Buy used:

$5.99

FREE delivery June 20 - 26. Details

Or fastest delivery June 13 - 17. Details

May arrive after Father's Day. Need a gift sooner? Send an Amazon Gift Card instantly by email or text message.

Select delivery location

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by ThriftBooks-Chicago

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other sellers on Amazon

New & Used (28) from $5.99 & FREE Shipping

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Deirdre N. McCloskey

Follow

Crossing: A Memoir Paperback – September 1, 2000

by Deirdre Nansen N. McCloskey (Author)

4.4 111 ratings

See all formats and editions

Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. Try again.

We have read the stories of those who have "crossed" lines of race and class and culture. But few have written of crossing—completely and entirely—the gender line. Crossing is the story of Deirdre McCloskey (formerly Donald), once a golden boy of conservative economics and a child of 1950s and 1960s privilege, and her dramatic and poignant journey to becoming a woman. McCloskey's account of her painstaking efforts to learn to "be a woman" unearth fundamental questions about gender and identity, and hatreds and anxieties, revealing surprising answers.

Print length

282 pages
Language

English
Publisher

University of Chicago Press
Publication date

September 1, 2000
Dimensions

6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches
ISBN-10

0226556697
ISBN-13

978-0226556697
See all details

Coleman Hughes
425
Hardcover
65 offers from $17.38
Jennifer Burns
77
Hardcover
66 offers from $7.61
Sandra Cisneros
11,839
Paperback
500 offers from $1.24
Deirdre Nansen McCloskey
82
Hardcover
41 offers from $4.64
Deirdre Nansen McCloskey
11
Paperback
20 offers from $14.92
Elliot Page
2,762
Hardcover
130 offers from $2.84

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

A renowned economist and historian, a husband and father, Donald McCloskey (now Deirdre) had crossdressed for years without wanting more. But at age fifty-two a sense that he was denying his real identity grew to the point where he knew he had to become a woman. Crossing is the poignant story of this realization and its consequences.

About the Author

Deirdre Nansen McCloskey is distinguished professor emerita of economics and of history, and professor emerita of English and of communication, at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Chicago Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0226556697
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0226556697
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,140,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9,304 in General Gender Studies
- #19,767 in Medical General Psychology
- #113,373 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 111 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Deirdre N. McCloskey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

111 global ratings

Zero tolerance for fake reviews

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

August Baker

emotional

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

Reading this I had a lump in my throat and was on the cusp of tears many times. I also read it in two sittings. I have no connection to trans issues. It is just a very human book and how we lead and create our lives. McCloskey is primarily an economist and historian. Yet her experience in the 1990s, when she was in his 50s, as described in this book, makes her an major figure, I think, in the trans rights movement. She was not in sports and not in entertainment (like Renee Richards or Caitlin Jenner) but rather a professor and scholar. This book had a big impact on why more and more people now are willing to cross genders compared to earlier. In 1999, McCloskey was estimating 0.03% of the population wanted to cross. In her afterward in 2009, it's an order of magnitude higher: 0.3%. Now, in NY among teens, it's 3%. It is still incredibly difficult and associated with suicidality and self-harm, but because of this book, it is now much more of a possibility than it was in the mid 90s. It is difficult to overestimate how different the world was in the mid-90s for transgender people than it is today. This book and McCloskey's role modeling is a big reason why.

Helpful

K. Hughes

honest and human portrayal

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2023

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book, read it in a day, which isn’t usual. I’m a straight woman in her fifties, and am intrigued by memoirs of people who’ve had to struggle in some way to become whole.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Ron Baker

An Education

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 1999

Verified Purchase

"Crossing: A Memoir" is an excellent education for anyone who wants to learn more about the complexities involved in changing (and, ultimately, accepting) your own identity. As a male reader, I will admit that I could not relate to the feelings expressed by Donald (the man), but the book is so well written that you begin to understand those feelings.
The book will certainly resonate with those individuals who cherish liberty and freedom above all else. The hurdles, obstructions, etc., that Deirdre had to endure to make her crossing should raise the ire of freedom loving individuals in this country. The medical establishment's Benjamin Standards, coupled with the power they have to incarcerate people in mental institutions--supposedly for their own good--is truly horrific in this day and age.
Deirdre has written an impassioned, personal account of her journey, with many profound insights into the male and female psyche. I would recommend this book to anyone with the courage to become educated on this misunderstood topic.

16 people found this helpful

Helpful

dpmtoo

More than you think

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021

Verified Purchase

While it’s a story of gender transition, covers a great deal more. Politics, classes of people, the wealth division,the stupidly of leaders, and personal freedom. If you like pondering things this book will keep you engaged for years to come.

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2021

Verified Purchase

I learned a lot about what it means to be transgender. Deirdre has many interesting stories to tell. The book rambles a little bit but that didn’t bother me. I just kept reading!

Helpful

Kindle Customer

Fascinating story of change

Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

As a woman, I was stunned at the degree of Deirdre's commitment -- time, money, painful electrolysis -- set against the loss of children and a monster sister who put her on a psych ward, twice! It's good to see her pleasure in female friendship, even on small stuff, but so much interest in hair and make-up?? Not so much.
A path-breaking economist, before and after the change. Looking backwards, maybe the interest in rhetoric [my first acquaintance] and virtue might have given a hint of a female mind??

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2021

Verified Purchase

Well written and entertaining but most importantly full of insights into men and women and their differences. Worth a read.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

D

A life reborn

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2012

Verified Purchase

A truely fantastic read! Being and iowan and a crossdresser, Deirdre's story is one of triumph of fantastic odds to become the woman she was meant to be. I'm only sorry that whioe we were traveling in the same circles, we never met in person. We, the crossdressers and trans people of Iowa owe her so much! dianefromcarroll@yahoo.com

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

DIANA MANDELERT

A transgender memoir

Reviewed in Brazil on October 31, 2020

Verified Purchase

Espero vivamente que esse livro seja traduzido para o português. Um relato fascinante de uma transformação que não é fácil. O que é ser mulher? Como se transformar em uma sem ter sido socializada nesse sentido? Coragem, determinação não faltaram na nossa heroína.

Translate review to English

Alberto Díaz Justo

A personal story of one of the greatest economists

Reviewed in Spain on November 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

I came to know about McCloskey when in university we were told in class that the economic historian we were following was a crossgender person. That fact captivated me and started searching more. Actually her work on Economics is brilliant and this book is just a very personal thing you'd like either you're into Economics or not.

Mrs Susanna Saunders

If you are interested in transsexual transition - read on!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 18, 2002

Verified Purchase

Deirdre tells her story from a very frank and honest perspective without glossing over issues which some might find potentially difficult to accept as part of a transsexuals self-growth and developing self awareness. It shows by example that there is no such thing as a 'typical' transsexual! I personally found the book extremely useful, entertaining and enlightening. I would sincerely recommend it to any person who is interested in learning more. For transgendered persons and transsexuals in particular, I would strongly suggest reading it!

11 people found this helpful

John C

Remarkable journey

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

A very revealing account by an old friend who I knew first when she was a man, and I learned a great deal. Analytical observations of female/male public behaviours especially astute

michael wale

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2015

Verified Purchase

Moving and rewarding real life story

One person found this helpful

See more reviews

Follow the author

Crossing: A Memoir Paperback – September 1, 2000

Customers who bought this item also bought

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Deirdre N. McCloskey

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries