Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions [Paperback]

Ron Jackson Suresha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

Bears, for the uninitiated, are gay men who defiantly challenge society's ideal of physical appearance, who celebrate the fact that they are often large, hairy, and don't give a hoot about what fashions are parading down the runway. Ron Suresha's thought-provoking, humorous long-form interviews with men, including editor David Bergman, cartoonist Tim Barela, and comedian and writer Bruce Vilanch examine questions of gay male stereotyping, commodification of the human body, the oppressiveness of the "physical ideal," and how body image affects personal growth.

Ron Suresha's work has appeared in American Bear, The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide, In Newsweekly, Gay Community News, White Crane Journal , Art & Understanding , The Bear Book, and The Bear Book II. He lives in Boston.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ron Suresha is a writer and editor living in Boston. His writing has appeared in The Gay and Lesbian Review, Lambda Book Report, American Bear, Gay Community News, White Crane Journal, Art & Understanding, Southern Voice, In Newsweekly, Darshan, and Visionary, and the anthologies The Bear Book, The Bear Book 2, My First Time 2, Bar Stories, Quickies 2, and Tales from the Bear Cult. He is also the editor of an anthology of Bear-themed fiction, Bearotica, forthcoming from Alyson Publications in April 2002.

Product Details

• Paperback: 308 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555835783
• ISBN-13: 978-1555835781
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,623,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ron J. Suresha grew up in and around Detroit. For two decades he worked as a freelance proofreader and editor for publishers of Eastern religious and spiritual books. Suresha is the editor of two acclaimed nonfiction anthologies, Bi Men: Coming Out (Haworth/Routledge, 2006, with P. Chvany), and Bisexual Perspectives on the Life and Work of Alfred C. Kinsey (Routledge, 2010), both finalists for the Lambda Literary Award. He also authored a self-published beverage recipé book, Mugs o' Joy: Delicious Hot Drinks. His spiritual travels have included pilgrimages to India, Israel, and Istanbul. He serves as acquisitions editor for the Bear Bones Books imprint of Lethe Press, and on the editorial board for Journal of Bisexuality. Suresha lives in Connecticut with his husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must book for the thinking bear!, March 4, 2002

By 

Mike (Northeast NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions (Paperback)

Bears on Bears covers all aspects of beardom. Bear of course refers to a subculture of gay men who tend to be hairy and not-so-thin. Suresha's book is both funny and thoughtful. Reading it is entertaining. Suresha talks to porn stars, bear politicians and even "ex-bears." The broad range of subjects covered and topics raised would make this a good book for a gender studies class or a discussion group. Want to find out about a subculture of a subculture of a subculture? It's here.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GRRRRRReat & Insightful Reading, July 4, 2003

By 

Danny L Peters (Knoxville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions (Paperback)

Though I have only been exposed to the gay sub-culture, know as BEARS, for almost 4 years, it was fascinating to read the history of how this wide spread community began. Ron Suresha seems to have opened a whole new realm in the way I look at this group of masculine, "regular Joe"group of men.
The interviews in this book really get to the heart of what makes up the psychy of a BEAR man. And suprisingly, we are not much different than any other man..gay or straight!
These are very candid interviews and even give some insight into the author's 1st encounters with the BEAR sub-culture, back in its infancy!
GRRRRRRRReat job Ron & I am anticipatorily waiting for your next book!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bear on "Bears on Bears", April 13, 2002

By 

Kevin (Arlington, VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bears on Bears: Interviews and Discussions (Paperback)

I was given "Bears on Bears" as a gift, and read it from cover to cover with interest and excitement. As a self-described bear who has been in a relationship with another self-described bear for 23 years, I thought "I had seen or knew it all." I was wrong. Ron's book opened my eyes to a much wider world, filled with diversity, a sense of history, and evolution. His interviews with a wide spectrum of men (and even a couple of women!) gave me comfort in knowing that my own experiences were not as unique as I once thought, and allowed me to learn more about the people and events that enable me to live the life I currently enjoy (as well as better understand myself). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is part of or interested in the "bear scene" not only in the United States but also around the world. It's a great read and a great learning experience.