I Can't Believe You Asked That!: The Ultimate Q&A About Race, Sex, Religion, and Other Terrifying Topics

Rating:
Summary: Gotta love the honest approach to tolerance!
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. It is obvious that the author has selected the most sincere questions and responses from what must be a great collection of sticky material. Some topics are amusing, some heartbreaking, but all of them are honest.

Adding the opinion of experts on each topic provides a great summary, while still allowing the reader to ponder the question and arrive at his own conclusion, or at least arrive at a better understanding about persons different from himself.

We need this book, if for nothing else, than to open our minds to understanding, tolerance and acceptance.



Rating:
Summary: Stuff I'd never dare to ask
Review: My brother passed me this book, and now I want to tell everyone I know about it. These are terrifying topics, many of which we wonder about but don't have the nerve to ask. Doesn't matter if you are looking at it to laugh-you will learn something. Not like from a text book, more like from talking to people, most of whom you'll never get to meet.

The material in the book speaks about his commitment to diversity and discussion, and knowing that he runs the yforum website shows it even more.

Rating:
Summary: Where many fear to tread
Review: On every page I found myself amazed by what people asked and how they answered. This book is sure to generate conversation, gasps, shock, cheers, and outrage. I have a copy on my coffee table, and it has started more conversations than practically anything else I've read.

Get copies for everyone you know.

Rating:
Summary: Have Fun While Opening Up Your Mind
Review: This book exercises the most important part of the body -- the brain. It will stimulate your thinking about questions you have always wondered about, but were afraid to ask. I found myself laughing out loud, flinching with embarassment and saddened by our ignorance. Milano provides great balance by giving the reader both individual and expert opinions to our questions. I Can't Believe You Asked That! will contribute to your understanding of the concept of tolerance in our world today.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining...
Review: This is an entertaining book, filled with different people's perceptions on race, sexuality and culture. The format is simple: A question is asked and various people answer the question based on their experience. At the end of each question an 'expert' answers the question putting closure on the topic.

I was vastly entertained by the subject of sexuality, race and ethnicity. (Although some questions were somewhat silly... ) A reader wonders why "White People" (a generalization in itself), smell like wet dogs when they get wet. Huh? Anyway myths such as this are quickly debunked. Thank God.

Several sections I found less interesting. The section on disabilities, age, and class (a social and not biological construct) seemed common knowledge or to have so many variables that I found it difficult to be interested. Age is also another widely variable category. Sometimes the questions seemed a little off-kilter such as: "How come it seems that Teenagers are afraid to take care of AIDS patients?" Huh? I've never heard or thought of this as being a perception of teenagers. Teens come with variable responsibility levels as do adults.

Overall an excellent book. Sure to educate one on both our perceived and real differences. This could only be improved with a few more 'widely wondered' questions and an omission of a few of the more obvious ones. High entertainment value.