
Hello, Cruel World, 2nd Ed.
121 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws
Kate Bornstein(Author)
Seven Stories Press,U.S.
Published on 29. April 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-64421-443-5 (ISBN)
Description
This 20th anniversary edition of transsexual trailblazer Kate Bornstein’s unconventional guide to staying alive for teens, freaks and gender outlaws features 20 NEW Alternatives, a new foreword by the author, and a new afterword by Paul Preciado.
"A don't-hurt guide for anyone who's been tempted to give in to despair."—Time Out New York
"You'll want to keep extra copies of this one on the shelf to give away to friends in need." —Bitch magazine
Now updated and with new material Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 121 alternatives to suicide that range from the playful (moisturize!), to the irreverent (shatter some family values), to the controversial, fun, challenging and easy. Encouraging readers to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings the reader on a self-validating journey and toward a resounding decision to embrace life.
Using graphics and checklists, and with great humor and gutsiness, Kate Bornstein dares readers to re-envision the gender system as we know it. She offers stories and insights that are tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy. Hello, Cruel World also includes:
Suicide rates among LGBTQ+ teens are much higher than for their cis peers; with love and humor and confession and insight, Bornstein hopes to keep every freak out there alive. She is a radical role model, an affectionate best friend, and a guiding mentor all in one. This one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive is a much-needed, sometimes unorthodox approach to life for those who want to stay on the edge, and alive.
Finalist, LGBT Nonfiction Lambda Literary Award, 2009 Honor Book, Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, 2009
"A don't-hurt guide for anyone who's been tempted to give in to despair."—Time Out New York
"You'll want to keep extra copies of this one on the shelf to give away to friends in need." —Bitch magazine
Now updated and with new material Hello, Cruel World features a catalog of 121 alternatives to suicide that range from the playful (moisturize!), to the irreverent (shatter some family values), to the controversial, fun, challenging and easy. Encouraging readers to unleash their hearts' harmless desires, the book has only one directive: "Don't be mean." It is this guiding principle that brings the reader on a self-validating journey and toward a resounding decision to embrace life.
Using graphics and checklists, and with great humor and gutsiness, Kate Bornstein dares readers to re-envision the gender system as we know it. She offers stories and insights that are tenderly intimate and unapologetically edgy. Hello, Cruel World also includes:
- an Introduction by Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara
- The Hello Cruel Scale of Feelings
- an Index of Alternatives with safety and effectiveness scales
Suicide rates among LGBTQ+ teens are much higher than for their cis peers; with love and humor and confession and insight, Bornstein hopes to keep every freak out there alive. She is a radical role model, an affectionate best friend, and a guiding mentor all in one. This one-of-a-kind guide to staying alive is a much-needed, sometimes unorthodox approach to life for those who want to stay on the edge, and alive.
Finalist, LGBT Nonfiction Lambda Literary Award, 2009 Honor Book, Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, 2009
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Ninth Grade and over, Interest Age: From 14 years
Illustrations
1 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 175 mm
Width: 124 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
262 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-64421-443-5 (9781644214435)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/2025
Triangle Square
€12.49
Available for download

E-Book
01/2011
Seven Stories Press
€16.49
Available for download
Persons
A celebrated pioneer and advocate for the LGBTQ community, Kate Bornstein is the author of My Gender Workbook: How to Become a Real Man, a Real Woman, the Real You, or Something Else Entirely; Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and The Rest of Us; and A Queer and Pleasant Danger: A Memoir. Her plays and performance pieces include Hidden: A Gender, The Opposite Sex Is Neither, and Too Tall Blondes In Love. Bornstein lives in New York City with her partner, Barbara Carrellas.
Content
CONTENTS:
Foreword by Sara Quinn
Introduction
PART 1
Hello, Cruel Me
Hello, Cruel Bullies
Hello, Cruel Desire
Hello, Cruel Gender
PART 2
Hello, Cruel Quick-Start Guide
121 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws
About the Author
Foreword by Sara Quinn
Introduction
PART 1
Hello, Cruel Me
Hello, Cruel Bullies
Hello, Cruel Desire
Hello, Cruel Gender
PART 2
Hello, Cruel Quick-Start Guide
121 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws
About the Author