Rating: 
Summary: Lots of footnotes--but not enough
Review: Cutsey and annoying writing wrapped around appealing, but ultimately empty ideas. Nimmons made comparisons when it supported his opinion, but when it wouldn't, he didn't. The world probably doesn't need another brutal critique of gay men: most of what Larry Kramer said long ago still holds. But this attempt to prove him wrong (without deigning to plainly state that intent) completely backfires.
Rating: 
Summary: Creating the Gay World We Want
Review: David Nimmons' extraordinary new book about gay men and gay culture is refreshing, honest and meaningful in a way that most books about us are not. It is meaningful because it is about us, our lives as gay men. He has observed and researched the very things that make gay culture, gay culture. In the process he de-bunks some myths and creates new understandings about gay culture. It is significant that the focus of this book is about our lives, our love individually and communally and our ability to shape our and the world's future.
His understandings of the traits, habits and mores of gay men are newly stated realities of sometimes hidden understandings of who we are. What is most wonderful for me, someone who has written about, studied and worked in gay male cultures for the past 30 years is the central question that is presented in the book. While he talks of our commitment to non violence, our ability to deal with the HIV epidemic ( and safer sex) better than any people on the globe and our unsurpassed capability of for using love and compassion in our daily lives, he constantly asks, "Why is it that we don't know these good things about ourselves." This is the challenge and the opportunity that is presented in this book. He tells us about us and suggests ways that we can create the world we want as gay men. It is a first!
This is the best book about Gay Culture and Gay Men in almost fifteen years. It doesn't focus on the political but the personal which is where I believe we need to be. It is the successor to the work of Mark Thompson, et. al in Gay Spirit and Gay Soul, the real grandson of the writings of Harry Hay and the only book since Judy Grahn's Another Mother Tongue to talk about who we really are.
What a wonderful addition to the literature. It is must reading for all gay men and for all those who love them. It should be required for anyone wishing to do AIDS education and prevention work with gay men. And of course non gay people should definitely read this book
Absolutely fabulous darling!
Rating:
Summary: Creating the Gay World We Want
Review: David Nimmons' extraordinary new book about gay men and gay culture is refreshing, honest and meaningful in a way that most books about us are not. It is meaningful because it is about us, our lives as gay men. He has observed and researched the very things that make gay culture, gay culture. In the process he de-bunks some myths and creates new understandings about gay culture. It is significant that the focus of this book is about our lives, our love individually and communally and our ability to shape our and the world's future.
His understandings of the traits, habits and mores of gay men are newly stated realities of sometimes hidden understandings of who we are. What is most wonderful for me, someone who has written about, studied and worked in gay male cultures for the past 30 years is the central question that is presented in the book. While he talks of our commitment to non violence, our ability to deal with the HIV epidemic ( and safer sex) better than any people on the globe and our unsurpassed capability of for using love and compassion in our daily lives, he constantly asks, "Why is it that we don't know these good things about ourselves." This is the challenge and the opportunity that is presented in this book. He tells us about us and suggests ways that we can create the world we want as gay men. It is a first!
This is the best book about Gay Culture and Gay Men in almost fifteen years. It doesn't focus on the political but the personal which is where I believe we need to be. It is the successor to the work of Mark Thompson, et. al in Gay Spirit and Gay Soul, the real grandson of the writings of Harry Hay and the only book since Judy Grahn's Another Mother Tongue to talk about who we really are.
What a wonderful addition to the literature. It is must reading for all gay men and for all those who love them. It should be required for anyone wishing to do AIDS education and prevention work with gay men. And of course non gay people should definitely read this book
Absolutely fabulous darling!
Rating:
Summary: The Soul of Gay Folks
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book hoping that it would be discussing how gay men experience spiritual things. Instead, I got yet another book that reinforces the stereotype of gay men as promiscuous, hedonistic and adolescent. The author tries to justify the so-called gay lifestyle by claiming that promiscuousness is a form of spiritual fellowship and that hedonism is the search for enlightenment. He also tries to convince the reader that gay men are superior to straight men, even though he states several times that this is not what he is doing, his tone makes it obvious. Gay men are more charitable (Chapter #3), peaceful (Chapter #2) and fun to be around (Chapter #6) than heterosexual men are. He writes a whole chapter to explain why straight women prefer our company to that of straight men (Chapter #7). Chapter #8 explains the tribal bonding of the circuit, the dance, the drugs and, of course, the sex. This brings me to the main thing that I did not like about this book. It's supposed to be about gay men's souls and there is no mention of religion or G-d. This may be his soul, but it is not mine. There is nothing wrong, per se, with being promiscuous, hedonistic or adolescent, but please do not try to give it spiritual significance or portray it as something that defines our soul. At this point, the book left me depressed and sorry that I had even started reading it. However, in Chapter #9, Mr. Nimmons does hit the nail right on the head. I have never read a more accurate portrayal of the gay world that I have experienced. Gay men, especially in the milieu of a gay bar, can be catty, rejecting, and superficial. In Chapter #10, Mr. Nimmons makes a plug for his organization that seeks to offer an alternative to Chapter #8 and #9. I wish him the best of luck in his endeavor. He is a visionary, but I fear, his vision will fall on eyes distracted by the next cute guy. It has been my experience that gay men are the way they are because that is how they want to be. But what we do not want to be is another stereotype. Just like everything else, our lifestyle has its good points and its bad points. It does not need an apology, an excuse, a justification, a change, or an elevation to a "higher" level. It is what it is; but take heed, it is not our soul.
Rating:
Summary: The Soul of Gay Folks
Review: I was looking forward to reading this book hoping that it would be discussing how gay men experience spiritual things. Instead, I got yet another book that reinforces the stereotype of gay men as promiscuous, hedonistic and adolescent. The author tries to justify the so-called gay lifestyle by claiming that promiscuousness is a form of spiritual fellowship and that hedonism is the search for enlightenment. He also tries to convince the reader that gay men are superior to straight men, even though he states several times that this is not what he is doing, his tone makes it obvious. Gay men are more charitable (Chapter #3), peaceful (Chapter #2) and fun to be around (Chapter #6) than heterosexual men are. He writes a whole chapter to explain why straight women prefer our company to that of straight men (Chapter #7). Chapter #8 explains the tribal bonding of the circuit, the dance, the drugs and, of course, the sex. This brings me to the main thing that I did not like about this book. It's supposed to be about gay men's souls and there is no mention of religion or G-d. This may be his soul, but it is not mine. There is nothing wrong, per se, with being promiscuous, hedonistic or adolescent, but please do not try to give it spiritual significance or portray it as something that defines our soul. At this point, the book left me depressed and sorry that I had even started reading it. However, in Chapter #9, Mr. Nimmons does hit the nail right on the head. I have never read a more accurate portrayal of the gay world that I have experienced. Gay men, especially in the milieu of a gay bar, can be catty, rejecting, and superficial. In Chapter #10, Mr. Nimmons makes a plug for his organization that seeks to offer an alternative to Chapter #8 and #9. I wish him the best of luck in his endeavor. He is a visionary, but I fear, his vision will fall on eyes distracted by the next cute guy. It has been my experience that gay men are the way they are because that is how they want to be. But what we do not want to be is another stereotype. Just like everything else, our lifestyle has its good points and its bad points. It does not need an apology, an excuse, a justification, a change, or an elevation to a "higher" level. It is what it is; but take heed, it is not our soul.
Rating:
Summary: This time the stereotypes are a lot closer to the truth
Review: In my experience (and I wish it were not so!), gays tend to share some unpleasant character traits, such as effeminacy or lack of masculinity, cliquishness, and lewdness. The book's chief merit is that it doesn't deny their existence, but its chief defect is that it attempts, largely unsuccessfully, to try to interpret these characteristics in a more favorable light. I agree that some of these favorable interpretations are reasonable: for example, I agree that the greater amoralism of gays opens up certain aesthetic or artistic possibilities, at least given a certain understanding of art. But from the point of view that is most interesting to me, as someone trying to assess the romantic possibilities, I disagree that something very good can be built on such things.
Rating:
Summary: This time the stereotypes are a lot closer to the truth
Review: In my experience (and I wish it were not so!), gays tend to share some unpleasant character traits, such as effeminacy or lack of masculinity, cliquishness, and lewdness. The book's chief merit is that it doesn't deny their existence, but its chief defect is that it attempts, largely unsuccessfully, to try to interpret these characteristics in a more favorable light. I agree that some of these favorable interpretations are reasonable: for example, I agree that the greater amoralism of gays opens up certain aesthetic or artistic possibilities, at least given a certain understanding of art. But from the point of view that is most interesting to me, as someone trying to assess the romantic possibilities, I disagree that something very good can be built on such things.
Rating: 
Summary: boring, predictable, pointless
Review: the premise of this book suggested that there might be some interesting ideas in there. what a disappointment-there are none. the book is basically a brochure for the authors movement(?)of manifestlove (as he calls it). it all reads a bit new-age, and very american...with little idea or appreciation of a whole other gay world out there beyond the u.s.a. what makes the book ultimately pointless is that nimmons has no new ideas - he spends the best part of the book outlining what is wrong (or underappreciated) with gay men and their lives (all seen through rose-tinted glasses...especially the chapter on gay men-straight women friends...yuck!!!!!!), and then trots out some of his manifestlove ideas at the end. and consumers...since you are now hooked, you are supposed to sign up for one of his courses/camps or whatever. it is a very cynical approach to write a book to promote your own industry...and as such should be avoided! spend your money elsewhere! or better...just go for a walk on a beach at sunset and enjoy the view and the sounds of the waves...it will do you a lot more good...and make you feel way better than this book!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Positive Study of Gay Male Lives!
Review: This is a much needed and long awaited POSITIVE study of the contemporary gay male. This book should have been written years ago as it puts into proper perspective the many important contributions gay males have made to our society and how these contributions have been ignored, dismissed or overlooked. It exposes the myths and lies about gay male lives, and opens up to all who read this book the true accomplishments gay men have made in this world. It's an optimistic presentation and a valuable text for gay studies courses, or for anyone interested in the lives of gay men. It's intelligently written, yet an easily understandable book for anyone to read, learn from, and enjoy.
This book explains how gay men have developed a culture where violence is almost nonexistent; where new forms of friendship, intimacy, and relationships have been developed with less sexual jealousy; where gay men and straight women have forged lasting relationships; and where volunteerism for both straight and gay causes is much higher than other segments of the population.
THE SOUL BENEATH THE SKIN was a positive joy to read. It offers hope for those who are disappointed, and disillusioned with "the gay community" as it now stands. This book is surely "the light at the end of the tunnel". Hopefully, it will be read by all, gay and straight, so that a more appreciative understanding can be forged between all of us. All of the thanks goes to David Nimmons for taking the time and effort to do such an in-depth study of gay men's lives and the positive contributions they have made to society. A NEW BEGINNING!
Joe Hanssen
Rating:
Summary: A Positive Study of Gay Male Lives!
Review: This is a much needed and long awaited POSITIVE study of the contemporary gay male. This book should have been written years ago as it puts into proper perspective the many important contributions gay males have made to our society and how these contributions have been ignored, dismissed or overlooked. It exposes the myths and lies about gay male lives, and opens up to all who read this book the true accomplishments gay men have made in this world. It's an optimistic presentation and a valuable text for gay studies courses, or for anyone interested in the lives of gay men. It's intelligently written, yet an easily understandable book for anyone to read, learn from, and enjoy.
This book explains how gay men have developed a culture where violence is almost nonexistent; where new forms of friendship, intimacy, and relationships have been developed with less sexual jealousy; where gay men and straight women have forged lasting relationships; and where volunteerism for both straight and gay causes is much higher than other segments of the population.
THE SOUL BENEATH THE SKIN was a positive joy to read. It offers hope for those who are disappointed, and disillusioned with "the gay community" as it now stands. This book is surely "the light at the end of the tunnel". Hopefully, it will be read by all, gay and straight, so that a more appreciative understanding can be forged between all of us. All of the thanks goes to David Nimmons for taking the time and effort to do such an in-depth study of gay men's lives and the positive contributions they have made to society. A NEW BEGINNING!
Joe Hanssen
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