There are countless works of interest to gay men in print right now -- anthologies, novels, memoirs, and more. Never before has gay culture been so openly recognizable or the gay readership so hungry for the kind of enrichment only books can provide. Yet how to make sense of the choices offered? What do gay men need to read? What books have shaped the gay heart, mind, and soul?

The Gay Canon gives its readers answers to these questions. Not only does it list the one hundred great gay books that have influenced writers and continue to shape the gay imagination, it also provides a deeper, more comprehensive look at the twenty-six most important works, each of which is followed by a series of useful discussion questions. Reaching all the way back to Gilgamesh and continuing through classics like Leaves of Grass, Confessions of a Mask, and The Wild Boys, as well as more recent books like Borrowed Time, The Gay Canon consistently avoids impenetrable academic literary criticism in favor of a more popular approach. Perfect for the solitary reader or the neighborhood reading group, yet just as useful in the classroom, The Gay Canon is a must for any gay man just coming out or seeking greater resonance in his life.