The title of the book is quite clear, and it delivers exactly what it promises. Andrew Gurza, a queer disabled person, shares their personal experiences with honesty, humor, and insight. Through a series of deeply personal anecdotes, Gurza provides a window into their world, highlighting the challenges, joys, and everyday realities of living at the intersection of queerness and disability.

What makes this book stand out is its dual purpose: it speaks to those who share similar experiences while also offering invaluable perspective to non-disabled readers. As someone who doesn’t navigate the world in the same way, I felt like I was given the chance to see life from a perspective I hadn’t fully considered before. It left me more aware, more sensitive, and with a broader understanding of the challenges disabled queer people face.

Beyond its thought-provoking nature, the book is also an engaging and enjoyable read. It’s both entertaining and eye-opening, making me reflect while also keeping me hooked from start to finish. A truly impactful book that lingers in your thoughts long after the last page.

“A community that so loudly preaches ‘love is love’ but quietly agrees that disabled people don’t belong here.”

I have been familiar with Andrew Gurza thanks to his podcast, Disability After Dark. This book is Gurza at their best, educating others via stories and personal moments to help create the anti-ableist society we so badly need. Gurza educates us about the history of disability (why we treat disabled adults with “kid gloves”), ableism (internalized and externalized), and micro aggressions (things you have to deal with when living in a disabled body). Through their personal stories and moments, we learn about situations of ableism in the queer community. Gurza ends his collection of “notes” by calling for representation- we need to ensure physical access to accessible queer spaces (ramps, accessible bathrooms, interpreters) AND to see disabled queer people in the media. As Gurza says, it’s nondisabled individuals responsibilities to listen and learn from their disabled peers. Thank you for the education Andrew!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Notes From A Queer Cripple: How to Cultivate Queer Disabled Joy (and Be Hot While Doing It!).