Crossdressers-Haven.com

I know this may have been asked before but since I don't frequent here as much as I would like,here goes.

I have been browsing B&N,online,looking at the books on CDing and gender topics. Any suggestions on a good book? Mostly I am looking for something to help me understand this part of me. I already have "Who's Really From Venus" by Peggy Rudd. Books I have been thinking about include "She's Not There:A Life In Two Genders ; "True Selves:Understanding Transexualism ; or " Alice in Genderland".
Any thoughts? Or maybe something else altogether? I thought maybe my sisters could help out here,those that have time to read a lot, . Thanks.

I recommend these two books by Lacey Leigh. The author is an open crossdresser who is a speaker at many transgendered seminars in the US.

"Out and About: The Emancipated Crossdresser"
"7 Secrets of Successful Crossdressers."

http://www.laceyleigh.com

Maria

Hi Valerie.

I guess it depends on where you are coming from. If you know yourself to be a crossdresser and are satisfied and have no interest in any further transition, then the books recommended by Maria are great, as well as the one by Rudd. If you are gender questioning, then True Selves would be an excellent start. "She's Not There" is a good biography written in a thoughtful manner as a biography too, by a fully transitioned transwoman.

Carolynn

Hi Valerie,
Here a Yahoo group for Lacey Leigh and yes she does answer questions and give some advice there. It's a very informative site.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Th ... ssdresser/

Hugs,
Danette

Thanks girls. I have just checked out Lacey's site and may get both books from her. I am comfortable with CDing,even tho my is not. I just am interested in why we are as we are.

Try My Husband Betty. That was the first and best one I read when I first found out about CD. It culd help your SO. Their forum is great too...
http://myhusbandbetty.com/community/index.php

I liked SHe's Not There and My Husband Betty both. Two very different books.

I liked The Riddle Of Gender by Deborah Rudacille a lot. It had a lot of discussion of FTM transexuals which I find fascinating. Self Made Man was also good although it falls into a lot of stereotypes. Normal by Amy Bloom has an excellent section on crossdressers.

Absaroka

More props for "My Husband Betty" -- and for Helen's next book "She's Not the Man I Married," which is due out next spring.

"The Man in the Red Velvet Dress" is also good -- and is willing to take a look at the more fetishy side of the spectrum.

Lacey Leigh's books are good for building self-acceptance (although I'm annoyed at her One True Way to CD mindset).

If you're interested in "why?", Richard Doctor's "Transvesites and Transsexuals" is an excellent (and sympathetic) summary of research as of 1988. Despite the title, it's primarily about CDs. It is a bit pricey.

Arlene Istar Lev's "Transgender Emergence" is written by a therapist for other therapists, but it's easily accessible to general readers and well worth reading. Among other things, Lev takes a hard look at how the medical profession's views about trans-ness have reflected underlying societal biases.

"Cross Dressing Sex and Gender" by Vern and Bonnie Bullough is a bit academic, but provides interesting historical contexts. (For example, FTMs weren't uncommon for centuries.) The Bulloughs also echo some of Lev's critiques about how psychologists and researchers have had a lot of unacknowledged biases that have colored their views of CDs.

I wasn't that impressed by "Alice in Genderland." While it's pretty honest, Novic displays an almost willful lack of insight about "why?". Instead we get a rehash of the "I must be part girl" meme. So it's really just ends up being a recounting of Alice's firsts -- first time getting dressed, first time out of the house, first time sleeping with a man, etc.

BTW, "She's Not There" is also excellent, although as mentioned, it's by a fully transitioned transwoman.

Ok I am getting lots of response on what to buy. I checked out Lacey's site and thought about getting her books but now maybe leaning towards "My Husband Betty". It would be nice to pick one and some how talk my wife into reading it too, . She is old fashioned and doesn't understand. But she does give me space at times. Thanks for all who have responded so far. This is why I love it here,everyone is so helpful and understanding. I have a place to go to and with friends that are so great, . Thanks!

FYI, if you're interested in sharing "My Husband Betty" with your SO, Helen recommends having her start by just reading the first four chapters. The next two are "scary" chapters (dealing with sex and the possibility of transitioning) and may not be relevant to your situation.

Thanks for the heads up Marlena. I ordered it from Barnes/Nobles and is due in tommorrow ( Friday ). I told her today it was coming and she asked if it was for her to read. I said if she wanted to.

Just finished "My Husband Betty " last week. Have read up to chapter 4 again. For anyone else looking,MHB is a good book to get and hits the points,as far as I am concerned. I have been thinking of having my wife read it to. I will take your comments from Helen,Marlena, and have her read the first 4,since they pertain more to me than the others. Thanks for the help.