Alan Downs, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist practicing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His fifteen years of treating clients have already been reflected in numerous books about both leadership and self-help. A personal and professional milestone, The Velvet Rage is his first book about the psychology of gay life.
"[An] excellent new book...The Velvet Rage is a chronicle of
furtive pathos, anger, compensatory fabulousness, despair, sex
addiction, and flickerings of hope as its wounded actors make their
way by uncertain stages toward a light of authenticity and
self-acceptance their culture does not want them to find or even
see. In its pages, through anecdotal moments and analytical
passages, one is constantly catching glints of people one has
known, behaviors one has seen and heard firsthand and often been
baffled and hurt by."--San Francisco Bay Guardian, -
"Dr. Alan Downs has some words of wisdom....Although unnerving at
first, readers might feel kinship with the case study subjects and
ultimately, become empowered by the lessons learned and by the
self-realizations experienced."--New City Chicago, -
"Peppered with deeply personal reflections... There's no doubt that
the men profiled in this sober call for "owning the injury" of
growing up gay in a straight world were helped by their counseling,
or that there are certainly some readers who will find their own
lives reflected in that healing."--Q Syndicate, -
"Those familiar with gay men will find a good deal of honest
reporting here. Without being maudlin, Downs, himself a gay man,
writes movingly."--Library Journal, -
"While we can all hope that the collective experience will change
in time, Downs' perspective is still all too relevant."--AOL's Book
Maven, -
Downs, a practicing psychologist in Santa Fe, NM, has previously written on corporate dysfunction and the crises of adulthood. Here, he joins other recent commentators, most notably Patrick Moore (Beyond Shame), to offer a self-help book for gay men coping with the shame of their sexual orientation. While some readers will find his stage approach to gay development a bit deterministic, those familiar with gay men will find a good deal of honest reporting here. Without being maudlin, Downs, himself a gay man, writes movingly of his clients and their struggles to come to terms with themselves -no small task. For many gay men, the most important chapter will be the one that comes last: there, the author outlines ten lessons that lead to a life of authenticity. Though these would apply to anyone seeking a mature adult life, Downs uses a uniquely gay spin that makes this book stand out in the literature. Recommended.-David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
"[An] excellent new book...The Velvet Rage is a chronicle of
furtive pathos, anger, compensatory fabulousness, despair, sex
addiction, and flickerings of hope as its wounded actors make their
way by uncertain stages toward a light of authenticity and
self-acceptance their culture does not want them to find or even
see. In its pages, through anecdotal moments and analytical
passages, one is constantly catching glints of people one has
known, behaviors one has seen and heard firsthand and often been
baffled and hurt by."--San Francisco Bay Guardian, -
"Dr. Alan Downs has some words of wisdom....Although unnerving at
first, readers might feel kinship with the case study subjects and
ultimately, become empowered by the lessons learned and by the
self-realizations experienced."--New City Chicago, -
"Peppered with deeply personal reflections... There's no doubt that
the men profiled in this sober call for "owning the injury" of
growing up gay in a straight world were helped by their counseling,
or that there are certainly some readers who will find their own
lives reflected in that healing."--Q Syndicate, -
"Those familiar with gay men will find a good deal of honest
reporting here. Without being maudlin, Downs, himself a gay man,
writes movingly."--Library Journal, -
"While we can all hope that the collective experience will change
in time, Downs' perspective is still all too relevant."--AOL's
Book Maven, -
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
