I first read this book after coming out as nonbinary almost two years ago. I found it to be super helpful in thinking more in depth about my identity and how I interact with the people around me, and has become foundational to me in my gender journey. Despite being nearly 30 years old, I still found it to be quite relevant and helpful in my own life. ( )

Assigned reading from a queer studies class I took, I've only read a few chapters of this and would like to revisit the rest of the text. Someday ...

I had to dissect my attitudes and history to work through this book, and I think it's good reading for anybody studying gender - or just anybody. The final third, a play, was sort of a dessert I guess, akin to DVD extras. I enjoyed the entire book. ( )

I read the 2016 reissue (or rather, I listened to Bornstein narrating the 2016 reissue), which I know was substantially revised based on changes in trans theory and thought over the last few decades. I found it hugely entertaining and thought-provoking. She's a fantastic narrator and I truly appreciate her puzzlement and confusion over sex and gender and what all of it even means. It seems from reading other reviews that her sections on feminist theory and gender as a class system are new to this edition? And if that's the case, I recommend reading the 2016 version rather than the earlier one(s). ( )

Kate Bornstein is so incredibly charming. This book is charming. But I'm already sold on most of what she is trying to convince me, uh... mainly "Let's not be defined by gender because it sucks being confined to stereotypes and anyway it's crazy." Agreed! Uh... now what?

But that question, "now what?" is difficult for this book to answer because it is an incredibly 90s book. Which I didn't think was too long ago but man, this book is nearly 20 years old. So "now" was 20 years ago. OMG i am so old. As a result the book's revolutionary tone strikes me more as a relic of its time than anything passion rousing. Man, time's an asshole.

She really shines when she talks about her personal experiences, which is why I much prefer her memoir, [b:A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy Who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She is Today|12651419|A Queer and Pleasant Danger The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy Who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She is Today|Kate Bornstein|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1333579428s/12651419.jpg|17765085]. In fact, reading that book before this one really helped me understand what she was trying to get across better. ( )