Rating: 
Summary: Must read for anyone who wants to know about transsexuals.
Review: "True Selves" is the first book to provide the reader with some sense of what it is to be transsexual. The book is written by Mildred Brown and Chloe Rounsley. Mrs. Brown is a therapist who has worked closely with transsexuals for many years. Her compassion and understanding of the problems and suffering of this small group of individuals fills a gap that has existed for many years. Mrs. Browm starts at the beginning and explains this little known condition for the reader. She starts by defining terms that are often times misused by a "ratings hungry" media. She explains the medical, socialogical and psychological foundations. She also povides some insights into the suffering and pain that transsexuals are faced with each and every day. Mrs. Brown accomplishes this all in a down to earth style that both the lay person and professional will appreciate. THe book provides resources for transsexuals and professional alike. As a transsexual myself I found the book to be quite heartwarming as I discovered it was about me! Previous titles about transsexualism such as "The Uninvited Dilema" by M.A. Stewart had been the text that many professionals referred their clients to. With the release of this book I believe that they will soon use this as a means of opening the eyes of the friends and familes of their transsexual clients.
Rating:
Summary: "True Selves" -My Life Reflected in a Speedy, Passing Mirror
Review: The most reflective and comprehensive point-to-point
anthology of the lives and cores of Female-to-Male and Male-to-Female Transsexuals. Not only a primer for all those significant others in our/their lives, but a mirror of most transsexual's inner thoughts, feelings, pain and glee of personal discovery and process-to-solution, of this most mis-understood of human conditions.
I had thought about writing my life's story, as a recognized creative-professional, but hesitated as to how these underlying issues might be addressed. That effort is no longer necessary...I may now consider packaging my narrative-journey with "True Selves" as a companion volume; it is that complementary.
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I'm not a heavy reader ..however I missed two meals to finish "True Selves"..A-True-Can't-Put-Down achievement.
Mattiene'Moustakas
M.A., Ed.M.
Industrial Designer & Inventor
Rating:
Summary: What great information
Review: Being a transgendered person myself , I thought this is an excellant book , be it for yourself ,loved one or a friend. It gives great detail on what we go thru in our daily lives , as well as what to expect in the future. It also bring's up the common misconception's of the Transsexual. In all I would highly recommend this book to anyone . A small price to pay for such good information
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book for families and friends of transsexuals
Review: By telling the stories of transsexuals whom she has counselled, Millie Brown presents a compelling portrait of these often misunderstood and maligned people. Dr. Brown shows a warmth and understanding of transsexuals that is rarely seen in any published material on this intriguing and often disturbing topic.
Unlike so many other books that concentrate on male to female, or on female to male transsexuals, to the exclusion the other, this book presents a balance between these so related, yet disparate groups of people.
The last chapter, "In Their Own Words" presents writings of many transsexuals who posess a literary bent. Unfortunately, there is an overwhelming amount of poetry with little in the way of prose in this section, and at least one submission was heavily edited, and lost much of its meaning as a result.
If you are related to, a co-worker or supervisor of, or know any transsexuals, this book is a "must" if you want to know their "true selves."
Michelle Steiner (steiner@best.com)
Rating: 
Summary: True Selves
Review: This book is more transphobic in my view than Janice Raymonds Transsexual Empire. The authors claim to be counselors who decide if transsexuals should be allowed to have sex reassignment surgery. They claim to be friends and advocates of transsexuals. With friends like these who needs enemies? They patronise transsexual people. It is obvious that they consider us to be mentally ill people in need of a cure. Avoid this book.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking and Insightful
Review: This was one of the best pieces of literature that I have read on transsexualism. It provides really insightful advice on how to tell friends, co-workers and loved ones. Indispensible and a must read for all T-girls like me!
Rating:
Summary: This really made a difference
Review: This book absolutely HAS to have saved many lives already.
Transexuality is REAL. People REALLY live it. And they live it NOT BY CHOICE.And they live through lives cloaked in sadness, guilt, fear, lies, cheating, ridicle, rejection, misinterpretation, horror, violence and finally death - mainly due suicide.
This is know. I have experienced most of this including very close to the final one.
This book may have yet saved my own life. (It's too early to tell but it has certainly been a positive source of light during the blackest time in my life)
It's a fantastically positive book and will give solid support to any transsexual person - both directly in their own recognition of the material within and in passing it on to family, friends, lovers - anyone they might find the need to come out to prior to or during transition. There is only one tiny element in this book that is not quite right - it understates the existence of a class of transsexuals who's sexuality also happens to cross the other way. The writers appear (like many others) to assume that transsexuals, who might appear to the uninformed to be homosexuals prior to transition are actually always heterosexual after transition (and yearn to be prior).
One of the gay world's secrets is now out. There are also transsexuals who are (or give the appearance of being) totally str8 prior to transition and who are therefore quite, quite gay AFTER transition.
For these people, life is even more complicated, full of irony and paradox.
Sadly this book does not adequately account for these individuals very well. Otherwise I rate it ten stars out of five.
Rating:
Summary: As a partner of a transsexual person . . .
Review: This is by far the best written book about transsexualism that I have ever read. I find it amazing that the authors can have such an accurate perception on what it's like to be a transsexual. I have recently told my parents that I'm a transsexual and gave them a copy of True Selves. It has helped them tremendously to understand what I'm going through. They are now very supportive and accepting of my transition. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to understand transsexualism. Through understanding, there is acceptance.
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Summary: Sensitive, Articulate Treatment
Review: I was able to finally come out to several of my family members, which was definitely hard (even though I was pretty sure they would accept me). What I wasn't prepared for was my inability to adequately articulate many aspects of what I have been living through all my life, and I could only partially satisfy my family's willingness to understand. I found this book and discovered that it pretty much said it all. It explained most aspects of my past experience, to the point where it was almost spooky. Also, it was important to me that it wasn't highly clinical or dehumanizing but portrayed people like me as humans worthy of love, happiness, and esteem. My only regret is that I didn't have this book ten or twenty years ago when I had no idea what was "wrong" with me.
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