True Selves (the book)

[Arch]

I found this book disappointing, outdated, and needlessly reductive. I suppose it's okay for people who know nothing about transsexualism, but since I am trans and know quite a bit about transsexualism, I was at times disgusted, exasperated, and even offended.

As I recall, it was focused almost exclusively on MTFs, too. And the heteronormative model. And it said some irritating and misleading things about depression and the path people tend to take in...gosh, I can't remember now, it was either the path people take to realize that they are trans or the path they take to decide to transition. Anyway, I had a problem with that aspect.

As I recall, I had issues with pronouns in this book, but that's a frequent problem in books on this topic, so I might have just been confused about the authors' motives--or maybe the pronouns really were inconsistent. I don't know; I would have to reread it.

If you buy the paperback version, do not be fooled by the fairly recent print date (I think it was about five years old when I read it, so that puts the date around 2002-2004). This book was originally published in the mid-nineties, and the paperback version is still the first edition and not a revised edition. The book is working with an outdated version of the SoC, although I don't really know what the differences are between the old version and the latest version. Personally, I think the book should have been fully revised for paperback release.

Anyway, True Selves is about fifteen years old, and that's pretty old in this field. But you can draw your own conclusions.

P.S. I prefer Reid Vanderburgh's book. It's called Transition and Beyond. It was out of print when I bought it a couple of years ago.

[Kairi]

I stopped by my local library on my way home to check out whether they had this book. Turned out that they have/had but was permanantly borrowed by someone since 2006! I asked the librarian to order a new copy for me and I am looking forward to read it myself.

[regan]

I read it probably close to 15 years ago, it was one of several books I tried to convince my mom to read - which she wanted nothing to do with.  Having said that, don't expect the books to change hearts and minds, unless they're receptive to the idea to begin with its not going to radically change their opinions.

GID, to me, is like Diabetes, the disease is as unique as the individual, or rather each of travels our own path.  No book is going to match with anyone particular person's journey.  As others have said, its a good starting point, but its also rapidly becoming outdated.

[K8]

I found some parts spot-on and others not so.  (For me, pre-puberty was very close to my experience while the section on teenage years wasn't.)  The book did seem to be almost entirely centered on MTF, so it may not be as helpful for those going the other direction.  But I thought it a wonderful book for friends and family who don't know much (if anything) about being transgendered.

Many of the books I've read about being transgendered/transsexual were either too scientific with lots of psych talk or autobiographical.  The latter often fall into the trap of "this is how I did it so it must be the best way".  I found True Selves very readable and a good explanation for those who are curious but have no experience with being transgendered.  Of course, they have to be receptive to learning about it.  I also found it valuable to me for validating much (but not all) of my experience and feelings.

- Kate

[marleen]

Actually I read this book about two weeks ago, and while not every detail matches my own life experience, I find it more than good enough to recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

[jennajane]

I bought and read this book.  I did find it a bit basic for the average trans person, and like Arch said it was focused on MTF spectrum folk and "heteronormative".  The book is written by a practicing gender therapist in middle class California and summarizes about 15 years of her observations (if I remember correctly).  I imagine most of her clients were MTF spectrum and didn't push outside the typical bigendered spectrum (I often go to queer events and don't feel I am queer enough to fit in). 

I thought the book reflected my experiences well and have bought 3 additional copies to give to family and friends to give them a good introduction on the trans world. 

Jenna

[regan]

I bought and read this book.  I did find it a bit basic for the average trans person, and like Arch said it was focused on MTF spectrum folk and "heteronormative".  The book is written by a practicing gender therapist in middle class California and summarizes about 15 years of her observations (if I remember correctly).  I

Interesting observation about the middle class perspective.  I see more of that bias lately with young, I mean pre-puberty, transitioners - they all seem to come from upper middle class backgrounds with fairly liberal parenting.  What do the welfare kids do?  What about cultural minorities?  Really the same bias applies across the spectrum, I think its important to understand her background.  I don't know how well people outside a white middle class upbringing can find parallels in this book.

[BunnyBee]

This is the only book on the subject of ->-bleeped-<- that I have read from cover to cover.  I read it when my gender issues had really started unraveling my life, which had prompted me to find out seriously how I could deal with this problem.  Not too far into the book I remember thinking, "hm, well if that is what a transsexual is, then I guess I'm a transsexual."  I mean so much of it was so dead on, it really blew my mind.

Considering how big of a step that little thought going through my head was in putting me on the right path and how close I came to giving up on life altogether just before starting HRT, well, let me just say I'm thankful I read it.

Even though a lot of the science and terminology used in the book is aged, I still think it would make for a really good "intro to transsexuality" for somebody that is interested in and open to learn about the topic.  It is not for convincing anybody of anything and it is not for anybody that knows a lot about the subject either.  I think some of the other criticisms, about it being reductive and heteronormative-mtf centric are probably also correct.  I think people's remarks about it having a middle class bias probably have merit too, when I think about it.  But, if you happen to be a middle class, heteronormative, mtf TS trying to figure out wtf is wrong with you, like I was, you may find it feels like it written just for you .