A review by gee_reads_books
Am I Trans Enough?: How to Overcome Your Doubts and Find Your Authentic Self by Alo Johnston

5.0

"We are made up of the stories that we are told, and the stories we tell ourselves. We are made up of new stories, and ones that have been handed down for generations."

Alo Johnston (he/him; @thetranstherapist on Instagram) debuts with "Am I Trans Enough?", a non-fiction, divulgative text that aims to offer insight into many concerns and obstacles trans* people might find in their journey to embracing their authentic selves.

In the span of 24 chapters, Johnston covers different topics related to transness: from the process of realising that one is trans*, and the different alternatives available for transitioning, to how the rigid gender binary model enforced by current Western societies impacts the mental health and well-being of trans* people from the moment they begin to differ from what's expected of them according to the gender they were assigned at birth. There's also a revision of the history of transness in our culture, including the hot topic of how transness is still included in the DSM system, and a glance at the trans feminine, trans masculine, and non-binary trans* experiences separately. Overall, this work provides a complete and nuanced look at transness, and provides a safe space for anyone who's wondering whether they might not be cis to learn more about themselves, and find answers to many questions they might have.

As a cis ally, I found this book to be an absolute gem, and I would recommend it to everyone - not just trans* and questioning people. It shows that it was written by a specialised therapist, since the clinical language was really accessible, but also kept objective and scientific. The chapters that dealt with mental health were excellently explained, as well as really kind. The whole book felt like a safe place, in which Johnston grabs the reader by the hand and affectionately explains different sides of the trans* experience. That's not to say that everything is rainbows and glitter, since there's also a really justified, really clear component of social denounce and critical review of many transphobic statements, realities, and attitudes. In this specific area, I was delighted to read a critical revision of TERF ideologies and of the way transphobia is starting to strip cis women, too, of hard-earned equality and autonomy.

All in all, this book was absolutely extraordinary. Definitely a must-read.