Book
Hysterical : a memoir / Elissa Bassist.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780306827372 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: 244 pages ; 24 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Hachette Books, 2022.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references. |
| Formatted Contents Note: | Medical history -- Hysterical woman -- Crazy psycho bitch -- Who gets to speak and why -- Girls versus boys in conversation -- Why I didn't say no -- Emperors without clothes -- Must-see dead-girl TV -- STFU -- Silence and noise -- Hysteria reboot -- Speak again -- Reclaiming women's voices. |
Search for related items by subject
| Genre: | Biographies. Autobiographies. Personal narratives. |
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeshore Branch | 362.1092 Bassi | 31681010291029 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Breaking her own silence and encouraging others to do the same, a writer shares her journey to reclaim her authentic voice in a culture that doesnât listen to women, in this primer on new ways to think about a womanâs voice, where itâs being squashed and where it needs amplification. - Baker & Taylor
"Equal parts medical mystery, cultural criticism, and rallying cry, writer Elissa Bassist shares her journey to reclaim her authentic voice in a culture that doesn't listen to women. Between 2016 and 2018, Elissa Bassist saw over twenty medical professionals for a variety of mysterious ailments. Bassist had what millions of American women had: pain that didn't make sense to doctors, a body that didn't make sense to science, a psyche that didn't make sense to mankind. But then an acupuncturist suggested some of her physical pain could be caged fury finding expression, and that treating her voice would treat the problem. It did. Growing up, Bassist's family, boyfriends, school, work, and television had the same expectation for a woman's voice: less is more. She was called dramatic and insane for speaking her mind; she was accused of overreacting and playing victim for having unexplained physical pain; she was ignored or rebuked like women throughout history for using her voice "inappropriately" by expressing sadness or suffering or anger or joy. Because of this, she said "yes" when she meant "no"; she didn't tweet #MeToo; and she never spoke without fear of being "too emotional." So, she felt rage, but like a good woman, repressed it. In Hysterical, Bassist explains how girls and women internalize and perpetuate directives about their voice, making it hard to emote or "just speak up" and "burn down the patriarchy." But her silence hurt more than anything she could ever say. Hysterical is a memoir of a voice lost and found, and a primer on new ways to think about a woman's voice, where it's being squashed and where it needs amplification. Bassist breaks her own silences and calls on others to do the same--to unmute their voice, listen to it above all others, and use it again without regret"-- - Grand Central Pub
SEMI-FINALIST FOR THE 2023 THURBER PRIZE FOR AMERICAN HUMOR â¢Â  âA fiery cultural critique.â âKirkus Reviews  ⢠ ââ¦a powerful, beautifully written, and utterly important book.ââNew York Journal of Books Â
âHysterical is staggeringly good. ⦠This is one of the most intelligent, painful, ridiculous, awesome, relevant things I've ever read.â âRoxane Gay
ââ¦an impressive debut. Elissa Bassist wrote it like a motherfucker."âCheryl Strayed
Acclaimed humor writer Elissa Bassist shares her journey to reclaim her authentic voice in a culture that doesn't listen to women in this medical mystery, cultural criticism, and rallying cry.
Between 2016 and 2018, Elissa Bassist saw over twenty medical professionals for a variety of mysterious ailments. She had what millions of American women had: pain that didnât make sense to doctors, a body that didnât make sense to science, and a psyche that didnât make sense to mankind. Then an acupuncturist suggested that some of her physical pain could be caged fury finding expression, and that treating her voice would treat the problem.
It did.
Growing up, Bassist's family, boyfriends, school, work, and television shows had the same expectation for a womanâs voice: less is more. She was called dramatic and insane for speaking her mind. She was accused of overreacting and playing victim for having unexplained physical pain. She was ignored or rebuked (like so many women throughout history) for using her voice âinappropriatelyâ by expressing sadness or suffering or anger or joy. Because of this, she said âyesâ when she meant ânoâ; she didnât tweet #MeToo; and she never spoke without fear of being "too emotional." She felt rage, but like a good woman, she repressed it.
In her witty and incisive debut, Bassist explains how girls and women internalize and perpetuate directives about their voices, making it hard to âjust speak upâ and âburn down the patriarchy.â But then their silence hurts them more than anything they could ever say. Hysterical is a memoir of a voice lost and found, a primer on new ways to think about a womanâs voiceâabout where itâs being squashed and where it needs amplificationâand a clarion call for readers to unmute their voice, listen to it above all others, and use it again without regret.
Â
