- Hardcover: 262 pages
- Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (9 Jun 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0470837357
- ISBN-13: 978-0470837351
- Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.7 x 0.2 cm
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
146,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #12 in Books > Biography > Sport > Swimming
- #33 in Books > Biography > Gay & Lesbian > Gay
- #67 in Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Water Sports > Swimming & Diving
- See Complete Table of Contents
| |||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £0.25
Get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade in Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £0.25, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
In public, Mark Tewksbury has always credited the 1976 Olympics as a major inspiration for his becoming an Olympic champion swimmer, but in fact, it was wearing a towel–turban in imitation of his grandmother and swimming in her condo pool that first sparked his love of swimming. Intimate and endearing details such as these are what provide Tewksbury′s story with relevance beyond the famous–athlete–fights–and–overcomes–his–personal–demons story. Granted, Tewksbury covers all the usual challenges faced by performance athletes–the sacrifices, the post–Olympic depression, the intense glare of the media spotlight–but it is his private sojourn as a gay man, from coming out of the closet to visiting his first gay bar ("it was like being in another world with fashionably dressed people drinking cocktails from martini glasses") to entering his first sexual relationship (an ongoing, three–way relationship with a male couple) that will resonate with the reader. Despite the "Gay Jock" subtitle, the book is accessible; Tewksbury comes with all the tics and quirks of your everyday gay man wrestling with his sexuality, and later, with the complexities of finding a partner and dating. A thoughtful, moving narrative that inspires as much as it entertains. (Publishers Weekly, April 10, 2006)
"...a thoughtful, moving narrative that inspires as much as it entertains." (Publishers Weekly, April 10, 2006)
"...a thoughtful, moving narrative that inspires as much as it entertains." (Publishers Weekly, April 10, 2006)
Review
"To reach the pinnacle of Olympic Swimming takes incredible dedication, resilience and courage that few possess. To reach your true self takes these attributes and a great deal more courage so, therefore, even fewer arrive at this point in their lives. Mark Tewksbury is one of these courageous people who achieve so much and through pain, suffering, daring, and pure fight, become who they truly are, inside and out."
—Duncan Armstrong O.A.M., Australian Olympic Swimming Legend
—Duncan Armstrong O.A.M., Australian Olympic Swimming Legend
"It took talent, honesty, courage and guts for Mark Tewksbury to take on the world and become an Olympic champion. It took the combination of the same qualities to write this book."
—Richard W. Pound, International Olympic Committee, Chairman of the World Anti–Doping Agency
"A fascinating inside look at the life of one of Canada’s most outstanding sports figures. What it was like to be teased in high school though he was already an outstanding athlete. What it was like to explode into Olympic stardom with a gold–medal upset in swimming, to come out as a gay man amid post–Olympic celebrity, to become an advocate for athletes in the cutthroat, behind–the–scenes politics of sports. Mark Tewksbury has given us the unusual in an Olympic sports memoir—richly textured and deeply moving."
—Patricia Nell Warren, author of The Front Runner
"Mark’s story is not just about being a gay man in the world of sport. It’s a story about a human being that is true to himself no matter what! By sharing it he inspires all of us to do the same."
—Johan Kenkhuis, Olympic swimming bronze (2000) and silver (2004) medallist, The Netherlands
"Mark’s story is motivation for all who seek great achievement and will face obstacles along the path to that success. Straight talk indeed—and a fascinating peek inside the world of Olympic politics."
—Neil G. Giuliano, President, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and Mayor of Tempe, Arizona, USA, 1994–2004
"Mark Tewksbury traces his journey from shame and fear to pride and courage as a gay man. His story is especially inspiring because he is one of only a handful of world class gay male athletes who have publicly embraced their gay identity. Along the way, Mark shares his perspectives on the developing international LGBT sports movement and a vision for how sport can change the world for all of us regardless of our sexuality, gender or athletic ability."
—Pat Griffin, Author, Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport and Director of It Takes A Team! Education Campaign for LGBT Issues in Sport
"Mark Tewksbury’s story of hurt, outrage and frustration, as a man who happens to be gay, is also a story of strength, boldness and human rights. A must–read for parents, educators, athletes and anyone who cares deeply about creating safe harbor for all kids."
—Barbara Coloroso, Educator and Author, Just Because It’s Not Wrong Doesn’t Make It Right: From Toddlers to Teens, Teaching Kids to Think and Act Ethically
"Against the odds, he won a gold medal in Barcelona. He made a difference. As a commentator with CBC in Athens in 2004, he again made a difference. He was honest, outspoken and articulate, qualities that run through the pages of this book."
—Brian Williams, Olympic Broadcaster
"Mark Tewksbury’s charisma radiates throughout this poignant story of his life development into an Olympic hero. I found myself riveted with the human drama while gaining knowledge and understanding concerning the struggles and triumphs of the LGBT sports movement. A read that should not be missed."
—Helen Carroll, Sports Project Coordinator, National Center For Lesbian Rights
"Tewksbury opens the whole closet for us to view his life of glamour, guts and despair. His story is as much a testimony to the strength of femininity as it is an indictment of the cult of masculinity."
—Eric Anderson, Ph.D., Author of In the Game: Gay Athletes and the Cult of Masculinity and Trailblazing: The True Story of America’s First Openly Gay High School Coach
"Mark takes the reader on an interesting journey of his life and provides insight into the highest echelons of elite sport from many unique perspectives."
—Alex Baumann, Executive Director, Queensland Academy of Sport, Australia
"This book and the young life it chronicles will open doors to many. I recall the attitudes so pervasive in locker room culture when I participated in the swimming scene. For writing about his personal struggle, Tewksbury should add bravery to his already impressive list of attributes."
—Jack Layton, Leader of the Federal New Democratic Party of Canada
"We knew Mark was a great swimmer, but who knew he could write so well! The courage he showed in his competition is mirrored in his book. A great story from a very brave man."
—Vicki Gabereau, Popular Broadcaster
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.co.uk.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
12 reviews
48 of 52 people found the following review helpful
True grit, honesty, and motivation
28 May 2006
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have worked for the past 25 years with gay men in psychotherapy, and was an ex athlete myself, so I was intrigued but clinically skeptical of Mark Tewksbury's autobiography.
My skepticism was completely unfounded. He was completely forthright, struggling to find himself in an overwhelmingly staight world of elite athletics. This Olympian just took it one step at a time, in first taking advantage of his natural athletic abilities, then in slowly finding his way to come out, and then balance that coming out process with the world of sport.
What eventually emerged for me was his deep value system of honesty--of being true to himself in whatever circumstances--something which I continually drum into my gay clients, and to what I work at daily in my own life.
His book truly touched me--as an ex-athlete, as a clinician, and and as a human being who understands struggle.
Eloquent, easy, to read, I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Philip Tecau
Oakland, California
My skepticism was completely unfounded. He was completely forthright, struggling to find himself in an overwhelmingly staight world of elite athletics. This Olympian just took it one step at a time, in first taking advantage of his natural athletic abilities, then in slowly finding his way to come out, and then balance that coming out process with the world of sport.
What eventually emerged for me was his deep value system of honesty--of being true to himself in whatever circumstances--something which I continually drum into my gay clients, and to what I work at daily in my own life.
His book truly touched me--as an ex-athlete, as a clinician, and and as a human being who understands struggle.
Eloquent, easy, to read, I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Philip Tecau
Oakland, California
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Plain-spoken but involving memoir of a gay athlete
3 Jan 2007
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Decades after Dave Kopay's ground-breaking autobiography, there still are very few elite athletes who have been willing to come out of the closet. Therefore, Mark Tewksbury's memoir gains an automatic interest. Tewksbury, a 1992 Olympic gold medalist in the backstroke (he upset favored American Jeff Rouse), does not focus a great deal in "Inside Out" on this triumph, at least in part because he has already penned a book on that topic, but mostly because he wants to focus on what he views as more essential subjects. He talks of his family and his generally unhappy childhood, his early same-sex crushes, his fear of exposure both before and especially after his rise to the highest rank of his sport, all to frequently moving effect. His accounts of his foray within the international Olympic movement, and later involvement with the nascent Gay Games, offer fascinating glimpses into the politics and intrigue of big-time sports.
All this may seem like a lot to stuff into a relatively short book, and in fact, it is. Tewksbury, who on the evidence is a decent writer, spends so much time recounting events that there is not much time for atmosphere or reflection, though one might take this as an accurate conveyance of what frequently seems to be a frantic, fast-paced life. When he does pause to talk about his emotions his plain style is genuinely touching, as in his account of his father's death from cancer. Though one may wonder just how hard a skilled athlete with a strapping physique and dazzling smile (evident in many of the photos, though the beefcake element is kept low-key), not to mention a gift for public speaking, could possibly have it, Tewksbury's willingness to reveal his inner anguish and vulnerability cannot fail to touch the reader. Until such time as the world of sport comes to terms with the sexual orientation of some of its greatest representatives books such as "Inside Out" will be necessary.
All this may seem like a lot to stuff into a relatively short book, and in fact, it is. Tewksbury, who on the evidence is a decent writer, spends so much time recounting events that there is not much time for atmosphere or reflection, though one might take this as an accurate conveyance of what frequently seems to be a frantic, fast-paced life. When he does pause to talk about his emotions his plain style is genuinely touching, as in his account of his father's death from cancer. Though one may wonder just how hard a skilled athlete with a strapping physique and dazzling smile (evident in many of the photos, though the beefcake element is kept low-key), not to mention a gift for public speaking, could possibly have it, Tewksbury's willingness to reveal his inner anguish and vulnerability cannot fail to touch the reader. Until such time as the world of sport comes to terms with the sexual orientation of some of its greatest representatives books such as "Inside Out" will be necessary.
21 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Straight Up and Out Talk
30 May 2006
Format:Hardcover
Mark Tewksbury is an inspiring person and a well-admired athlete of the Olympics. I'll be honest and say I was approaching this book from a shallow viewpoint. Though he was a swimmer, not a diver, it seemed like his "coming out" story would just be a pale comparison to that of Greg Louganis.
This is not the case, however, as Mark's story is told with an elegance and difference that makes it stand alone. Do not expect high dramatics or shocking revelations, but there are well-learned lessons here and simply an amazing personal journey. It reminds us that each gay person's evolution is a unique story. What I most appreciated was that he dared to come forth with his relationship as part of a three-way couple, a theme that's unusual even in gay autobiographies.
We've had the stories of Louganis, Billy Bean, and others, and this one joins the chorus in helping us recognize the special challenges that face the gay athlete in the coming-to-realize and coming-out processes.
This is not the case, however, as Mark's story is told with an elegance and difference that makes it stand alone. Do not expect high dramatics or shocking revelations, but there are well-learned lessons here and simply an amazing personal journey. It reminds us that each gay person's evolution is a unique story. What I most appreciated was that he dared to come forth with his relationship as part of a three-way couple, a theme that's unusual even in gay autobiographies.
We've had the stories of Louganis, Billy Bean, and others, and this one joins the chorus in helping us recognize the special challenges that face the gay athlete in the coming-to-realize and coming-out processes.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
