The Best Little Boy in the World: The 25th Anniversary Edition of the Classic Memoir

by John Reid, Andrew Tobias, John Reid, et al.

Book Overview

The classic account of growing up gay in America. "The best little boy in the world never had wet dreams or masturbated; he always topped his class, honored mom and dad, deferred to elders and excelled in sports . . . . The best little boy in the world was . . . the model IBM exec . . . The best little boy in the world was a closet case who 'never read anything about homosexuality.' . . . John Reid comes out slowly, hilariously, brilliantly. One reads...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345381769
• ISBN13: 9780345381767
• Release Date: May 1993
• Publisher: Ballantine Group
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

How many of us have the same story?

I could have written this book but I didn't. It's taken me nearly 60 years to do what Andrew Tobias did in his 20s. How many "best little boys" are out there somewhere? The personal telling of his story - with delving soul-searching analysis and a great geal of humor - makes this a necessity for anyone who has lived a secret life and learned the accepted norms of society in the days when there were no real choices.

It's still true.

I picked this book up last night and couldn't stop reading. I thought mine was a unique journey, but it's not. Mr. Tobias has already been there - about twenty five years ago. If you have a similar background - WASP, upper middle class upbringing, sports oriented - you'll likely find yourself in this book. Sure, he disparages other types of gay men, but that's what's so honest - he's telling you how he really feels, whether it's p.c. or not. Too many books about coming out tell you some perfect version of how you should feel.My story is very much like this one, a long struggle within myself, a lot of dodging (the story about faking hookups with girls in college hit so close that my hands started shaking, as did the sinking feeling after college when everyone starts pairing up and getting married). Sure some things have changed since the 1970s, but a whole lot has not. The emotions and coping mechanisms for someone like myself are all still the same.Coming out (recently) has been a struggle, mostly within myself. This book, since I relate to the author's socioeconomic background, carried a charge of recognition like nothing I've ever read before. This book has given me the hope to keep moving forward.

A wonderfully contemporary novel

I found this book to be one of the most insightful and helpful books I have ever read. Although Mr. Tobias (aka John Reid) came out in the 70's, when it was far less safe or politically correct to do so, many of his emotions and internal struggles remain true to young people who are today struggling with their identies. Although at times Mr. Tobias has a tendancy to ramble in his writing, this only adds to the book's charm. It is a must read for gay and straight people alike. For the former it teaches that they are not alone in their sturggles, for the latter it teaches acceptance and understanding. It is truly a modern classic about a subject much too rarely discussed.

A must for anyone coming out... I read it cover to cover.

At a time while I was trying to come to terms with my own sexuality, this book was a GODsend. I read it cover to cover one day huddled in a public library and almost cried throughout the book knowing that there were others out there like myself. Reid was and still is the best author I have ever read that made me feel like i possibly did not have to hide, that there were others like me. I felt as if I were reading my own autobiography, though I had not yet made the progress that he had. While at times it almost did (or did) bring me to tears, afterwords, I was uplifted for a period (looking back) of days during a very rough time in my life. I strongly recomend this book to anyone who feels like they are the ONLY "boy" in the world out there that feel the way they do. I would like to shake Reid's hand and say thank you.