Live and Die Like a Man: Gender Dynamics in Urban Egypt

This book was an incredibly nuanced look into the lives of men growing up in urban Cairo, made possible by Ghannam's long and dedicated engagement with her interlocutors. It is a wonderful addition to a growing body of academic texts devoted to understanding constructs of masculinity, and especially welcome in a time when such stigma is attached to Arab masculinity. Would highly recommend for undergraduate and graduate research in gender studies, Middle Eastern studies, and sociology/anthropology.

I think about this book constantly and I have lent it to several friends and professors. Ghannam's work is very impressive in my opinion, and she approaches the topic of masculinity in a way that is unusually interesting and entertaining (at least in terms of gender studies). She works with several case studies over the course of many years, showing the "masculine trajectories" of a somewhat diverse group of Egyptian men. She accomplishes a fascinating study.

Too much hoopla about nothing

Live and Die Like a Man offers a well-researched, insightful, and timely perspective on the ways in which men and women navigate the search for identity and security amid economic and political strife in contemporary Egypt. Building upon nearly 20 years of fieldwork, Ghannam documents moving life stories that dramatize how collective notions of masculinity affect individuals' life choices. A fascinating aspect of Ghannam's approach is her attention to the ways in which women as well as men appeal to communal notions of manhood in order to achieve their aims, be they organizing political protests against the Mubarak regime in 2011, arguing for short-term personal goals, or reflexively reinforcing social norms. Her exploration of gender-related violence raises many questions worthy of inter-disciplinary study. She points out the way communal notions of manhood prompt a violent response in some circumstances, whereas in other situations, the varied ideals of manhood demand self-restraint. What happens when social imperatives regarding both judicious action and self-restraint come into conflict with a totalitarian regime which sanctions violence that violates social norms? Another fascinating topic Ghannam addresses is the collective celebration of a "good ending"," a death that happens in the service of good deeds, the protection of others, or efforts to provide for one's family. It is particularly interesting to consider the ways in which, as the author points out, socially structured notions of manhood encourage activism rather than fatalistic passivity. Her arguments are too complex and nuanced to summarize here, but thoughtful readers will find much to reflect on, particularly the ways in which gender norms become variously reinforced or transformed in relation to national and class crises. Given the importance of so many of these issues and the continuing unrest in the Middle East, this work provides invaluable information and insight for readers from all backgrounds.

I am a thirteen year old, and I am fascinated by this book. I am especially interested in the first chapter which focuses on a child who is about my age. I would recommend this book for young adults as well as adults. It offers fascinating insight into the life of the poor in a country thousands of miles away. I think it is a wonderful book.

A compelling read and a rich contribution to the nascent field of masculinity studies in the Arab world. I have also found it to be incredibly useful for undergraduate students.