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Flamboyance: The Power of Living Boldly
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 4, 2026
From flamingos, to Chappel Roan, to Oscar Wilde, this book travels the path of Flamboyance and queerness from the beginning to now. One part etymological, one part memoir, all parts gay. I enjoyed the niche information and how it was shared with a queer lens and definitely recommend celebrating pride month by reading this!
June 3, 2026
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Funny, incisive, and most of all, passionate, Flamboyance is the hot new niche history book you didn’t know you needed but most definitely do.
While it’s not quite a niche or micro-history in the vein of a Mary Roach or Mark Kurlansky book, it does have elements of that genre. Flamboyance is more akin to a microhistory, memoir, and mediation on the concept all rolled into one. So much more than merely a catalog of history's most flamboyant figures (though there is that too, from Oscar Wilde and Quentin Crisp to Billie Holliday and Chappell Roan) this book is a thorough exploration of the subject from every possible angle. The social, cultural and economic implications, how the definition and perception of flamboyant behavior has changed throughout history, discussions on the ethics of documentary filmmaking and the thorny topic of cultural appropriation. All these elements and more are explored with an admirable balance of wit and humor. It’s a book that will educate and entertain in equal measure.
The author’s personal reflections on what living flamboyantly has meant to him, his own “skin in the game” as he terms it, is a high point as well. Normally, I can’t stand author’s inserting personal anecdotes about their lives into non-fiction titles. More often than not this type of writing tends to dampen rather than deepen the narrative. Usually the personal parts included are not all that interesting to boot. However, I very much enjoyed the authors inclusion of personal material here. So far from being a distraction, it provided everyday examples for thinking about flamboyance and added context to the work. Learning about Dandies from the 1800’s is all well and good, but hearing a personal story about working up the courage to wear a loud coat in public is something we can all relate to on some level.
I listened to this title as an audiobook narrated by the always superb Joe Jameson. Jameson is one of those truly skilled voice actors that’s so good I will listen to a book purely based on his narration (in this particular case I was also invested in the subject matter as well). His cadence and vocal range is wonderful and his voice elevates any text he reads. He was the best possible choice for narrating this book.
P.S.
This book also introduced me to one of my new favorite quotes of all time, it's from the British author and raconteur Quentin Crisp, “You first have to find who you are. Then, you have to be it like mad.”
Funny, incisive, and most of all, passionate, Flamboyance is the hot new niche history book you didn’t know you needed but most definitely do.
While it’s not quite a niche or micro-history in the vein of a Mary Roach or Mark Kurlansky book, it does have elements of that genre. Flamboyance is more akin to a microhistory, memoir, and mediation on the concept all rolled into one. So much more than merely a catalog of history's most flamboyant figures (though there is that too, from Oscar Wilde and Quentin Crisp to Billie Holliday and Chappell Roan) this book is a thorough exploration of the subject from every possible angle. The social, cultural and economic implications, how the definition and perception of flamboyant behavior has changed throughout history, discussions on the ethics of documentary filmmaking and the thorny topic of cultural appropriation. All these elements and more are explored with an admirable balance of wit and humor. It’s a book that will educate and entertain in equal measure.
The author’s personal reflections on what living flamboyantly has meant to him, his own “skin in the game” as he terms it, is a high point as well. Normally, I can’t stand author’s inserting personal anecdotes about their lives into non-fiction titles. More often than not this type of writing tends to dampen rather than deepen the narrative. Usually the personal parts included are not all that interesting to boot. However, I very much enjoyed the authors inclusion of personal material here. So far from being a distraction, it provided everyday examples for thinking about flamboyance and added context to the work. Learning about Dandies from the 1800’s is all well and good, but hearing a personal story about working up the courage to wear a loud coat in public is something we can all relate to on some level.
I listened to this title as an audiobook narrated by the always superb Joe Jameson. Jameson is one of those truly skilled voice actors that’s so good I will listen to a book purely based on his narration (in this particular case I was also invested in the subject matter as well). His cadence and vocal range is wonderful and his voice elevates any text he reads. He was the best possible choice for narrating this book.
P.S.
This book also introduced me to one of my new favorite quotes of all time, it's from the British author and raconteur Quentin Crisp, “You first have to find who you are. Then, you have to be it like mad.”
June 1, 2026
This was beautifully informative! I loved seeing and hearing more history on flamboyance and it's transformation through history to something far more embraced rather than a back handed sort of insult. A great look at LGBTQIA+ history and where it is now! Always be you!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews