This is a selection of non-fiction books by or about transgender people, themes and issues. Some of these books provide a historical perspective, written by people who lived in a different era. More non-fiction transgender books can be found here. More fiction transgender books can be found here.
In this joint memoir, Mary Collins and Donald Collins, mother and son respectively, recount the pain and resolution over his decision to transition from female to male.
A very honest memoir of the author's long struggle in reconciling who he was and needed to become. Carl provides heartfelt details about the psychological, physical and socail adjustments he experienced.
In the 1950s Christine Jorgensen was the first person to become publicly known for having sex reassignment surgery, and it was sensational news.
An ordinary American family adopts identical twin boys, but there were obvious differences during the twins early childhood. A set of circumstances that might have driven this family apart, instead brought them closer together because of love, understanding and compassion.
Never feeling right in his own skin, Dhillon Khosla recounts his twenty-year struggle to find validation. Born with a female body, he always knew he was a man.
Christine Jorgensen's personal story of her transition, and the sensation it caused back in the 1950s.
Soldier in the British military during World War II, journalist, historian and prolific travel writer, James Morris knew from early childhood that he was a female. This autobiography details her medical transition in 1964.
Deirdre McCloskey (formerly Donald) candidly discusses the decision to transition in her 50s, including issues with family, medical costs, psychological problems, and notoriety. The former Donald McCloskey was a very well known conservative economist, who wrote numerous books, and all of those books can be found under Deirdre McCloskey.
iO Tillett Wright's early life was tumultuous and uncertain. Raised by a showgirl mother whose erratic behavior was fueled by drug and alcohol problems, his homelife was fractured and school was a terrifying place. Born a girl, but at age six declared he was Ricky--no longer a daughter but a son.
In every way possible, Amanda Lepore is a self-made woman. She was born Armand Lepore, and for as long as she can remember never, ever identified as anything but female. This is her story, told in her own unique way--direct and honest, sometimes raucous, retelling the pain she endured early on and later the triumphs. She is not the first transsexual woman, but in modern times she has become one of the internationally best known.
An autobiography from the 1970s, about a midwestern girl from a traditional Italian family, who never identified as a female. His story provides historical perspective.
Comforting, supportive, real-life stories from people who have lived and thrived, despite struggles, with gender and sexual identity.
Born to a tough working class family, Frank Maloney was a prominent boxing promoter, and years later made the decision to become Kellie Maloney. A forthright autobiography about inner confusion and suffering which was finally resolved.
A clear and accessible guide for all readers wishing to understand gender diversity and how to be an ally to the trans community.
The collection contains more than 40 inspiring speeches from the LGBTQ+ community.
Janna Barkin discusses what it is like to be the mother of a transgender child and the importance of having a family circle of support, as her daughter transitioned from female to male. The books includes lists of resource groups.
Having lived for 42 years as a straight woman, Matt Kiley knew that he was not living his authentic life. This is part memoir, but also an advisory book for those who are considering transitioning.
Amanda Jetté Knox describes her family's experience when her child and spouse come out as transgender. When she found no positive examples for her family, Jetté Knox decided her own family would be it.
Caroline "Tula" Cossey is a successful English model and an internationally known trans woman. In the 1980s she petitioned the European Court of Human Rights to be recognized as a woman in order to be legally be married in Britain.
40-year-old, Dr. Richard Raskin, well-known eye-surgeon, and expert amateur tennis player, was very public about his sex reassignment in 1975. As Renée Richards she endured criticism and was hounded by the press and paparrazi. All of the notoriety took its toll and Richards is candid about it.
What happens to a 64-year-old man, who had led a rather average life as a schoolboy, soldier, husband and father, and decides to ask himself, "Who am I?". He makes the transition from male to female while living in a small Scottish village with his second wife and her children. What are the repercussions, what does his new wife do, and what are the reactions from the villagers?
World-renowned photo documentarian Mark Seliger set out to capture the life and theatre of Christopher Street, which he calls, " ... an Ellis Island for freedom of expression and gender identity." Full-page portraits are in black and white, with one light source, which were taken over three summers.
Englishman Gordon Langley Hall was a famous biographer, who was adopted in his early twenties by English actress Margaret Rutherford and her husband, actor Stringer Davis. "After sex reassignment surgery in 1968, Simmons wed in the first legal interracial marriage in South Carolina."
Featured are the works of 30 artists who have remixed fiber crafts, such as crochet, embroidery, quilting, sewing, weaving. Using their artwork, they seek to examine queerness in various forms. The book is lavishly illustrated with color photographs.
Diane and Suzy were in a 15-year lesbian relationship, when one of them transitioned to male. A special story about two people who were and are still very much in love.
"Queerly Centered explores writing center administration and queer identity, showcasing nuanced orientations to LGBTQA labor undertaken but not previously acknowledged or documented in the field's research."
Samantha Allen took a cross-country road trip, from Provo Utah to the Bible Belt to the Deep South, allowing her motto, "Something gay every day," to be her guide.
Janet Mock's story was first told in 2011, in Marie Claire magazine, and later in book format was a bestseller. She is steadfast in her honesty about growing up poor, multiracial and trans.
One of the most highly publicized sex reassignments in recent times. The former Bruce Jenner, retired Olympic gold medal decathlete, and reality TV star, speaks candidly about his years of struggle with gender identity, and the decision to transition and undergo sex reassignment treatments.
A collection of memoirs by sixteen transgender pioneers which provides perspective on social, medical and psychological issues.
This book tackles the nuances of gender identity using a choose-your-own-adventure style format. Readers can choose different gender paths in this exploration and celebration of gender diversity.
Jennifer Finney Boylan brings all of her abilities as a talented novelist and professor to create a perceptive, reflective, funny memoir of how she transitioned from James to Jennifer. Despite extensive research prior to beginning her transition, she is surprised by the emotional and psychological changes which take place. She also credits the support of her best friend and novelist, Richard Russo.
Labeled a "sissy" as a young person, Jacob Tobia decided there is nothing wrong with acting feminine and learned to embrace IT. In this funny, smart memoir, Tobia reflects on their trauma and healing, self-discovery, and life as a gender nonconforming writer, performer, and activist.
YouTuber Jackson Bird describes his transgender experience in a memoir that is lighthearted, uplifting, and educational.
Jennifer Finney Boylan writes clearly and compassionately about transitioning from male to female, and from being a father to a mother
Diana Goetsch describes her long and painful journey to fully realize who she was.
Professor Jay Ladin documents his transition from male to female, and how it affected her life as an Orthodox Jewish woman at the Yeshiva University.
An inspiring collection of letters written by a diverse group of transgender women. Written with a transgender women’s audience in mind, all readers wanting to gain understanding of the trans community will find value in this book.
Sarah McBride’s autobiography is a candid story of her own transitioning, and advocacy for LGBTQ rights. There have many firsts for McBride: as student body president at American University she came out as a transgender woman; in 2016 at the Democratic National Convention, she was the first transgender woman to address a major political convention. She is very sincere and candid about her thoughts and feelings as she recalls her early years as a child and later as an adult.
This book explores the experiences of those whose identities fall outside the male-female gender binary. While written primarily for a non-transgender audience to promote understanding, many non-binary and transgender readers will receive affirmation in this book's pages.
Chastity was the only child, little girl, of pop stars, Sonny and Cher. He speaks candidly about gender issues, drug addiction and his transition from female to male--all in the limelight.
Award-winning sociologist Arlene Stein follows four young individuals over a year while they undergo medical transitions. Stein covers areas of medicine, psychology, sociology, and examines the complexities of gender.
Parent and grown child bring a unique perspective to this autobiography. Aaron Raz Link is a scientist who contributes facts about genetics, behavior and visible characteristics to his transition from female to male. His mother Hilda Raz, a poet, provides honesty and emotion to her realization about what her son most needed in life--her understanding and support.
A funny, irreverent, brash and life-affirming autobiography. Before having surgery in 1962, Brevard worked as a drag queen and later as a Playboy bunny. Her story brings historical perspective to transgender concerns.
In this deeply personal memoir, journalist and activist Cyrus Grace Dunham describes their unresolved relationship to gender, and the emotional year preceding their transition from Grace to Cyrus.