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Janet Mock

tenisha mock

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More Hardcover – February 4, 2014

by Janet Mock (Author)

4.6 1,839 ratings

Goodreads Choice Award nominee

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In her profound and courageous New York Times bestseller, Janet Mock establishes herself as a resounding and inspirational voice for the transgender community—and anyone fighting to define themselves on their own terms.

With unflinching honesty and moving prose, Janet Mock relays her experiences of growing up young, multiracial, poor, and trans in America, offering readers accessible language while imparting vital insight about the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of a marginalized and misunderstood population. Though undoubtedly an account of one woman’s quest for self at all costs, Redefining Realness is a powerful vision of possibility and self-realization, pushing us all toward greater acceptance of one another—and of ourselves—showing as never before how to be unapologetic and real.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atria Books
Publication date

February 4, 2014
Dimensions

6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

9781476709123
ISBN-13

978-1476709123
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Far too many assume that Janet Mock's story is primarily about her body. This book is irrefutable evidence that Janet must be understood through her intellect, spirit, and wit. Janet does what only great writers of autobiography accomplish—she tells a story of the self, which turns out to be a reflection of all humanity. You will be changed by this book.” -- Melissa Harris-Perry, Wake Forest University Professor and host of MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry"

“A fiery success.” ― The Atlantic

“Mock’s compelling memoir entrancingly chronicles the story of a multiracial trans woman’s becoming within a society that is still widely antagonistic to the non-White, non-male, transgender, and economically challenged among us. . . . Mock has written herself into herstory. And she has done so with clarity and poetic brilliance.” ― The Feminist Wire

“Courageous! Told with a spirit of raw honesty that moves beyond confession to redemptive revelation, this book is a life map for transformation—for changing minds. A heart-rending autobiography of love, longing, and fulfillment.” -- bell hooks, feminist, social activist, and author of All About Love

“Redefining Realness is a classic American autobiography. Like Richard Wright and Maya Angelou, Janet Mock brings us into a world we may not know and with breathtaking insight, courage, and masterful craft makes her story universal.” -- Barbara Smith, author of the Truth That Never Hurts: Writings on Race, Gender, and Freedom, co-founder of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press

"Janet Mock’s groundbreaking book is testimony to the remarkable progress trans people have achieved over the last decade-- and shines a bright light on the work that still needs to be done. Mock’s clear, lucid prose will open hearts and minds, and further the goals of equality and justice--not just for trans people, but for everyone. Redefining Realness is loving, searing, and true." -- Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of She’s Not There and Stuck in the Middle With You

“Redefining Realness is a riveting, emotional, crisply written testimony. I couldn't put it down. I aspire to be as unflinchingly brave! Janet Mock's story simultaneously embodies, complicates, and subverts the concept of American exceptionalism and self-creation.” -- Laverne Cox, actress, advocate, and star of Orange Is the New Black

“Defining oneself is a revolutionary act, and, as described in her memoir, Janet Mock fiercely fought to free herself with exquisite bravery and sensitivity. Redefining Realness is full of hope, dreams, and determination. It is a true American girl story.” -- Michaela angela Davis, Image Activist/Writer/CNN Contributor

“Every Cinderella story has its problematic step-parents to maneuver around, and its metaphorical fireplaces to clean, before the heroine is whisked off to the ball. Janet Mock’s is no exception. But the real magic here is not of the fairy-tale kind. Redefining Realness overflows with the everyday magic of survival and resiliency in low income communities of color, of loving kindness bursting through the cracks of a hard reality, and of the life-sustaining bonds of family, friendships, and a powerful trans sisterhood.” -- Susan Stryker, author of Transgender History and Associate Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and Director of the Institute for LGBT, University of Arizona

"Janet Mock's honest and sometimes searing journey is a rare and important look into la vida liminal, one that she manages to negotiate remarkably well, with grace, humor, and fierce grit. Mock doesn't only redefine what realness means to her, but challenges us to rethink our own perceptions of gender and sexuality, feminism and sisterhood, making this book a transcendent piece of American literature." -- Raquel Cepeda, author of Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina

“An eye-opening and unapologetic story that is much greater than mere disclosure.... An enlightening, much-needed perspective on transgender identity.” ― Kirkus Reviews

“Mock defies the historically apolitical confines of the transgender memoir, and draws bright lines connecting her experiences to the larger realm of social justice, with a keen political eye that uses her individual experience to elucidate the wider condition of trans women of color in the U.S. Her vivid prose arouses every sense.... Although the book is ostensibly one woman’s coming-of-age story, Mock fulfills grander purposes here; in coming to terms with her own difficult journey she also uses that experience didactically, as if to take the uninitiated, non-transgender reader with her, most certainly achieving 'realness.'” ― Publishers Weekly

“A memoir that takes the coming-of-age narrative to both a higher and deeper level.... Mock juxtaposes the personal and the political with a dose of academic theory and pop culture, honestly detailing both the joys and difficulties of her journey.” ― Slate.com

“A classic feminist coming-of-age story that’s worthy of your mantel. . . . Her memoir recounts a life that is both hardscrabble and hard-fought, making for a must-read book that is at turns riveting and wonderfully emotionally nuanced.” -- The Advocate

“The beauty of Mock’s memoir is that it is both personal and universal; her story is her own, but it also transcends the specificity of her life narrative to touch all of us.” ― Lambda Literary

“Mock’s grace in handling complexity is matched by her frankness, and she talks race, class, and intersectional politics without ever sounding polemical.” ― The Rumpus

“It's fully intersectional, deliciously activist, wonderfully unapologetic, brazen, and beautiful. I love Mock's book because, like the best feminist reads, it’s really about the insight that telling stories can be a revolutionary act.” -- Laura Ciolkowski, Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Social Difference and Adjunct Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University

About the Author

Janet Mock is a writer, TV host, and advocate tackling stigma through storytelling. With a Master’s in journalism from New York University, the Honolulu native began her career as an editor at People.com and went on to write cover stories for Marie Claire, Interview, and The Advocate as well as essays for The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Lenny. She produced HBO’s The Trans List, hosts the podcast Never Before, and serves as a columnist for Allure. Called a “fearless new voice” and “trailblazing leader” who “changed my way of thinking” by Oprah Winfrey, Janet was a featured speaker at the historic Women’s March on Washington. She is the author of Surpassing Certainty and the New York Times bestseller Redefining Realness. Find out more at JanetMock.com.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1476709122
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books (February 4, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781476709123
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476709123
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #830,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,076 in LGBTQ+ Biographies (Books)
- #8,873 in Women's Biographies
- #24,151 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,839 ratings

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Janet Mock
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Janet Mock wrote the New York Times bestseller Redefining Realness which tells the story of her trans girlhood, and hosts the podcast, "Never Before," a conversation series with guests like Tina Knowles Lawson, Representative Maxine Waters and Lena Dunham. In 2017, she wrote her second memoir, "Surpassing Certainty: What My Twenties Taught Me," which centers the years in her life when she was not open about being trans.
With a Masters in journalism from New York University, the Honolulu native worked as an editor at People.com, produced and conducted interviews for the HBO documentary "The Trans List", hosted a series of specials for MSNBC (including "So POPular!" and the upcoming "Beyond My Body" series) and appeared on OWN’s Super Soul Sunday -- in which Oprah Winfrey called her a “fearless new voice” and “trailblazing leader” who “changed my way of thinking.”
Janet has been lauded by the Ms. Foundation for Women, Planned Parenthood, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project and Time magazine which named her one of “the most influential people on the Internet.” The New York City-based writer is a contributing editor at ALLURE where she helms the column, "Beauty Beyond Binaries." Find out more at JANETMOCK.com
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tenisha mock
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I am Tenisha of the true soulmate. mysteries in time series and many more books to come. I like book, the outdoor. animals [ especially dog, pancake and I mention books I am American living in England which is why my English is all mixed up, before I because of an author. I was a child club coordination for a church. my own book cooks up a blend of magic, history, and of course-; a lot of adventure. so if you're on the look own next epic adventure, you have come to the right place.
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4.6 out of 5

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K. Redd

Masterpiece!

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2014

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"Redefining Realness" stirred up memories of my freshman year in college. During the spring semester, my English professor introduced the class to books by authors of subjects many of us had only heard of, but never even remotely experienced. Authors like E. Lynn Harris. His book "Just As I Am" sparked a fire in us that made us trample over other students hanging out in the quad, just to make it to the classroom in time to dissect the more than 380 pages of fictional sizzle. As we talked about the book and the issues it brought to the forefront, our discussions were filled with joy, anger, curiosity, and just a flat-out appreciation of Harris' writing skills.

This is how I felt while reading "Redefining Realness" - even before completing the first chapter. With my excitement level on "high", I wanted to immediately hightail it to someone's book club and talk about what I had just read!

This book is awesome. Janet Mock takes readers on the journey of her life as a trans woman of color - a journey that was as foreign to me as a map of the streets of Djibouti City. I honestly did not realize that the lives of transgender people were that intense (especially poor trans people of color). Thanks to media portrayals of trans men and women over the years, I likened them to "drag queens" and reduced their lives to simply being "people who like to play dress-up." To me, a person was either gay, lesbian, or straight. Nothing else. However, Mock's experience, passion, rawness, statistics, and transparency, taught me that the world does not fit neatly into compartments.

"Redefining Realness" evoked thought, compassion, and awareness - everything I expected based on the title of the book, as well as the publicity which has surrounded it over the last few months. I thoroughly enjoyed Mock's storytelling (story within a story), particularly the imagery she used to tell her story. Much like her "shero" Zora Neale Hurston, Mock's descriptive writing engaged all of the standard senses and more. I felt the winds and humidity of Oahu. I saw Charles, Sr.'s gold tooth with the Cowboys' shout-out. I touched Keisha's hair right along with Jamie. I heard conversations in Hawaiian pidgen on the streets as Janet and Wendi pooched. I tasted grandma's gumbo while eavesdropping on family gossip. (The pop music references sprinkled throughout the book made it even more "real" for me because I remember where I was when all of those songs debuted!)

On top of all of this, Mock made me laugh. Her quick wit provided a much-welcomed intermission from a stressful and, at times, unbelievable read. It was good to laugh to keep from crying. However, even in comedy, she managed to teach lessons. I'll never confuse a "drag queen" for a trans woman again because I now know "a drag queen is part-time for showtime. A trans woman is all the time." Love it!

"Redefining Realness" is a masterpiece, not only because of the content, but because of Mock's incredible writing skills. I appreciate her for using her unique story to inform, chastise, correct, and commend. That's what real women do.

I look forward to more work from Mock in any genre.

18 people found this helpful

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TamTam

Excellent read!

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023

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Very enlightening story, so glad that I read this book. I highly recommend!

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2015

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I just finished reading this VERY MOVING BIOGRAPHY that my best friend suggested, on a subject I knew NOTHING ABOUT. I say nothing because I'd heard about it but knew NOTHING ABOUT..and I think it's safe to say that MOST PEOPLE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. It was an education for me as it would be for anyone else who would want to know, whether your Transgender or just someone like myself, who wants to be informed about something that is just as REAL and SIGNIFICANT as a cure for cancer and aids would be.
It's a subject that many people choose to ignore because it doesn't affect their lives or anyone that they know. And the fact it concerns a young woman of color, that automatically dismisses it as INSIGNIFICANT. However..for those who wish to step out of the proverbial racist box and open themselves up to a subject that is important..may not only be moved by it, but enlightened about the struggles of Transgender individuals of ALL RACES,CREEDS AND RELIGIONS whom are constantly at risk from a society that chooses to PRETEND that this is just another sick and twisted homosexual deviance..I can assure you that it is SO NOT.
This is a subject that even psychologist and the entire medical profession is learning about. An area of the human psychological experience that has been unknown but is VERY REAL and needs to be addressed and explored. There is so much concerning human psychology that is still a mystery to the professionals that work in the field. This is just a small tip of a fathomless iceberg concerning the human condition.
But..for those who wish to be enlighten to a world that is constantly being MARGINALIZED by ignorance and prejudice may find Ms Mocks story well worth reading and their own lives enlightened by a subject that is basically unknown. I know I was.

3 people found this helpful

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Sweet Georgia

She's A Lady

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2015

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Janet Mock came out publicly in a 2011 Marie Claire article. Now she’s back, telling her story again—her way. Mock’s New York Times Bestseller, Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, is a fascinating look at a myriad of topics including gender and gender identity, sex and sexuality, and self-revelation through the lens of a trans woman. Janet Mock has been hailed as the “token” trans woman. She’s educated, articulate, and breathtakingly beautiful. She’s the kind of trans woman that makes straight folks comfortable, but she is quick to point out that her experience is not the reality for many trans persons. Redefining Realness not only sheds light on Mock’s fascinating journey to womanhood, but also the plight of trans women, particularly trans women of color.

As a cisgender gay male, I thought Mock’s story would be foreign to me. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, there were remarkable similarities. We both experienced policing of our physical appearance at a very early age. We both were estranged from our mothers, yet held tight that she’d come and rescue us. We both had no expectation of our fathers, yet held our mothers to unattainable standards we created in our own minds. Beyond how the book personally resonated with me, Redefining Realness is masterfully written prose that will speak to anyone looking to gain insight on the trans experience, or simply live in their own truth. I applaud Mock for sharing her personal narrative at the risk of judgment and ridicule. As she says, “There’s nothing more powerful than truly being and loving yourself.”

31 people found this helpful

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Alberto

Amazing

Reviewed in Mexico on December 4, 2017

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me encanto porque habla de su experiencia de una manera en la cual nos logran envolver a todos y sentirnos parte de ella. despuies de leerlo siento que la conozco de toda la vida.

One person found this helpful

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Christine Burns

An Inspiring and Moving Story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2014

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I have often said that I abhor the kind of trans biography which focusses on the path to transition and ends there -- as though that is the most interesting thing the subject will ever do. I happily make an exception in this case though -- first because the 'after' story is being told every day through the amazing advocacy led by this woman; and second because Janet uses that story of her childhood journey to such good educational effect. Inscribed here is the struggle of every trans child realising they are different from their earliest recollections, played out in a world where the 'evidence' of what's between their legs is considered to trump everything they know and might say of their experience. Imagine the isolation created by that complete fait-accompli belief by everyone around you. And imagine how that belief system supports a system which puts such young people in such a vulnerable position that they need to participate in sex work to survive. Actually you don't HAVE to imagine it, because Janet paints it all in such vibrant scary colours.

12 people found this helpful

Alister Cryan

Single minded

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2021

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A fascinating account of Janet's journey through a troubled childhood because of her mother's and father's shortcomings. Quite a bit is clearly owed to Julia Serano's "Whipping Girl"...

Lola Phoenix

Incredibly Brave

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2014

Verified Purchase

Coming from a person who shares some commonalities with Janet Mock in experience, I can say that it takes a lot of courage to publish this type of honest and complete story of one's life. Not only does Janet talk about her own experiences, she puts them into context of the struggles that trans women of color face within society. She encourages you not only just to understand her point of view, but understand the points of view of her family and friends, reminding readers that there are many who have stories like Janet's. It takes a lot to be so open about things, to be honest, and to put it all out there. It was inspiring to read and I'm grateful that Janet has given so many people a glimpse of her life. It makes me feel confident that one day it will be less scary to tell my own story and I hope that it inspires others to tell theirs.

Thank you for such a wonderful book Janet!

8 people found this helpful

OLIVE

Inspirational and Life Changing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2017

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This book CHANGED me... Whether you are trans, or are simply looking to learn, or are even looking to read a fascinating autobiography plain and simple, this book is stunning, and I cannot personally thank Janet Mock enough for writing it. Life changing! And so inspirational. It tells everything from the heart, and is unflinchingly honest. So brave to have written such a story and put it out into the world!

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