Out of the Shadows

Reimagining Gay Men’s Lives

By: Walt Odets

Narrated by: Will Damron

It goes without saying that even today, it's not easy to be gay in America. While young gay men often come out more readily, even those from the most progressive of backgrounds still struggle with the legacy of early-life stigma and a deficit of self-acceptance, which can fuel doubt, regret, and, at worst, self-loathing. And this is to say nothing of the ongoing trauma wrought by AIDS, which is all too often relegated to history. Drawing on his work as a clinical psychologist during and in the aftermath of the epidemic, Walt Odets reflects on what it means to survive and figure out a way to live in a new, uncompromising future, both for the men who endured the upheaval of those years and for the younger men who have come of age since then, at a time when HIV is still deeply affecting gay communities, especially among the most marginalized.

Through moving stories - of friends and patients, and his own - Odets considers how experiences early in life launch men on trajectories aimed at futures that are not authentically theirs. He writes to help reconstruct how we think about gay life by considering everything from the misleading idea of "the homosexual", to the diversity and richness of gay relationships, to the historical role of stigma and shame and the significance of youth and of aging.

©2019 Walt Whitman Odets (P)2019 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Heartbreakingly Insightful, Inspiring

There are moments I think that will be difficult for listeners to digest, especially gay male listeners, because they may be reminded of themselves, someone they loved, or someone they lost, in the accounts of the numerous men about which the author writes. I certainly experienced this.

But in the difficult, traumatic, and heartbreaking moments there lay reasons to truly strive for and cherish gay life and everything it means. As a young man I found it incredibly insightful and has given me new ways of seeing things. Definitely worth the read for anyone seeking to understand the past and also themselves and the men they love.

Could not put it down! VELVET RAGE 2.0

The insight offered by this psychologist is proving to be invaluable when applied to my current position in the gay dating world. While I admit this is no substitute for therapy, the useful analysis of subconscious motivations behind our real world obstacles as a gay community cannot be denied. Highly recommend!!!

Wait for it.

I didn’t always relate to the case studies or ideas about gay men from my generation. But occasionally it was eye opening and I realized things that had never occurred to me as it relates to my experience. So the first part of the book is worth a listen. When I arrived at the chapter The Life and Times of Mathias Johnson that’s when the book really came alive for me. What an amazing story about amazing men, including the author. When you get there have your tissue at the ready. You will laugh and cry. That chapter was worth every minute.

A story all should read

Walt's perspective and the stories conveyed provide a perspective and insight to our gay experiences and yet are applicable, I believe, for anyone straight or gay, male or female. The topics covered are human conditions. Walts focus on HIV and shame, could easily translate to other aspects in other lives. For me personally, this book touched on many aspects of my own life and made me tear up and cry at various points while reading the book. I feel richer for reading it. It was the most inexpensive therapy session I've ever had! 🙂

Excellent book

This book is both engaging and informative. As a psychotherapist myself, I found the insights important and poignant. The stories are moving.I have developed much more understanding of the gay community. The book is extremely well written, which I also appreciate.