Letters For My Brothers [Kindle Edition]

Malcolm Himschoot (Author), Cristopher Bautista (Author), Jamison Green (Author), Raven Kaldera (Author), Lou Sullivan (Author), Elliott Anthony Brooker (Author), Reid Vanderburgh (Author), Zander Keig (Editor), Megan Rohrer (Editor)

Book Description

In today's fast paced world, the internet can provide quick answers to personal questions. But when an individual raised by society to live, breathe and look at the world with female eyes transitions to male, some of the most enlightening, helpful and profound advice can only come in retrospect. Letter to my Brothers, features essays from respected transmen mentors who share the wisdom they wish they would have known at the beginning of their journey into manhood. 20% of the proceeds are donated to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Product Details

• File Size: 702 KB
• Print Length: 133 pages
• Publisher: Wilgefortis (January 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00466H99O
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,725 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book February 8, 2013

By florence2012

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I couldn't wait to finish reading this books so that I could read it again. Beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking, but always empowering.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledge from the Gender Gifted October 8, 2012

By Nickolas Jakob McDaniel

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

We as a society are beginning to realize the gender binary system of "male/man/masculine" and "female/woman/feminine" is inadequate and limiting in terms of describing the universal universe of potential in terms of gender identity and its expression. The vast majority of literature currently available are memoirs or education for healthcare professionals and focuses mainly on the male to female experience. For female-bodied, masculine identified individuals negotiating their gender journey, this erasure of visibility can be difficult and feel isolating.

The editors of this book realized this. They sent out a call to masculine-identified people who had undergone transition and asked them to address the question from their own personal experience, "What do I wish I would've known?" The goal was to provide support, advice and hope [specifically for new transitioners] to learn from the experiences (positive and negative) of gentlemen who had gone before. The response was overwhelming. The result is the anthology "Letters to My Brothers."

The pieces within are by transmen or those that love them. They range from deeply touching to informative and even amusing. The editors did an excellent job in including a wide variety of voices to give a hint of the range of diversity found amongst masculine-identified, gender variant people. In particular, a common theme through many of the stories explores identity formation and also the unique intersection of identity that results in the individual. It can be difficult to read the stories of these amazing, gender gifted individuals and the bravery required to being true to who they are in a society that can make that difficult or even life-threatening.... Contributors range from world-famous advocates to the nice, quiet gentleman mowing the lawn next door. Each open their heart to share their experiences in the hopes that someday bravery will not be required to be true to who you are.

This book is an incredible resource for individuals who are gender-questioning or in the process of undergoing transition, in particular those whom are masculine identified. In addition, this anthology can be a great source of information for helping medical and mental health professionals, researchers, educators or anyone interested in the topic of gender variance. These stories can also be of great information and support to SOFFAs (Significant Others, Friends, Family, and Allies of transpeople). Best of all, 20% of all revenue generated by book sales go to benefit NTCE or the National Center for Transgender Equality in an effort to make this world a safer place for everyone. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for anyone considering or have gone through transition August 21, 2011

By Estella A Tando

Format:Kindle Edition

I have read many books on transition and this one is my favorite. The book is compromised of several guys' perspective on transition (FTM), what their experience was like, reactions from others, etc. One thing I love about the book is that you can read it cover to cover or you can jump around. Some letters are a few pages and some are longer. If you are someone that has a hard time finishing a book, this one will definitely keep your attention because each perspective is so different. As someone in the early stages of transition, this book gave me the most amount of information in a short period of time and put many of my thoughts and feelings into words. After reading this book, I realize I am not alone. I would highly recommend this to any FTM no matter where they are in transition or to any of their family, friends, therapists, supporters, etc.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It Gets Better for the transgender community July 4, 2011

By Sally Bend

Format:Kindle Edition

These are stories about curiosity, discovery, and realization. They're also stories about exposure, revelation, and condemnation. Each of these authors has truly "been there, done that" and their words of advice and encouragement to the next generation are all the more welcome for it. Some entries are reminiscences on the past, while others are letters written to their past selves. Some are more self-aware than others, but they all demonstrate a tenderness and understanding (and, in many cases, clear frustration) with the young women who once wore their shoes.

There is a strong spiritual presence to the collection - three of the contributors hold a professional role within their respective religions - that initially made me uncomfortable, expecting the worst in where they were heading, but I'm pleased to say their entries were some of my favourites. In fact, if I could have the chance to sit and talk with any of the contributors here, it would be Raven Kaldera, an FTM shaman who lives quite happily with his MTF wife and his FTM partner. His story, and his approach, really spoke to me, and made me pause a number of times to ponder the questions being asked.

It's entirely fitting that the collection ends with a piece entitled Enjoy the Journey by Matt Kailey, because the book itself is a journey, and clearly it's the shared experience that matters. We all have regrets, things we wish we could have done differently, and things we wish we could change about our past selves, but Matt reminds us that those things are part of who we are today, and should be honoured, not discarded. Without them, we wouldn't be who we are today, and for many of these contributors, where they are is precisely where they need to be.

5.0 out of 5 stars enlightening May 4, 2013

By ethan_acitivist

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a transguy who has been transitioning for about 7 years I am delighted to know that there is still much to know from other peoples experiences. I also found it uplifting knowing I have some similar experiences so I don't feel so alone.

More About the Author

Cameron Whitley is a 4th generation Colorado native and transgender man. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently working on a Ph.D. at Michigan State University with the goal of returning to Colorado in the near future. Cameron has served as a board member for several non-profit organizations, presented at national conferences and engaged in consulting work all related to transgender equality and inclusion. In the past few years, Cameron's writing has been featured in a number of books including Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation, Letters to My Brothers, Trans/Love: Radical Sex, Love & Relationships Beyond the Binary and Visible: A Femmethology.