The Descent of Man
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The Descent of Man
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Narrated by:
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Jonny Philips
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By:
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Grayson Perry
About this listen
Penguin presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of The Descent of Man by Grayson Perry, read by Jonny Philips.
Grayson Perry has been thinking about masculinity - what it is, how it operates, why little boys are thought to be made of slugs and snails - since he was a boy. Now, in this funny and necessary book, he turns round to look at men with a clear eye and ask, what sort of men would make the world a better place for everyone? What would happen if we rethought the old, outdated macho version of manhood and embraced a different idea of what makes a man?
Apart from giving up the coronary-inducing stress of always being 'right' and the vast new wardrobe options, the real benefit might be that a newly fitted masculinity will allow men to have better relationships - and that's happiness, right?
Grayson Perry admits he's not immune from the stereotypes himself - as the psychoanalysts say, 'If you spot it, you've got it' - and his thoughts on everything from power to physical appearance, from emotions to a brand-new Manifesto for Men, are shot through with honesty, tenderness and the belief that, for everyone to benefit, upgrading masculinity has to be something men decide to do themselves. They have nothing to lose but their hang-ups.
©2016 Grayson Perry (P)2016 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about The Descent of Man
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-04-20
Perfect for my studies. Tough one for my morales
Looking for a book to teach me about the new wave of masculinity and all the different sides to it, this couldn’t have done so better. Planting multiple seeds of ideas for my project (Foundation Degree in Art, Final Major Project), I have found many inspirations through this book and so would recommend to any other artist doing the same.
In terms of how it was written, being a young male, I found a lot of the concepts rather subjective and a matter of opinion; however Perry has casted his opinion on these topics without much thought left for other viewpoints. He has made statements in the book which could easily be up for debate, yet are not. Phillips’s performance in narrating emphasised this sense of arrogance through his somewhat aggressive reading tone.
This is not to say I disliked or disagreed with the whole book, I was continuously interested in the themes and topics; my only comment is on the general one-viewpoint tone throughout.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alice T
- 30-12-20
Refreshing and cathartic
Absolutely wonderful, fascinating and revealing. I’m listening to it a second time immediately. Just brilliant!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Miss E C Collin
- 23-10-17
important stuff eloquently and entertainingly told
This is an area I'm very interested in so listened to it in one rapped sitting but is important and engaging for everyone
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-08-20
Great work, super helpful and sooo true!
Narrator is horrible. I literally could hear and feel him spitting into my ears.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Caitlin Frost
- 04-11-16
Thoughtful analysis
Great readShould be a required text for boys and girls from the age of 10!
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bradley Smith
- 20-09-19
Life changing
Thank you for your honesty Grayson. I loved that you were a skateboarder in the 80s.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- purlieu
- 24-09-20
Why men are like they are and what to do about it
I listened to this with my (male) partner on car journeys. We both loved its incite & clear rational thinking. We had to keep stopping it to discuss what he was saying. Grayson writes with such good humour and passion for his subject, it was easy to listen to. We were cheering him on in everything he said. When Grayson rules the world it will be a better place & when women are no longer oppressed by men ( ie when men are no longer brought up with oppressive patterns by society) it will be better all sexes and the world. No time to loose..read this important book!
The reader was good but I wish Grayson had read it himself. The reader sometimes swallows the ends of his words & it was hard to hear in a car.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MR
- 13-07-20
A thoughtful and tender examination of masculinity
My chief cristism would be that perhaps what might speak more to those who might benefit most, is in later chapters. However, it is a thoughtful, honest (congruent) exploration with a balance of doubt and practical suggestion, with personal insight and wider evidence too. Well worth a read from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mitchell bell
- 28-08-17
Eye opener
Surprisingly enjoyed this. I felt I learned a lot. Now I am in the process of trying to convince my 'masculine' husband to give it again. I genuinely think he will greatly benefit from the words of Grayson Perry!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- BlackTuxedos
- 17-02-17
Excellent reading. A MUST READ for both sexes
I am not a Perry fan. I don't dislike him but other than knowing he was a transvestite artist I didn't really follow him. This book however is excellent and a very thoughtful analysis into the struggles that men face in this age. As a feminist. I found this enlightening and educational and bolstered my belief that men (as well as women) deserve equal rights. And by equal, I mean freedom to be themselves without the toxic pressure of masculinity. I cannot recommend this book enough and if it doesn't change you for the better. It will at least provide you with honesty insight will go a long way to help you understand that gender is a everyone's issue.
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