Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask)

I think this is a great introduction for people that don't know a lot about transgender issues and don't know any transgender individuals, but I also think it might be a bit too long for the people whose knowledge it would really benefit. I felt that there was way too much repetition - not just repeating themes and ideas (which I understand was a way to hammer points home, but could have been toned down a bit to keep things from getting boring), but also in terms of anecdotes, like the story of Chloë Sevigny's reaction to having to wear a prosthetic penis, which was repeated twice. I also felt like the author could have done a slightly better job recognizing her own privileges.

I think this compiles a lot of basic (and further) knowledge that cisgender people might want to know about transgender people. The facts and sources it cites are very US-centric, but the information it gives is helpful and it's nice to have it all conveniently compiled in one book, which I think might lead to more people educating themselves by reading the book instead of having to search for details themselves.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trans (But Were Afraid to Ask) by Brynn Tannehill is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in mid-November.

Tannehill realizes that most of the articles of their publishing career addressed what the trans community had to offer and educate others about themselves, so this book would serve as an impassioned, near-all-encompassing resource guide that puts truth to theory and myth (i.e. expression versus biology; that being trans is a matter of certainty, not a ‘phase’ or something someone ‘tries on,’; input from transgender women dating online and offline; the choice to or to not pursue gender reassignment surgery; allowing children to transition gender socially and safely; genetics and body chemistry not necessarily predetermining gender and/or sexuality; GLBT civil rights and due process; political activism and finding interdisciplinary allies; discrimination from religious groups; portrayal in the media; maintaining visibility, educating others, and dispelling stigmas in the future).

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Trans (But Were Afraid To Ask), written and compiled by transgender advocate Brynn Tannehill, is an impressive and thoroughly informative read which lived up to its title and then some. I enjoyed that it was comprehensive but it may be off-putting to those looking for a lighter and less heavy approach. Unfortunately, the author does raise relevant points repeatedly which did become quite tiresome, and it felt more than just Ms Tannehill hammering points home and strayed into annoying territory.

This a fantastic introduction to transgender issues and the hardships those who transition face, and the fact that it compiles everything you need to know in one convenient work makes it easy to learn both basic and in-depth information about trans people. It's quite hefty at over 400 pages long, but it gives plenty of scope for the author to set the record straight on certain dangerous pieces of media misinformation. Exploration of taboo topics are dealt with respectfully, sensitively and with lots of emotional information present. This is a book that the majority of people would gain a new understanding of prevalent issues in today society. It is certainly the best and most thorough relating to the transgender lifestyle that I have had the pleasure to read.

Many thanks to Jessica Kingsley for an ARC.

This book is a great way to spark conversation about being trans for those that do not know much about it or know anyone that is transgender.  I found this to be an informative read.

Overly US-orientated, and it came across as more than a little 'I *will* get my point across'...

This is the first JK publication that I've not been utterly fascinated by, because from the start, it read as if the author had a (or perhaps more) massive chip on her shoulder. Yes, perhaps she's entitled, being a trans author and activist who has likely done it, seen it all and is living it, but to me as an outsider and an ally, she felt too righteous and too angry/aggressive, to much of the 'I am an authority and this is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'. This is a trait that I've seen in another publication regarding gender and transgender people, that comes out in May of next year, and with ARCs being made available so far in advance, it's making me wonder if the publishers themselves might be concerned about the delivery of their authors, and readers' reception. As with the other, this book has made me a little less sympathetic, I'm afraid, and perhaps even a little wary now. I believe that the author had the best intentions, but her delivery is alienating, frankly. There's far too much self-righteousness and aggression for this Brit, and, actually, it made me feel as if she perhaps had her own anger/hate/issues.

Aside of that, the book is detailed and perhaps overly so for someone like myself who wanted more of a general insight into what it means to be transgender, so that I can understand and be respectful of others. Less would definitely be more, here. It came across as a book for US transgender/genderqueer and possibly LGB people, to open their eyes to how much their country discriminates against them - I kind of thought that most would already know that.

And, the book is clearly aimed at solely an American audience, and quotes a lot of US stats, laws, states, hate; I skipped an entire chapter about how different states have different rights, attitudes and laws. But not everywhere, not every country is as uncivilised as the US is under its current administration in relation to respect, to human rights, to what feels like outright racism, hatred, bias, intolerance and bigotry, and I ended this book feeling thankful that I'm a Brit, in a country that celebrates our differences, on the whole, though yes, Stonewall has been reminding me for the last few months that transphobia, hate and attacks are on the rise.

This had the potential to educate, to unite, to mobilise, but for me, the delivery was wrong. Or, maybe I was the wrong audience.

ARC courtesy of Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

Being apart of the trans* community, I thought this book did an excellent job with how they handle Ed information. The book is a great reasource for those who don’t understand or don’t know much about being transgender. This is a great start for those who are questioning or are just starting their transition. 

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This book is omprehensive & thoroughly informative. with clear, scientifically based information that is thoroughly footnoted and referenced.

FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG (https://bookishr.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-tras-review/)

I absolutely loved this book. It may, in fact, be one of my favorite nonfiction books. Sometimes, reading a book deeply based on data and statistics regarding an issue you're not too familiar with can be very hard. Your mind wanders and you get bored. Well, I'm happy to say that Brynn Tannehill completely took me by surprise. Her writing style is so well crafted that it hooked me from page one.

I also really appreciated just how much research went into writing this book. I know it must not have been easy, but it was totally worth it. The author did a marvelous job exposing all the myths and misconceptions surrounding the genderqueer and, in particular, the transgender communities.

Brynn Tannehill's writing style is very accessible. Even if you are new to this issue, I am sure you will understand everything. She explains everything so well and gives so much data! I think her approach was also fantastic. I really liked how a lot of the chapters started with a common misconception/myth and then she dissected it and explained (using data and relevant statistics, while sourcing them) why they were wrong.

Another aspect I particularly enjoyed was how the author also included things said by other transgender people. I feel like this built on the whole academic and research side of the book and gave it an easier way to empathize with the community to people who still were on the fence about it. I know that this point I'm bringing up was called out by the author in one of the chapters, however, I still think it has a lot of rhetorical value.

This book approaches a variety of issues concerning the transgender community. Every chapter is dedicated to an issue, and these range from the politics surrounding transgender people and their rights, transgender military personnel, representation of transgender men and women in the media, and much more. It's a wide view and analysis on what it means to be trans from a variety of points of view.

I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading from the perspective of a transgender person. While it is not a collection of personal essays, the sheer amount of data and arguments brought up help close the gap that often appears when you only read memoirs (guilty as charged). This highly researched and brilliant book is one of the best I have ever read.