Rating: 
Summary: An alternative to political correct "research"
Review: Dr. Charles Socarides documents that there exists a highly interesting scientific and human understanding of the issue of homosexuality which is in contrast to the current "liberal" statements concerning homosexuality. His book is of importance also as an evidence for free speech in the Western World.
Rating:
Summary: An alternative to political correct "research"
Review: Dr. Charles Socarides documents that there exists a highly interesting scientific and human understanding of the issue of homosexuality which is in contrast to the current "liberal" statements concerning homosexuality. His book is of importance also as an evidence for free speech in the Western World.
Rating: 
Summary: what is the objective of this book. . . .?
Review: First of all, I recommend reading any book. However, I don't recommend reading one book alone. Think what the world would be like if they only read Mein Kumpf. There are several things that bother me, personally, about this book. First of all, I don't understand what the problem with a gay rights movement is. We can be fired from work for being gay, something that has nothing to do with how well we perform our jobs. We cannot be legally married. Those are basic rights; we don't want special ones. If someone is worried about humanity dying out, I'd just like to remind the world of our overpopulation problem. Furthermore, I don't think cure is the right word to be associated with gays at all. We are not a problem to anyone else, so they need to stop concerning themselves with curing us.
Ok, I got on my soap box a little there, sorry. I want people to ask themselves how homosexuals interfere with their lives and give a good answer. Causes and cures are insignificant. This problem is social.
Rating:
Summary: Brave and Factual-
Review: In a search for facts I was pleased to find the content of this book painfully honest and written with courage. A frank documentary of homosexuality as related by obligatory homosexuals, which may be uncomfortable to read, but worth reading. If you are looking for a way to "get back to center" and sort out the confusion, this may help. A compassionate compilation of information directed at true concern for the homosexual in our society, and how the Gay Movement may or may not be helping it's own cause. I hope homosexuals will give this book and it's author due respect.
Rating: 
Summary: Giving a name does not mean giving a diagnosis of illness!
Review: It is unfortunate that an eminent psychiatrist, like Dr. Charles Socarides, feels that naming a 'state of being' (homosexuality) permits the pathologization of that state of being. We have solutions for people born with blue eyes who are not happy with blue eyes . . they may purchase contact lenses to change their eye color. However, it is irrational to believe that a change of outward behavior will change internal drives for gay men and lesbians. They are not seeking 'immediate gratification,' like the chocoholic in search for chocolate or a child in search of his/her 'security blanket.' These are people in search of acceptance and self-acceptance. They require guidance and understanding to achieve that self-acceptance, not a "cure" because they are not sick.What is sick is determined by the majority, as sickness is the condition of the unacceptable minority. Today, blue eyes are acceptable, though in the minority, whereas homosexuality is unacceptable. In future, perhaps Socarides will propose a means of "curing" blue-eyed people, left-handed people, red-haired people?
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Summary: Disregard the 'activist' reviews - Read it and decide.
Review: Read it yourself. Come to your own conclusions. Socarides offers a mountain of evidence of clear patterns of both behavior and childhood histories. AND that people can be cured of these obviosly dangerous behaviors.
When people have to name call and trash a book they obviously haven't read...your only question should be what is it they DON't want you to hear. if a theory were absurd, wouldn't it be better to give it the light of day and humiliate the advocates? if dr. Socarides said homosexuality was say, causes by space aliens, wouldn't the actvists be pointing out how ridicolous it was. HMM, but supressed books, that's another story.
Rating:
Summary: An insightful examination of the issue
Review: Socarides argues that homosexuality is not a mentally healthy psychological variation from normal human behavior -- as many variations may be. The introduction is quite powerful and reveals that Socarides has thought about these matters deeply. The book also provides some insight into the purpose behind psychonalytical analysis
Rating:
Summary: Ridiculous
Review: Socarides has carried a chip on his shoulder about homosexuality since his views were repudiated by the vast majority of psychologists, psychoanalysts and psychiatrists. He assumes that homosexuality is a disorder; starting from this first principle, he naturally comes up with conclusions that support his error.
Rating: 
Summary: This book shows with compassion the plight of homosexuals.
Review: Socarides, who is a psychiatrist with long experience in treating homosexuals, writes with compassion and clarity about their plight. Since he regards the condition as a disorder, he is disdained by homosexual activists. But he and others like him provide hope for those suffering from the condition and are desperate to get out of it
Rating:
Summary: Open minded review
Review: The format of this book is a question and answer dialog. But the questions that are asked seem to be written by the author, which is odd because many of the questions do not follow the argument, don't always seem that interesting and posit a questioner with lame mental qualities. This is the most annoying part of the book. The best part of the book is the general background information provided on the subject, which does a good job of explaining why the other side of the debate is never presented or presented fairly. The premise of the book is a Freudian understanding of homosexuality: something along the lines of overbearing mothers and absent fathers with the focus on male homosexuality. I always find these theories interesting, but lacking the persuasive power necessary to deliver a knock out blow to competing theories.
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