A random collection of over 1910 books and audiobooks authored by or about my transgender, intersex sisters, and gender-nonconforming persons all over the world. I read some of them, and I was inspired by some of them. I met some of the authors and heroines, some of them are my best friends, and I had the pleasure and honor of interviewing some of them. If you know of any transgender biography that I have not covered yet, please let me know.
"Eva said she was a woman. Psychiatry said she was a disturbed male instead! Eva wanted her body fixed. The system wanted her mind changed! Transsexuality: A physical disability or a mental illness? Who knows? Who is right?
Follow Eva through a maze of ignorance and absurdity on a journey few people will ever venture on and experience what it means to be treated a transsexual by a society and a medical system whose views of transsexuality are about as far from reality as it gets! Then decide for yourself!"
2013,
English,
Eva C. Moser,
Full title: "Attraversiamo: "Let's Cross Over" - A Story of Gender Transition"
"A personal account of a unique life experience. From football star and homecoming king to living an authentic life as a woman, Gina Duncan takes you on a very personal journey of self-discovery. A journey filled with pain, with humor, with unique situations, and in the end, with the ultimate joy of living a true life."
Gina Leigh Duncan is a successful businesswoman, transgender advocate, and activist, President of Orlando's Gay Chamber of Commerce, a former candidate for Commissioner of Orange County, Florida, a senior manager at Wells Fargo, an American multinational banking and financial services company, and on the Board of Directors of Equality Florida.
2013,
English,
Gina Duncan,
Original title: "Mam na imię Ania" (My name is Ania)
This book is like discovering the world we don't know. And although transgenderism has been present on Earth for as long as human history has been there, and is as natural as the diversity of all nature and each species, it remains unknown to the vast majority of us.
Reading the story of Anna Grodzka - the first Polish MP who does not hide her transgender past - you will face questions that are not usually asked. What does it mean to you to be a woman or a man? What does it mean to "be yourself"? Why do you need "your own self".
What is freedom? Is it worth giving a piece of yourself to other people?
As long as you breathe, you don't think about how much you need air. As long as you are yourself among other people, you do not know that it is not so obvious...
A fascinating autobiographical story.
2013,
Anna Grodzka,
Polish,
Full title: "The Day God Died: The Year was 1966 and the Times Declared God Was Dead"
"My childhood beliefs and church life explored as a young child to my present age. I look back to 1966 and the New York Times declared "God is Dead" and the decades it took me to realize the reality of that headline. This book is my view of church from someone who drank the Kool-Aid."
I interviewed Rachel in 2014, and this is what she told me about this book: "This is the third book of my story about my spiritual past and church. This book was a reach back into my past and this time I was able to face some of those ghosts. I allowed myself to travel back in time as a child of the sixties and narrate my experiences as I grew up in a broken but religious family."
2013,
English,
Rachel Love,
Full title: "Candid Confessions: My Life, My Words and My Journey"
"Abandoned at the age of one, near death, suffering from pneumonia and severe malnutrition... Sexually molested by a trusted member of the family at the age of nine... discarded as a ward of the state at the age of twelve...
Christened William Randel aka Mona Marie survived a childhood only to struggle with abusive relationships with both men and women and to battle that which contributes to a life of crime and prostitution: alcoholism and drug addiction. It was Mona Marie's harrowing journey to find peace of mind and her true identity.
"Candid Confessions: My Life, My Words and My Journey" is the true life account of William Randel's transition---one that has spanned four decades.
Transition, as many have learned, is not easy, nor is it instantaneous. As attested by those who have endured it, the transition is most often filled with pain and suffering - pain and suffering that is clouded with low self-esteem, confusion, and questions that come with few answers."
2013,
English,
Mona Rios,
Full title: "A Lonely Heart: A True Transgender Story" by Susan Janet Barker.
In 2008, the book was introduced as follows: "Hello my name is Susan Janet Barker. I am a male-to-female transsexual. This is a true story of my transgender journey, from my panic-stricken beginnings to the full confidence and happy end. I hope it is informative as well as a good read for all who are interested in the subject of transgender, cross-dressing, and all related topics in between."
"In 2013, the second edition of the book was presented like this: "Hello my name is Alison Laura Goodman; my pen name is Susan Janet Barker. I am a male-to-female transsexual.
This is a true story of my transgender journey, from my panic-stricken beginnings to the full confidence and happy end. I hope it is informative as well as a good read for all who are interested in the subject of transgender, cross-dressing, and all related topics in between."
2008,
2013,
Alison Laura Goodman,
English,
Susan Janet Barker,
UK,
"The author, Tracee McDaniel, is the CEO and Founder of Juxtaposed Center for Transformation, Incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tracee's life and mission provide her with the insight to advocate for all transgender and gender non-conforming people.
"Transitions" is her journey. Tracee moves us intricately through her labyrinth of life challenging experiences. She brings us up close and personal to our opinions and perceptions of the transgender community; she enlightens us to the common inherent in us all."
In 2014, I interviewed Tracee and this is what she told me when asked about her inspirations: "I was inspired by ex-pro basketball player John Amaechi. I also wanted to tell my story in my own words to possibly inspire a young person identifying as transgender or gender non-conforming.
2013,
English,
Tracee McDaniel,
"Angeline Spencer was told by her husband that he was transgender a week before their 40th wedding anniversary.
The book portrays how she coped to save their marriage because many times she was told to leave him by professional Psychologists.
Angeline couldn't tell anybody of her husband's dark secret.
This book was written to help other people who are caught up in similar situations."
2013,
Angeline Spencer,
English,
Full title: "Never Give Up: Standing Tall Through Adversity"
"No MEP in Britain today has attempted to change the debate on Europe as much as Nikki Sinclaire. Never Give Up chronicles Nikki's early years, from her political awakening aged ten, door knocking on her council estate for Margaret Thatcher, to 2011 when her campaign brought the Prime Minister to the dispatch box by public petition.
Not only this, but Nikki has battled one of the biggest personal fights of all. Her experiences have given her an insatiable urge for justice. This is an unparalleled portrait of a true conviction politician with an incredible personal story."
In 2013, Nikki Sinclaire, a then British Member of the European Parliament, revealed in her new autobiography that she underwent gender reassignment surgery at the age of 23. She gave a follow-up interview with The Sun, stating that she first realized she should have been a female at the age of three.
2013,
English,
Nikki Sinclaire,
Full title: "Unchaining My Truth: Taking Flight on the Wings of a Dream"
"In this real life account, the author describes her handling of a discrepancy between her body's birth form and her gender identity. It is the story of her transition from male to female—and much more that resulted. Ms. Regier shares her feelings, thoughts, and experiences that led to her gender change. She shares her exploration of self and her surroundings throughout the process and her experiences following transition and surgery.
Ms. Regier paints a broader picture of herself beyond the nuts and bolts of the transition in order that the reader have a better frame of reference for the effects and implications of this type of change in an individual's life.
Despite some variously difficult situations, Ms. Regier was ultimately driven to follow her truth. She approaches life with a sense of humour and shares her experiences in a series of narratives and commentary, often with a giggle or a smile. Included among the text are several of the author's personal photographs from childhood through post-transition."
2013,
English,
Leslie Regier,
Full title: "To Thine Own Self Be True" by J. E. King
"An autobiographical journey of a young boy growing up in the 1950s with "strange and unusual feelings" trying to live as "society" demanded. After a long military career and raising a family he decided that he could no longer live with himself.
At the turn of the century with information gathered on the Internet he realized that they had a name for his strange feelings and for years he struggled with what he should do about it. When he decided he needed to do something about it, he first had to admit to himself that there was something "wrong" with him and he finally sought professional help, even then it took him two years to finally admit to himself that he was transgender. At the age of 62, she finally found happiness and reached her dream and she couldn't be happier."
2013,
English,
J. E. King,
"William T. Vollmann has travelled to Soviet-occupied Afghanistan with Islamic commandos, shivered out a solitary stretch at the North Magnetic Pole in winter, hopped freight trains, studied the stately ancient beauties of Japanese Noh theater, and made friends with street prostitutes all over the world-all in the interest of learning a little more about life.
Now in his mid-fifties, Vollmann sets out on what may well be impossible for a heterosexual genetic male: to envision himself as a woman. In these photographs, block prints, and watercolor drawings, he portrays his alter ego, Dolores, with whimsicality, and sometimes with cruelty-for Dolores would like to be attractive, or at least to "pass," but the ageing male body in which she remains confined requires lowered expectations.
Meanwhile, the drawings and block prints, composed with the artist's glasses off, show Dolores as she imagines herself to be. The Book of Dolores brings the genre of self-portraits to a new level of vulnerability and bravery. In the process, it offers virtuoso performances of nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first-century photographic techniques, including the seductively difficult gum bichromate method. Each section of the book is accompanied by an essay on motives and techniques."
2013,
English,
William T. Vollmann,
Full title: "Trauma Queen" by Lovemme Corazón.
"Lovemme Corazón's debut book, Trauma Queen, is a memoir documenting the struggles of being a child survivor of rape and abuse. Through the use of multi-genre writing (poems, prose, story-telling, etc), this book is a collection of years of journal/diary entries.
Lovemme is unapologetically facing the taboo truths of what it means to be a survivor and how that trauma shapes their life. Lovemme Corazón is a xingona who aspires to be a community healer and carefree spirit. They are currently working on a Psychology degree at UC Santa Cruz with aspirations to be a therapist specializing in trauma."
2013,
English,
Lovemme Corazón,
Sarah McBride,
"Meeting Robyn is the powerful, true story of a young mother raised in a traditional household, and her struggle to accept her only child’s confusion with his sexual identity.
Compounding the problem, Gloria, his mother, has her own conflicts. Does she live the conventional life of her family tradition or pursue her dreams of an acting career?
Her little boy, Robert, haunted by urges that are decidedly female, feels trapped in his male body.
Forced to conceal his inner torment, Robert endures pain and isolation, as she ultimately becomes Robyn, finding at last, her true identity."
2013,
English,
Gloria Parker,
The book was published in 2013 and republished in 2016.
"As he stood in front of the mirror, he saw a complete stranger staring back at him. "Who am I?" David pondered. This is truly an amazing story about the awakening of Diamond Dee. David Bell, a fifty-three-year-old five-time divorcee, fully tattooed male, spent his life savings to transform himself into a female. Unlike most transformations.
Diamond Dee's surgery wasn't fueled entirely by a desire to become a woman, but a multitude of other reasons. These motives are both shocking and compelling, including a desire to escape a horrible addiction. The tragic truth of her story is chronicled in this must-read book. "
2013,
2016,
Diamond Dee Bell,
English,
In 2014, I had a chance to interview Ianna and this is what she told me about herself and the book: "I was born in Lévis, a small town in Québec, Canada. My parents divorced early and I lived with my brother and my single mom in a difficult economic situation.
From a young age, I’ve always felt perturbed and was always asking myself many questions.
Puberty is when I started to feel a need to express my femininity. I isolated myself to live out that reality because I was scared.
At the beginning of adulthood, I moved to Montréal to study visual arts.
After many many years of denial and hesitation, I started, four years ago, to move forward with the process of my transition and gender adjustment (mtf). It was very difficult at first but necessary. In 2013, I published Trans Avenue, a collection of photographs tracing a part of this period of change."
The book was published both in English and French.
2013,
Canada,
English,
French,
Ianna Book,
Full title: "Changing with Grace: Angels, Monks, and Hormones"
"“Angels, Monks, and Hormones” tells the story of a young man considering taking vows and living the rest of his life tending sheep in a monastery because he thinks that, if he never sees another woman, it will cure him of his gender identity problem. During the common meal with the monks, a brother reads Jesus’ words about how everyone will be genderless in heaven, like the angels. “I think I’ll like it here,” says Kent. “I’ve always wanted to be an angel.”
When he learns that monastic life won’t make him whole, however, he must learn to live in the world, first as a man, later as a woman after undergoing hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery.
Before she transitions from male to female, Kent’s father tells her that she would have a tough row to hoe. Why? Because he saw a drag queen once on Jerry Springer, and the audience hooted and howled in laughter.
But here’s the thing. Everyone sees the flamboyant drag queens because they stand out. They work hard to stand out. They’re entertainers.
2013,
Christy Marie Kent,
English,
Full title: "The Finest Cut: One Person's Experience with Transsexual Surgery"
"Transsexual autobiographies often focus on the individual's life struggle to integrate mind and body to achieve wholeness, but tend to gloss over the actual surgical experience, relegating information about a very important physical, psychological, and spiritual period in one's life to a few vague pages or paragraphs.
THE FINEST CUT helps to fill that void of information with a detailed account of the experiences of one male-to-female (MTF) transsexual as she goes through the surgical process. Beginning a few weeks before surgery and continuing through the recuperation period afterwards, she relates the preparations, experiences, thoughts, feelings, and physical, psychological and spiritual changes that she found occurring in herself and observed in others.
2013,
English,
Jean Churchill,
"My name is Nicki and this is my story of growing up as a young transsexual in England. Starting out as a confused young boy, developing into an extremely promiscuous young girl, and finally turning into a fully mature and highly sexed woman - putting my experiences down on paper has enabled me to purge some of the sexual demons that have consumed my mental and physical being over the past 15 years.
My life so far has been a rollercoaster of emotions and sexual encounters – all purely to sate my immense sexual appetite. Many a time, I have questioned whether my existence was simply to satisfy my deepest and darkest sexual fantasies with members of both sexes or only to be a plaything for others.
Even in the depths of depression, my sexual desires would lead me down this depraved path of self-destruction – physical exhaustion being the only solace for my sexually drained body.
The events described within my book have been put together using excerpts from my diary."
2013,
English,
Nicki Hills,
"Meghan Chavalier was born March 22, 1969 in Hurley, Wisconsin.
Meghan Chavalier is one of the most famous transgender women in the world because of her work in movies, music, books, modeling, magazines, and LGBTQIA+ Activism.
She has said many times that just because she is transgender, it doesn't mean she isn't able to do everything single thing she's ever wanted to do, even when people told her no. She has been a driving force in the transgender community for almost 30 years, and it doesn't appear she will stop anytime soon.
She was raised in Hurley, Wisconsin in a strict Catholic family. She left home after she graduated high school in 1987. She took a Greyhound Bus to San Antonio, Texas where she would live the first six months before moving on to Albuquerque, New Mexico which she has often referred to in interviews as "her real home."
She didn't actually become "Meghan Chavalier" until 1991 when she did her first stage shows in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then performing under the name Meghan Crawford.
2013,
English,
Meghan Chavalier,
