Marcos Gonsalez Livres

"A searching memoir . . . A subtle, expertly written repudiation of the American dream in favor of something more inclusive and more realistic."—Kirkus, starred review There are many Pedros living in many Americas . . . One Pedro goes to a school where they take away his language. Another disappears in the desert, leaving behind only a backpack. A cousin Pedro comes to visit, awakening feelings that others are afraid to make plain. A rumored Pedro goes missing so completely it's as if he were never there. In Pedro's Theory Marcos Gonsalez explores the lives of these many Pedros, real and imagined. Several are the author himself, while others are strangers, lovers, archetypes, and the men he might have been in other circumstances. All are journeying to some sort of Promised Land, or hoping to discover an America of their own. With sparkling prose and cutting insights, this brilliant literary debut closes the gap between who the world sees in us and who we see in ourselves. Deeply personal yet inspiringly political, it also brings to life those selves that never get the chance to be seen at all.

Exploring the intersection of Latinx LGBTQ culture and capitalism, this book examines how leisurely practices resist societal pressures to constantly produce. It delves into the ways these communities embrace idleness as a form of resistance, highlighting the cultural significance of relaxation and pleasure. Through various narratives, the author reveals how these practices challenge traditional notions of productivity and offer a critique of capitalist values, ultimately advocating for the importance of rest and self-care in marginalized communities.