Book Review: “True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism” by Mildred Brown

Reviewer: Damian

It’s self-explanatory. True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism–For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals is a good book for anyone struggling to understand transsexualism – whether you’re finding it difficult to accept a family member, a friend, or just trying to come to terms with your own gender identity, this book is the gentle nudge that can (probably) help. My uncle once told me that knowing someone personally, or becoming friends with a person who identifies as gay (or transsexual) is usually enough to teach someone that it’s nothing to be feared or ashamed of. For those who have yet to cross paths with a trans-identified person, this book can easily become that friend. With a simple and straight-forward approach, clinical sexologist Mildred Brown guides the reader directly into the hearts of those who live with mind/body incongruence. Relying heavily on her extensive experience with transsexual patients and friends, Brown reveals the harsh reality and trauma that accompanied her patients through childhood and adolescence. The stories and poetry written by her transsexual patients exposes raw emotional pain, and this is what makes the book interesting. There’s also a list of resources at the end of the book for transsexuals who need support, which is always much appreciated.

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