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.
Original title: "Rollenangst - Meine Biografie: Alles ist möglich, solange es fast unmöglich ist!" (Role anxiety - My biography: Everything is possible as long as it is almost impossible!) by Sarah Marie Schäfer.
In the book, Sarah Marie Schäfer shares her powerful journey of self-discovery as a transgender and intersex woman. Over 21 years, she struggled with her identity, mental health challenges, and physical health issues, including a muscle nerve disease, epilepsy, and autism. Despite these obstacles, Sarah’s determination and resilience helped her reclaim her true
2025,
German,
Germany,
Sarah Marie Schäfer,
Original title: "Wiebkes Tagebuch XI: Teil XI des Tagebuchs einer trans Frau (Nov. 2023 - Jan. 2024)" (Wiebke's Life XI: Part XI of the diary of a trans woman (Nov. 2023 - Jan. 2024)) by Wiebke ter Lichten.
In the summer of 2018 my girlfriend asked me out of the blue if I’d ever considered being transformed into a woman for an afternoon. She suggested that it might be interesting. I went back and forth quite a bit, and to be honest, the thought may have crossed my mind for a split second, but I dismissed it because I was absolutely certain the result wouldn't be good. Then Christmas 2018 cam
2024,
German,
Wiebke ter Lichten,
Original title: "Charlotte. Salome. Veronika. Transvestiten" (Charlotte. Salome. Veronica. Transvestites) by Susann Hillebrand and Irmgard Johannson.In the book, three transgender women are portrayed in photos and interviews. Charlotte was born in 1900 and was 78 years old when the book was published, Salome was 22 and Veronika was 26. In their questions, the two authors show real interest in the analysis of the transgender phenomenon and transgender community in Germany.
1978,
German,
Irmgard Johannson,
Susann Hillebrand,
Original title: "Wiebkes Tagebuch X: Teil X des Tagebuchs einer trans Frau, der vierte “angekommene” Teil (Aug.-Okt. 2023) (Wiebke werden)" (Wiebke's Life X: Part X of the diary of a trans woman, the fourth “I finally am myself”- part (Aug.-Oct. 2023) (Becoming Wiebke Book 10)) by Wiebke ter Lichten."In the summer of 2018, my girlfriend asked me out of the blue if I’d ever considered being completely transformed into a woman. She suggested that it might be interesting. I pushed around quite a bit, and to be honest, the thought may have crossed my mind for a split second, but I dismissed it be
2023,
German,
Wiebke ter Lichten,
Original title: "Psychopathia sexualismus" by Richard von Krafft-Ebing.Psychopathia Sexualis, written by Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing in 1886, is a pioneering work in the field of sexual pathology. This clinical-forensic study delves into a wide range of paraphilias and specifically focuses on male homosexuality and bisexuality—referred to as the “antipathetic sexual instinct” in the subtitle. Crossdressing in the modern sense appeared with Karl Heinrich Ulrich as early as 1868, and Carl Westphal used the term "contrary sexual feeling" in 1870, although not yet differentiated from s
1886,
German,
Richard von Krafft-Ebing,
Original title: "Wiebkes Tagebuch IX: Teil IX des Tagebuchs einer trans Frau, der dritte “angekommene” Teil (Apr. - Jul. 2023) (Wiebke werden 9)" (Wiebke’s Diary IX: Part IX of the diary of a trans woman, the third “I finally am myself”- part (Apr. - Jul. 2023) (Becoming Wiebke)) by Wiebke ter Lichten."In the summer of 2018 my girlfriend asked me out of the blue if I’d ever considered being completely transformed into a woman. She suggested that it might be interesting. I pushed around quite a bit, and to be honest, the thought may have crossed my mind for a split second, but I dismissed it b
2023,
German,
Wiebke ter Lichten,
Original title: "Frau mit Nebenwirkungen: Transgender ohne Wahlfreiheit" (Woman with side effects: transgender without freedom of choice) by Inès Adler."She was an engineer, she was a dominatrix. She was a man, she was a woman. Macho and girl. All avenues were open to her, but she lacked courage. For over sixty years, my gender boundaries were blurred. Like hostile countries, constantly at war with each other.Even as a child, I wanted to wear girls' clothes and quickly had to learn to hide my true self. The parents: hopelessly overwhelmed. In Germany's economic miracle, you had to achieve som
2024,
German,
Inès Adler,
Original title: "Und dennoch Ja zum Leben: Die Jugend eines Intersexuellen in den Jahren 1915–1933" (And Yet Yes to Life: The Youth of an Intersexual in the Years 1915–1933) by Erich Amborn."This text captivates the reader in an impressive way. The sober and restrained depiction of the consequences of such an otherness alone is hardly conceivable for the "normal person" and touches the reader intensively and lastingly.
This segregation from human society is an existential omen that is difficult to bear and to overcome. In this text, one is confronted with a fate that illuminates the human co
1981,
Erich Amborn,
German,
Intersex,
Original title: "Nichts darf sinnlos enden: Über Charlotte von Mahlsdorf und das Theaterstück »Ich bin meine eigene Frau" (Nothing should end meaninglessly: About Charlotte von Mahlsdorf and the play I am my own wife) by Peter Süß.The book presents the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, whose birth name was Lothar Berfelde, a German transgender woman and museum curator who gained fame for her efforts in preserving and documenting the cultural history of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) during the Cold War era.She was born on March 18, 1928, in Berlin, Germany, and died on April 30, 2002.
2006,
Charlotte von Mahlsdorf,
German,
Peter Süß,
Original title: "You have never seen a dancer like Voo Doo: Das unglaubliche Leben des Willy Pape: Das unglaubliche Leben des Willi Pape" (You have never seen a dancer like Voo Doo: The Incredible Life of Willy Pape: The Incredible Life of Willi Pape) by Jens Dobler."Magnus Hirschfeld wrote in his study The Transvestites (1910/12): "The young transvestite Willi Pape, whose predisposition became known through a suicide attempt in women's clothes. His parents were informed by the author of his peculiar condition, and then allowed him to go to the vaudeville, where he has since performed with gr
2022,
German,
Jens Dobler,
Magnus Hirschfeld,
Voo Doo,
Willi Pape,
Original title: "Das Ende des Dornenwaldes: Die Lebensgeschichte einer Transsexuellen" (The end of the Thorn Forest: The life story of a transsexual) by Eva Maria Thalbach."The life story of a transsexual who is watched suspiciously by her fellow citizens, betrayed by parents and friends, abused and slandered by a clique of men in high society and who despite all this does not let it get her down.An exciting book with thriller traits and a happy ending, not only for those affected by self-suffering, which shows that perseverance, courage and self-confidence can lead to success and a happy lif
2015,
Eva Maria Thalbach,
German,
Original title: "German Girl Bruno: Als Transsexueller unter dem Hakenkreuz" (German Girl Bruno: As a transsexual under the swastika) by Bruno Stephan."Bruno Stephan grows up in a martial world: soldiers, Aryans, masters. But he prefers to wear women's clothes. The powerful German Reich has no place for wimps. To prove to himself that he is not a weakling, he hires as a machinist and stoker on a steamer. He becomes tough and strong and lives out both sides – as a transsexual whore: a bride in every port, a steward in every bar."
2004,
Bruno Stephan,
German,
Original title: "Tragisch, aber geil 2.0" (Tragic but Horny 2.0) by Barbie Breakout.""Tragic, but horny 2.0" is the completely revised and supplemented remake of Barbie's first autobiography from 2012. Full of unvarnished truths, touching observations and roaring comical insights into the life of a unique drag queen.""A glimpse into Bärbel's world. I learned a lot about them. And in fact, one or two things about me. Thank you for the mirror you hold up to me, or to all of us. And thanks for the inspiration." Conchita Wurst "A book like a best friend: sometimes wise, sometimes hilarious,
2020,
Barbie Breakout,
Drag queen,
German,
Original title: "Tja, meine Lieben: Eine Diva plaudert sich um Kopf und Kragen" (Well, my dears: A diva chats her head and neck) by Lilo Wanders.The book is a biography of Lilo Wanders, whose real name is Ernst-Johann Reinhardt. According to Wikipedia, he is a German actor, comedian, and theatre/television host. Born on September 22, 1955, in Celle, Germany, Reinhardt is known for performing almost exclusively in a female role under the stage name Lilo Wanders.
Reinhardt moved to Hamburg at the age of 18 to study library science, which he later dropped. He became a member of a gay choir and
1997,
Crossdressing,
German,
Lilo Wanders,
Original title: "Den Abgrund immer vor Augen: Tagebuch einer Frau, die nicht als Frau zur Welt kam" (The abyss always in sight: Diary of a woman who was not born a woman) by Lena-Angelique Stachat."This book was written over a period of six years. It was never meant to be written. And yet it came about after many encouragements from friends. First and foremost, it should help me to come to terms with my difficult life path. After numerous conversations, the desire arose to tell other people a part of my biography.
I was born a boy, but for some reason I don't understand, I've always felt more
2009,
German,
Lena-Angelique Stachat,
Original title: "Die Geschichte von Lili Elbe: Ein Mensch wechselt sein Geschlecht" (The story of Lili Elbe: A person changes their gender) by Harald Neckelmann.In the 1920s, the Danish painter Einar Wegener and his wife Gerda, another successful artist, led an eventful life between Denmark, France, and Italy. When one day Gerda asks him to pose for her in women's clothes, she sets in motion a development whose end neither of them can imagine. For fun, Einar appears more and more often at social events as a mysterious woman named "Lili".But the game soon turns into a serious inner conflict. E
2019,
German,
Harald Neckelmann,
Lili Elbe,
Original title: "Die enttäuschte Frau: Im falschen Körper gefangen" (The Disappointed Woman: Trapped in the wrong body) by Daniela R."Feelings of guilt as well as feelings of love. It was written by an amateur and it could remain her only one. For it is the autobiographical story of a dramatic life crisis. And crisis here really means in the traditional sense - decision. It is about what is perhaps the most momentous decision a person can make: to be honest with himself, with all the consequences for the environment.The person in question is transsexual. He was born and raised as a man and ye
2010,
Daniela R.,
German,
Original title: "Vom Fresko zum Straps: Ein Leben" (From fresco to suspenders: One life.) by Petra Dorén."I have known Petra Dorén from the stage for about fifteen years and began to work as a journalist about her in 1992. During our interviews for various journal publications, we discovered similarities. The idea for this book was born in 1993 during a visit to the theatre to see Brecht's Threepenny Opera. Helen Vita as buccaneer Jenny broke the ice: Petra told me about her cabaret colleague with whom I had an interview appointment for the next day."You could write a book about my life. I di
1994,
Crossdressing,
German,
Petra Dorén,
Original title: "Mein langer Weg zur Moni B: Eine erzählte Biografie" (My long way to Moni B.: A narrated biography) by William Prides.The authentically told biography allows the reader to look through the eyes of a person desperately trying to find their gender and sexuality. Maybe that's why they throw themselves into life. You throw up your hands over your head when they commit a series of misdeeds and constantly offend society.One feels and suffers with them, because the inner conflict is only too understandable as a driving force. It takes an adventurous life with many exciting twists an
2013,
German,
William Prides,
Original title: "Wen interessiert denn schon mein Elend: Die Welt der Männer, die Frauen sind" (Who cares about my misery?: The world of men who are women) by Andrej Reiser.Mostly black-and-white milieu shots of transsexuals, 40 years old, plus an essay and a longer interview. The book sensitively approaches the protagonists in texts and images: transsexual people who 40 years ago had little choice but prostitution.It includes an essay by Peter Gorsen "Sexuality in Transition. The homo mollis and the destruction of the gender role", as well as approximately 50 photographs, mostly black and wh
1979,
Andrej Reiser,
German,
