Amateur is a wonderful follow-up to McBee’s first memoir. His writing is stunning, packed with beauty and insight. This is a short memoir and it moves at a steady pace, shifting between past, present, and introspective reflection on both. Before beginning to read, I was somewhat worried that the subject of boxing wouldn’t hold my interest. But it really is a framing device from which McBee seeks to understand the construction and enforcement of masculinity. This is a great addition to our current conversations about misogyny and masculinity. A definite must-read.

McBee offers a tender, thoughtful examination of his coming to terms with masculinity by outlining his training to box at Madison Square Garden. Amateur mostly utilizes McBee's own glimmering prose but he does consult experts on the topic as well. A book which eloquently demonstrates that masculinity is a lot broader than often given credit for and that societally we have a ways to go in terms of consistently recognizing it as such.