* For the past fifteen years, S. Bear Bergman (he/him) has given countless lectures and talks across North America on their experience as a trans man who is also a co-parent with their partner. Through his non-fiction books and the online advice column "Ask Bear," he also offers sage wisdom on countless subjects of interest to both the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. His previous books include Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation (with Kate Bornstein, Seal Press) and three books with Arsenal: The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You ; Blood, Marriage, Wine & Glitter ; and Butch is a Noun . * Special Topics in Being a Human elaborates on the premise of "Asking Bear": an illustrated guide to navigating through the world with kindness and compassion. Chapter subjects include: a three-step process for getting someone's new name and pronouns right, every time; how to create a framework for making big decisions; a useful and complete method for apologizing; how to gracefully handle a breakup and its fallout; how to make big decisions; a special chapter for men about how to increase the sense of safety for women & nonbinary people in their vicinity. * Bear deliberately uses plain language and provides many real-world examples, making the book useful to YA readers as well as adult. The illustrations by trans artist Saul Freedman-Lawson bring Bear's sage advice alive visually.
* In Bear's own words: "This book came about when I realized that letters to my advice column Asking Bear appeared to have recurring themes, even when they dealt with different subjects. It became clear to me that people are still looking for answers to ageless questions, and more often than not, those answers can be found in how to be kinder and more compassionate. In this divisive world, many of us are struggling, and in these struggles we need some guidance." * Bear's audience is largely queer and trans, with a significant additional following of straight cis women who are allies, but this book should appeal to anyone looking for directions on how to move in a socially just world. * Its primary subject area is LGBTQ+ but it could also be stocked as a graphic non-fiction title. * Bear will conduct a number of online events with bookstores and organizations.