Something That May Shock and Discredit You
Something That May Shock and Discredit You is a memoir authored by American writer Daniel M. Lavery, released on February 11, 2020, through Atria Publishing Group. Structured as a collection of essays, the book delves into themes such as gender, gender transition, popular culture, and theology.
This work marks Lavery's third publication and his first since commencing his gender transition. It consists of 41 essays divided into 22 longer "chapters" and 19 shorter "interludes," spanning a wide range of genres and topics. Recurring elements include the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with the angel and aspects of Lavery's Christian background.
Critics praised the memoir for its insightful cohesion despite its unconventional format and tone, notably steering clear of typical tropes often associated with gender transition narratives.
Background
Daniel M. Lavery began his writing career in 2013 by cofounding the feminist website The Toast alongside Nicole Cliffe. His debut book, Texts from Jane Eyre, was published in 2015. Following his public coming out as transgender in 2018, he released The Merry Spinster. Something That May Shock and Discredit You is his third book, created during the period of his gender transition.
Raised within an evangelical environment, Lavery weaves Christian motifs throughout the memoir. He expresses a sense of "rootless homesickness" that transitions from a childhood yearning for heaven to an adult experience of transexuality. Between ages 5 and 22, he devoted significant time to Bible study, embedding biblical stories deeply into his consciousness.
In 2019, Lavery made public allegations against his father, Menlo Church pastor John Ortberg, accusing him of allowing a congregant—Lavery’s brother—to engage in inappropriate conduct around children. Subsequently, Lavery cut ties with his biological family and amended the memoir shortly before its release to remove positive mentions of his father.
Title
The title "Something That May Shock and Discredit You" is drawn from a scene in The Simpsons featuring Lionel Hutz attempting to undermine Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, a witness with an eidetic memory. After Apu correctly identifies Hutz’s tie, Hutz declares, "I have something to tell you, something that may shock and discredit you," while trying to remove the tie but then denying wearing one. Lavery described this moment as emblematic of "masks coming off" early in the writing process and observed that Hutz’s denial ultimately undermines himself rather than the witness.
Publication
Published by Atria Publishing Group on February 11, 2020, Something That May Shock and Discredit You spans 256 pages.
Content
This memoir investigates gender transition, popular culture, and theology through 22 chapters accompanied by 19 shorter interludes—each a standalone essay employing diverse styles ranging from chivalric romance to biblical retellings and Western narratives. Recurring themes include the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel alongside reflections on Lavery’s Christian upbringing. The essay titles combine wit with introspection, examples being "Chapter Titles from the On-the-Nose, Po-Faced Transmasculine Memoir I Am Trying not to Write" and "Captain James T. Kirk Is a Beautiful Lesbian and I'm Not Sure Exactly How to Explain That."
Among these essays is "Sir Gawain Just Wants to Leave Castle Make-Out," which reinterprets Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as a text-message drama interwoven with recollections of Lavery’s early romantic encounters.
In an interview with Electric Literature, Lavery characterized the book as "more memoir-adjacent than memoir," concentrating on his mindset during the two years surrounding his transition as well as reflections from prior periods. He told The Wall Street Journal that while he sought candidness about his emotions, he maintained discretion regarding personal relationships to enable a more profound exploration of his inner life.
Reviews
In The New York Times Book Review, Jordy Rosenberg characterized the nonlinear storytelling of Something That May Shock and Discredit You as "captivatingly unusual and enjoyable," lauding Lavery as a "master craftsman of gender transition" who steers clear of typical narratives such as "tragic transness" or moralizing tones. Sam Sanders highlighted the book’s intricate portrayal of Lavery’s transition journey, emphasizing its complexity rather than depicting it as a straightforward choice.
The title earned a starred accolade from Kirkus Reviews, which emphasized Lavery’s poignant meditations on spirituality and gender identity, describing it as "exceptional." In Publishers Weekly, Nino Cipri commended Lavery’s learned yet modest prose and his incorporation of biblical allegories to explore themes of gender transition. The New Yorker praised the author’s adept fusion of critique, memoir, and literary mimicry, calling the work an insightful guide into Lavery’s thought process. Dan Shaw writing for Happy Mag referred to the book as a thoughtfully crafted and carefully directed exploration.
Constance Grady from Vox labeled the memoir as "peculiar, self-assured, and oddly detailed," applauding its humor alongside its reflective treatment of gender and transition. Annette Lapointe in the New York Journal of Books observed the presence of autobiographical content conveyed through accessible language applied to specific moments, describing it as Lavery’s most significant yet least readily approachable effort. Jill Wilson of the Winnipeg Free Press recognized the work’s complexity but argued that it reveals more about transitioning than more conventional memoirs, dubbing it a “laugh-out-loud, puzzling, soul-searching” narrative that readers may not have anticipated needing.
The A.V. Club awarded the book a B+, characterizing it as "three articulate works combined" due to its blend of essays, memoir, and cultural critique. The review applauded Lavery’s agile storytelling that forges a deeply personal voice despite lacking chronological order. Alex Jiménez from The Daily Californian gave it a perfect score of 5 out of 5, emphasizing how Lavery weaves diverse perspectives into a unified and visionary narrative despite the non-sequential format.
Lists
Something That May Shock and Discredit You was named by Vox critic Constance Grady among the 15 best books released in 2020, describing it as "a joyful, incredibly specific, and surprisingly relatable read." It claimed the top spot on USA Todays February 2020 list titled "5 books not to miss" and featured in The A.V. Clubs compilation of "15 favorite books of 2020."
In May 2021, BuzzFeed News included the book in its list "12 Great Books That Challenge Toxic Masculinity," highlighting its hybrid genre approach as both elusive and candid. Additionally, The Guardian featured it in March 2020 among recommended "books to enjoy while in quarantine."