Self-Made Man

One Woman's Year Disguised as a Man

By: Norah Vincent

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

A journalist’s provocative and spellbinding account of her eighteen months spent disguised as a man.

Norah Vincent became an instant media sensation with the publication of Self-Made Man, her take on just how hard it is to be a man, even in a man’s world. Following in the tradition of John Howard Griffin (Black Like Me), Vincent spent a year and a half disguised as her male alter ego, Ned, exploring what men are like when women aren’t around. As Ned, she joined a bowling team, took a high-octane sales job, went on dates with women (and men), visited strip clubs, and even managed to infiltrate a monastery and a men’s therapy group. At once thought-provoking and pure fun to read, Self-Made Man is a sympathetic and thrilling tour de force of immersion journalism.

Copyright © Norah Vincent 2006. Recorded by arrangement with Viking, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©2006 Norah Vincent (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

I am glad that men have a voice within the feminist movement; albeit, all that men ever want is peace.

I think Norah did a great bit of research to get to a position where she could certainly help be a voice for men. Her efforts are extraordinary within the scope of what she did. I think it is only fair to add that her experience is only a portion of a bigger picture because she was only able to tread within a safe parameter. There was a point in her book where she had to choose between the monastery, the military, or the penal system. I think if she had gone to the other two she would’ve certainly been shocked at what she would come to experience there. Additionally, she was only able to explore men in the US, traveling abroad would’ve been a great addition; but would’ve certainly come a greater cost. At the end of the day- men- men just wish to be heard and be at peace and I wish that women could just forego their own emotions and experience and just listen.

Worth while

Good point of of view from the outside looking in. Would recommend to both men and women. It was so much better than I had expected. Well done

Not 100% believable but close.

Other than living in the monastery, it was pretty obvious that this person didn’t live life like a man 100% of the time and I think that that would be completely different. She got to go home and be herself and be herself to her mate/girlfriend and get comfortable in her own skin again after wearing the disguise.

An interesting point of view

I found it profoundly interesting how Norah was not able to contain herself for long while being immersed into the groups she had chosen. Towards the end of her studies/infiltration it became increasingly suspect regarding her desire to be found out. Unfortunately we'll never get to know why that was or what she thought of it.

Her self awareness is high and her perception is fairly good but her judgement seemed clouded by the fact that she was a woman, after all. As the story continues, it is extremely intriguing to be able to plot out her descent into madness. She becomes increasingly dimorphic within her personas and begins to have more and more trouble reconciling the two. On one hand she recognized men's needs and the tragedy of manhood. On the other, she was increasingly shocked at the depth of emotion men were capable of. Perhaps she was beginning to shield herself from "Ned" and men's reality to protect Norah?

I'm aware that Norah had decided to take her life, a decision made in part by the results of her study of men. I kept a keen ear for the reason as to why she could see that as a viable solution, so many of the men's rights crowd use her as an example, as if to show that women couldn't walk a mile in men's shoes but it seems as though she genuinely broke. I'm looking forward to reading her last publication.