My Path to Womanhood - Love & So Much More

Redefining realness, engaged me both emotionally and intellectually. Janet Mock explores the complex intersections of her own identity in an honest and sensitive way that affects the reader at multiple levels. Her work can be read as a well-constructed counter-narrative, speaking back to stereotypical depictions of trans women of color.

A beautiful, raw, unfiltered, inspirational account of a strong woman's journey through life. It's not simply a story about being a trans woman of color, it's a story about finding true identity, learning to forgive, and embracing every facet of one's self.

An amazing memoir. Janet Mock does a fantastic job of fleshing out the nuances within experiences around identity and being trans in particular. It is also very accessible for folks who may not be familiar with academic and social justice buzzwords. A good quick read that is sure to enlighten one be it in terms of gender identity, racial identity, family or forgiveness.

I am an evangelical Christian who was taught within a very narrow framework. Surprise! Surprise! This book took me on a journey. To places I never thought I would want to even know about. But this is real. And eye-opening. As Christians we often think we know all we need to know. Sad indeed.

A subject I think we all still do not understand thoroughly. Well written. Understatement. Very well written. By a very beautiful woman, inside and out.

This book offers so many life lessons on resilience and transcendence. I wept when i finished the book. Janet’s story will not only educate you but also warm your heart. Thank you Janet Mock for changing my life.

A wonderful story, wonderfully told, by am incredibly talented young woman! Janet Mock's words helped me find a voice for grieving and celebration I'd neglected to do in my own life. If I had not read it first in a Kindle edition, the pages would have been stained and swollen with the tears I could not stop. This is a MUST read!

I enjoyed her story, and admire the courage it takes to bare one's soul for all to see. She is an incredible woman who had the option to sit back and watch from behind her current life, but chose to redefine what realness means and make it a smoother path for those that are taking those early steps. And as someone with a platform, she is able to have a positive impact; she is proof that we can lead authentic lives as the people we truly are.

I honestly could not put this down unless I seriously had to. Janet mock helped a shed a light on a community swept under the rug in today's society. Her words were uplifting from beginning to end and helped with my own transition to trans adulthood.

I honestly could not put this down unless I seriously had to. Janet mock helped a shed a light on a community swept under the rug in today's society. Her words were uplifting from beginning to end and helped with my own transition to trans adulthood.

Think about it. You don't feel comfortable in your own skin. Why because you are not who you are. Then with support you are. You feel equal because of progress. A real woman tells her story. Read it.

My love for Janet as an amazing trans advocate aside, this book was gorgeous. I sat down this morning to read it, got about 75% of the way through by 3, picked it back up at about 7, and just finished it. Excepting life's obligations, I simply could not put it down. Janet's beautiful vulnerability (and at times brutal honesty,) paired with her highly visual and emotional storytelling makes for a wonderful literary journey. I laughed, I cried, I was captured. As a non binary trans person, reading a story of a woman coming into her own, not in a magical ~poof~ but in pieces, the struggles and successes, and the eventual peace and self love, is not only inspirational but deeply life affirming and important. Thank you, Janet, for sharing yourself with us, for giving hope and possibility to your readers, and making sure trans people are heard. Reading this book was a gift.

In social justice, I think an emerging goal is to further embrace the individual narrative in its purest sense, its sanctity and value as a compliment and necessary other to greater minority community narratives and identities. While it defines that person and not everyone else, it can shed light on the community in fundamentally new and authentic way, and thus serve a vital function, and most of all, comes wrapped up in a a personal, deeply affecting package that those who aren't part of that minority/privileged folks can take and learn from more so than other narratives.

Read this to dive into the life of a woman who knows that more lies beyond herself and will educate you, but never tries to be more than herself, and embraces that that self is wonderful, holds value, and deserves nurturing in the face of adversity. Trans folk, womyn, POC, and straight white cis men can all learn something from the Life and Words of Janet Mock.

Janet Mock weaves her personal history and the political landscape of trans livelihood in a way that is relatable and deeply intellectual in her powerful memoir. While you read, you hear her voice, feel her vulnerability and can't help but see yourself in her struggle - the universal struggle - of becoming the person you know you are meant to be. I read her words and felt hope, disappointment, pain, elation, dread and so many other emotions because you want her to succeed in LIFE & LOVE. Her resilience makes you stronger; it made me braver and a believer in one's self determination. Read this book!

Well written, very thoughful. She is obviously very intelligent and blessed with a great and innate sense of self-motivation. It saddened me to read her proclivity toward victimization for being partially black, even though she often balances it with some awareness that other races and cultures are not always as privileged as they may seem. It was at once rewarding, revealing, and disturbing to read in full disclosure of her sex work--teen-age prostitution. She was not starving, and could and did get a job, but justified her "sex work" to finance her hormones and eventually her surgery. It revealed her desperate need to become more fully a physical woman, while at the same time disclosed her lack of self-respect. It also demonstrated her integrity in being fully honest and forthright about her life. She definitely is one for whom I pity and admire at the same time.

This book was so transparent and informative. I could not put it down. I work for the federal government and am a proud "Pride" ally and would recommend this book to everyone. Not just members of the LBGT community, because it was so insightful. Peace and Blessings to Janet Mock!

Bit Disney Pretty Woman version of a story, easy winding - Felt like I was looking for flaws...questioning so many things that were easily replaced
by a new drama / focus - Very important story, esp for trans-history, feminism and the advantages of being pretty / passing. Would like
to read her story, written by others that knew her.

This book touches on so many issues and themes that its more than a memoir about a Trans Women. Janet touches on sexual abuse, Family strife, adolescence, education, survival, love, sex. These are all topics that are Universal. Janet Mock masterfully blends them all together while adding in many pop culture references to hoot. Janet's story is so fascinating yet so relatable. Janet also does an amazing job of shedding light to various topics that rarely get the time of day in the mainstream media. Janet talks about the high percentage of violence and poverty with Trans Women of Color. Janet talks about her experiences with her parents and how they perceived her and how she hopes other folks will Love their kids. This book is an excellent tool for parents of Trans kids or teens. Janet most importantly talks about the sisterhood between Tran Women and how her own friendship with her best friend Wendi helped shape her worldview. Janet shows that two Trans Women can Love and support each other and that love is out there even if society or mainstream media refuses to acknowledge it.

Janet does such a beautiful job of telling her story, which is incredibly inspiring. Moreover, she ensures that the reader understands the importance of recognizing that, while her story has commonalities with that of other trans women, it does not speak for the experience of every trans woman. I recommend this book to EVERYONE!

Extremely powerful! I give Janet Mock a lot of credit for baring her soul so the cis population can understand the LGBT population and where they are coming from. LGBT is not a 'choice' as some would have us believe - it's the path so many people are on from conception.

Amazing true story, beautiful, effortless writing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
This autobiography follows Janet from her youth to her young adulthood, through her
transition and her coming of age. My book group read it and we all really enjoyed it.
As someone who doesn't have any close trans friends, this was a great insight into
one individual's journey. She also gets into the different issues of being a person of color,
and being a trans person who can "pass" for a cis female, and how trans people are judged
by how "pretty" they are and how much they fit into society's idea of what a woman should
look like. Very educational and a pleasure to read.