A random collection of over 1994 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.
Full title: "Being Ellen: A Second Chance at Life" by Ellen Krug.
How often does anyone get a second chance at life? For most people, life is a continuous journey with only one opportunity to become the person they are meant to be. Ellen Krug, known to friends and readers as Ellie, experienced that rare and extraordinary gift. After living fifty-two years presenting as a man who often prioritized career and societal expectations over personal authenticity, she embraced her true self and transitioned into the woman she had always known herself to be. Being Ellen: A Second Chance at Life is a deeply intimate and inspiring account of that transformation, detailing the challenges, triumphs, and profound lessons Ellie encountered along the way.
In Being Ellen, Ellie reflects on her journey with honesty, humor, and courage. She chronicles the moments of uncertainty and fear, as well as the joy of finally inhabiting her authentic self. Transitioning later in life brought unique challenges, from learning the subtleties of womanhood to navigating relationships that had been formed under her former identity. Ellie emphasizes the importance of chosen family, particularly her enduring friendship with Thap, a bond formed in eighth grade that remained a source of unwavering support throughout her life. Through these relationships, she discovered that love and allyship often appear in unexpected forms and that the people who truly matter will walk with you even when everything else changes.
2025,
Ellen Krug,
English,
Interview,
USA,
Full title: "Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change" by Ellen Krug.
“Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change” by Ellen Krug is a deeply moving account of what it means to live authentically, even when doing so demands extraordinary courage and immense personal sacrifice. The memoir chronicles the gender journey of Ellen Krug, a woman born into a male body, and invites readers to reflect on the profound question of what it truly costs to live as one’s genuine self.
Before her transition, Ellen was Ed Krug, a man whose life seemed flawless from the outside. He had a loving partner, Lydia, two daughters, a beautiful home in an ideal neighborhood, and a highly successful career as a trial lawyer. To the world, Ed had achieved what many might consider the pinnacle of a well-lived life, a “Grand Plan” illustrated perfectly in pastel hues, yet beneath this veneer, Ed struggled with deep-seated fears and the lingering pain of a childhood marked by alcoholism and the trauma of a parent’s suicide. Ellen’s story illuminates how these internal conflicts, compounded by societal expectations, shaped the journey toward embracing her true identity.
2013,
Ellen Krug,
English,
USA,
