Feminist Ryan Gosling: Feminist Theory (as Imagined) from Your Favorite Sensitive Movie Dude [Hardcover]

Danielle Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 14, 2012

What started as a silly way for blogger Danielle Henderson and her classmates to keep track of the feminist theorists they were studying in class quickly turned into an overnight sensation. Since its launch in October 2011, the Feminist Ryan Gosling blog has close to 30,000 followers and more than 3 million page views per month.

In this hilarious book based on the wildly popular blog, the author pairs swoon-worthy photos of the steamy actor with sensitive feminist theories and plenty of sweet talk. Included are 120 full-color photos and captions throughout, with some of the best entries from the blog along with 70 to 80 percent brand-new material for the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Huffington Post
"Ryan Gosling images and feminism quotes collide in this funny, clever blog that nods to women's rights using the actor's infamous 'Hey Girl' meme."

Feministing
"A huge fan of Ryan Gosling myself, Henderson’s playful tumblr makes my heart swoon even more for this past Mickey Mouse Club member whether or not he truly is feminist. But hey, a girl can dream right?"

Time
"Feminist Ryan Gosling is a brand new Tumblr that imagines the comely actor as a sensitive, empathetic feminist who’ll still call you his girl, but also knows his Judith Butler from his Chandra Mohanty. Plus, it’s really funny."

Rolling Stone
"The Feminist Ryan Gosling meme puts a clever spin on celebrity worship, with fans of the Canadian actor pairing images of his dreamy face with text in which he sweet talks ladies with references to feminist theory."

The Daily Beast
"I wouldn’t question too closely whether or not the words under Ryan Gosling’s pictures are real quotes or not. Let’s just say they are. He’s so sensitive and understanding. *Collective Sigh.*"

The Frisky
"I didn’t think anything could be better than the 'F**k yeah, Ryan Gosling'/'Hey Girl' meme about my boo, but then Feminist Ryan Gosling came along and appealed to my Betty Friedan-loving, bell hooks-reading side."

USA Today

“Flip through Feminist Ryan Gosling, a gem in this year’s barrage of . . . novelty coffee table books.” 

New York Magazine
“Hey, girl, here’s a book of that Tumblr you like so you can look at when you can’t look at Tumblr.”

Entertainment Weekly
“Henderson [has] compiled her best quips for the book.”Review: “As funny as an LOL cat, with way more sex appeal…” <i>Nylon</i>

Black Book Magazine
“What do you get your friend who loves The Notebook and/or feminist theory and fighting for gender equity and also has everything? Basically, blogger Danielle Henderson, creator of single-serving Tumblr sensation Feminist Ryan Gosling has you covered for the next dozen Chrisma-hanu-birth-iversaries or so with [this] coffee table book.”

Paste Magazine
“It’s more-or-less scientifically proven that no woman can resist the allure of Ryan Gosling’s endearing ways, especially when he’s saying things like, ‘Hey Girl. I just really love Azealia Banks.’” 

Flare
“Based on the wildly popular blog, this cheeky book pairs photos of actor Ryan Gosling with sensitive texts from feminist theories. Somehow, they just go hand in hand.”

Boston Herald
“Feminist theory has never looked as good as it does next to photos of actor Ryan Gosling.”  

About the Author

Danielle Henderson is the genius behind FeministRyanGosling.tumblr.com and the author of Tales from Fish Camp. As a graduate student and instructor at the University of Wisconsin, her work has been published in several magazines and the anthology Cringe: Teenage Diaries, Journals, Notes, Letters, Poems, and Abandoned Rock Operas. Danielle lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (August 14, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762447362
• ISBN-13: 978-0762447367
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.6 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies > Feminist Theory

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant for the feminist or intellectual theorist in your life August 6, 2012

By RG

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was positively giddy when this showed up in my mailbox. I had almost forgotten that I pre-ordered it! it's been a few years since college, when I took gender studies and read works by Irigaray, bell hooks, Foucault, Fausto-Sterling, and many others that I can't even remember now. I was delighted to discover Henderson's internet meme combining these legendary theorists with pop culture, iconic feminists like Gloria Steinem and Hilary Clinton, the Bechdel test for films, or obscure Latin references to feminist dystopian novels like Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. This subject matter exploring oppression and dark topics is lightened by adding actor Ryan Gosling's face on it. The juxtaposition of serious subject matter with lightheartedness is interesting. I think that adding pop culture to the meme helps make it more accessible to those who would ordinarily be totally disinterested in gender theory.

This delightful meme and its book has prompted me to revisit some of these theorists. I think it's great for people to learn about feminism, check out the theorists for themselves, and this meme will certainly expose a greater segment of society to gender theory instead of just a handful of undergrad and graduate students. I think this meme gives a great platform to explain concepts like the patriarchy or male privilege to others who see the Feminist meme images and are curious about the complex theoretical terms that are often presented in Henderson's work.

This book gives me a lighthearted laugh at complex subject matter and the culture that we live in. Many thanks to Danielle Henderson for creating this meme and this book to help make gender theory more accessible, and to get people thinking and talking about how our society views and regulates gender.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, hilarious, and the perfect gift August 5, 2012

By Sarah

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of those books I plan on keeping stacks of around the house for gifts and just to give away in general. Funny, smart and silly, FRG the book is even better than FRG the blog, which is saying something. Cannot wait to see what comes next from the brilliant Danielle Henderson.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars High brow hilarity. August 12, 2012

By Jessica V.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you like a) tongue-in-cheek academia, b) the oh-so-handsome Ryan Gosling, or c) feminist theory, this book is for you. A few of the pages are laugh-out-loud funny. It's a great book to grab and sit around a coffee table with some girlfriends.