Why people recommend it
The Man Who Would Be Queen by J. Michael Bailey is a controversial non-fiction book that explores the origins and typology of transsexualism and male femininity, which sparked fierce debate among sex researchers and transgender activists upon its release. On The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast in March 2024 during the episode The Biggest Medical Scandal Of Our Time with Michael Shellenberger, guest Michael Shellenberger referenced Bailey's work while discussing the historical backdrop of contemporary medical controversies surrounding gender transition. Earlier, on The Joe Rogan Experience in August 2020 featuring Dr. Debra Soh, the guest discussed the text while examining the long and contentious history between academic sex researchers and transgender activists. Soh noted that Professor Michael Bailey had anticipated many of the ongoing cultural conflicts decades prior through his academic writings. Across both podcasts, the book served as an important historical touchstone for conversations regarding academic freedom, scientific inquiry into human sexuality, and the professional and social backlash faced by researchers who investigate controversial topics outside of prevailing ideological orthodoxies within modern academic institutions.
Who recommended it
- Michael Shellenberger Discussed
- Dr Debra Soh Discussed
Michael Shellenberger — 1 mention
“And by the way, the other psychologist is Michael Bailey, and he wrote a book on it. I can't—it’s something—I think it was something like The Man Who Would Be Queen.”
Dr Debra Soh — 1 mention
“because we saw this coming decades ago in that one professor michael bailey at northwestern university there's been a long history that's ugly between sex researchers and transgender activists and michael bailey wrote a book”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“So, I published a book in 2003 called The Man Who Would Be Queen and only about a third of the book was about adult transsexualism, including autoaganophilia.”
“I I knew in writing my book the 2003 book called The Man Who Would Be Queen. I actually at that time knew some transsexual prostitutes”