A must for anyone trying to understand how it feels to be born into the wrong body
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This is a wonderful, informative resource - the best of its kind on the market at the moment, imho. It should be read by medical professionals, particularly those working with transgendered/transsexual youngsters and adults, by school teachers, social workers, etc., as well as by families and friends who want to understand how their loved one feels and to help them in their struggle to be who they truly are. I can't recommend this highly enough; I've bought several copies, for all of the above, to help them see how living with this condition really is for my young daughter - and it has.
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Ho hum, which pigeon hole do you fancy?
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Unfortunately this book is not helped by an overpowering bias towards the USA. Looking at previous reviews only enforces this fact. So anyone looking for information on how to deal with Gender Dysphoria outside the States is likely to be disappointed. I read this early in my own transition and found it to be of very little help. However I am based in the UK, I can appreciate that American Transsexuals may get much more from this book.
Also the middle of the road approach that we are all happy little things, if only we can be treated is misleading. The lack of exploration of sexuality as a distinct and seperate issue is a particular failing. Like the rest of humanity, Transsexuals are an example in diversity, no two are the same. Like a previous reviewer I am not a victim and would prefer not to be shown as such.
This book needs to be handled with care, it does not hold all the answers despite the impression you may receive from the previous reviews. However it is certainly worth looking at.
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read this and find some answers
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A good read and worthy of having on the book shelf for later re-reading. This book is designed mainly for the family of a transsexual, or at least for those who know, love or care about a transsexual person. I gave it to my Mother to read, when I found our relationship to be breaking down. I can only asume it helped her, because it helped us repair the damage we had done to each other. There is a lot here that you will know already as a TS person, but to those who are not and find it to be all new and frightening, this may well explain some of what you fear. Remember ignorance is the biggest thing we should fear and this book will remove a lot of that.
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Not grateful for crumbs from the table...
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This book was bought for my mother, but after reading it, I decided it wouldn't help her. Aside from the books heavy focus on male to female transsexuals, it only appeared to pay lip service to those of us who are gay, bisexual, or queer identifed. As for trans people who still identify as trans, in-between, a-gendered, "other" etc, well, according to the author we appear not to exist at all. I found the tone of the book somewhat patronising as well, with an element of apology on our behalf from the author. She also seemed to portay us as victims, to a degree. Well I for one am not a victim of my transgenderism, and I do not wish to be portayed as some kind of tragic figure. I don't feel it does anyone any good in the long term.
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At last, someone who understands
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My god, someone understands. As a transexual myself I was wary when starting this book. I needn't have worried. I couldn't put it down. It's my life story. I had never cried when reading a book before but I did with this one. The writer (a psychiatrist) shows warmth towards our community and taken the time to get to know us and what drives us. Anybody who is affected by transexualism (and those who aren't) should buy this book.
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United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada