTEIN is the author of My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely and Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and The Rest of Us, as well as the editor with S. Bear Bergman of Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation. Her plays and performance pieces include Hidden: A Gender, The Opposite Sex Is Neither, and Too Tall Blondes In Love. She lives in New York City with her partner, Barbara Carrellas." Show Less
LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer
I love the idea of this book, and found it generally sensitive to the diversity of its intended readership. Where Bornstein seemed to have blindspots were with sex and religion. She recommends sex as a solution in quite a few of her alternatives, and when addressing people whose expression of
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sexuality is a cause of their oppression I get that, but it leaves behind those who identify as asexual, or who just aren't interested in it for now. While promoting the diversity of religious expression available over any "one true faith", Bornstein had no word to say for those who hold an atheistic position. It's a shame, as with just a few tweeks these omissions could have been easily rectified. However, I'm focusing on the lapses in an otherwise thoughtful and amusingly written book about being kind to yourself, giving yourself a break, and not putting up with any shit, others' or your own. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookbrig
Any book that can suggest both moisturizing (number 22) and making a deal with the devil (number 17) is okay by me.
Subjects
Awards
Lambda Literary Award (Nominee — Nonfiction — 2006)
Physical description
231 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
1583227202 / 9781583227206