In the end, I think Inhorn is right; her book does provide a corrective to those who conceptualize Middle Eastern men in a two-dimensional way, but I also think her book goes much further than this, delving into the complex navigations of religion, cultural tradition, science, and technology faced by many religious people in everyday life. For those interested in exploring such issues--including scholars and students of religion, immigration, science studies, medical sociology, and medicine--her book is a wonderful resource.
---John O'Brien, Sociology of ReligionOne of Choice's Editors' Picks, October 2012
Not only does this book provide scholars with innovative anthropological theoretical tools for the study of gender and masculinity in a field increasingly dominated by queer theoretical paradigms, it also offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of gender, religion and art in the Middle East, setting an example for new research. Yet above all, The New Arab Man effortlessly succeeds in offering 'a more realistic and humanizing portrayal of Middle Eastern men's lives.'---Wim Peumans, Social Anthropology
Yale anthropologist Inhorn's readable ethnography tackles the subject of infertility among Arab men. The author draws primarily on her research in Lebanese clinics that offer in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrcytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) but also utilizes data from research in Egypt and the UAE. . . . Inhorn's engagin writing style, clear analysis of relevant literature and theory, and compelling interviews make this book an excellent choice for both undergraduate and graduate collections.
Winner of the 2015 Robert B. Textor and Family Prize for Excellence in Anticipatory Anthropology, American Anthropological Association
"The New Arab Man is a tour de force that makes a major contribution to multiple fields of scholarship. At a time of great global tension in relation to the associations between Islam, masculinity, and terrorism, this is an incredibly timely book that will act to combat gross stereotypes and deeply rooted stigmas. There is no doubt in my mind that it will become a classic work of ethnographic research."—Richard G. Parker, Columbia University
"This is a groundbreaking book that makes an extraordinary contribution to the fields of medical anthropology, Middle East studies, and reproductive health. Drawing on rigorous ethnographic fieldwork in multiple countries, Inhorn offers a well-researched, nuanced, and moving reflection on what she terms 'emergent masculinities' in the Middle East. Inhorn is a trailblazer in medical anthropology, and The New Arab Man addresses astonishing gaps in gender studies and related fields."—Angel M. Foster, University of Ottawa and Ibis Reproductive Health
Shortlisted for the 2013 Book Prize, Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness of the British Sociological Association
[This] is without doubt an important contribution to medical anthropology in the Middle East and to our understanding of the complex and changing nature of masculinity in the Arab world.---Ramy Aly, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Winner of the 2014 JMEWS Book Award, Journal of Middle Eastern Women's Studies and Association of Middle East Women's Studies
