Not only one of the frankest of autobiographies, but also a brilliantly written book, Leiris’ Manhood mingles memories, philosophic reflections, sexual revelation, meditations on bullfighting, and the life-long progress of self-discovery. – Washington Post Book World

Leiris writes to appall, and thereby to receive from his readers the gift of a strong emotion–the emotion needed to defend himself against the indignation and disgust he expects to arouse in his readers. –Susan Sontag, New York Review of Books