I Took Her Name

Lessons from My Journey into Vulnerability, Authenticity, and Feminism

By: Shu Matsuo Post

Narrated by: Shu Matsuo Post

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Men are taught to live a story. But the story is a lie.

Because you’re a man, you’re always the main character. You’re physically tough. Stoic and strong. You never cry. You’re smart, athletic, and financially successful. You’re dominant, in control, and independent. All. The. Time.

Now, what if you could change that story?

Shu Matsuo Post is a successful businessman in Japan, one of the most gender-rigid nations on the planet. When he got married and chose to take his wife’s name, the opposition he encountered gave him an unexpected glimpse into a woman’s world. It also gave him a taste of vulnerability, emotional connection, and the freedom he had been craving all his life.

Flowing seamlessly between his own journey, his wife’s journey, and their journey together as they struggled to break the bonds of gender limitations, I Took Her Name is a powerful road map for defying expectations and becoming your authentic self.

Step out of the old story, embrace your full potential, and claim the unlimited freedom of an unscripted life.

©2021 Shu Matsuo Post (P)2021 Shu Matsuo Post

A refreshingly authentic book on multiple levels

I absolutely loved this audiobook! It resonated with me on so many levels, I found myself crying "YEEES!" more than once as I listened to it. But before I continue, full disclosure, I kind of know the author. Not very well, though, and he did NOT ask me to write a review. I just wanted to write one because I enjoyed the book so much.

First off, it's a book about feminism written by a man for men, so the part about feminist issues wasn't very new for me (a woman). That said, it WAS very refreshing to hear a genuine account of the writer's journey from believing he was a good guy who believed in equality to realizing there were things he still needed to learn and unlearn. It reminded me of Brené Brown's work on gender and shame, and it was really nice to get a glimpse from the male side of things.

Second, as a Japanese person who grew up abroad, it just made me SO happy to listen to something written in English that touched on Japanese culture in a way that didn't make me think of words like "orientalized," "stuffy," "boring," "sterile," or "outdated." I have honestly never read/listened to anything that made me feel so seen and represented as an English speaker in a Japanese body!

Last, but not completely unrelated to my second point, I really enjoyed the author's reading style. And the fact that he pronounced Japanese words in Japanese was an additional perk, too :)

Highly recommend

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I was clueless about the Japanese gender divide. I liked how Post described his personal experience and the facts he included. Excellent example of how all partners should be!