crossdressing books

[casey01]

Does anyone know of any good croosdressing books? I went to the local library yesterday and really didn't find anything mostly books about sex changes. Not fiction though true stories. Thanks

[celeste26]

Depends upon the size of your library. My local library has "My Husband Betty" written by a S/O of a CD that is now a classic of the genre. The classification is around 326 on the Dewey system not far from many of the books about Gay and other sexual variations.

Of course if you live in some small town, I doubt if you will find any of these type of books. But I suspect any larger city's library would have them.

Good luck with the search.

[KarenSusan]

I liked "The Lazy Crossdresser" by Charlie Anders.

[elaineg]

Does anyone know of any good croosdressing books? I went to the local library yesterday and really didn't find anything mostly books about sex changes. Not fiction though true stories. Thanks

I have read all the books by Dr. Peggy Rudd excellent read. Helped with the wife to understand what I am going through, also helped to understand what she is going through too. I also sent a copy of "My Husband wears my clothes" to my sister that was having problems understanding why I was doing this. I also Know Peggy and have been on 2 of her "Spice Cruises" (non-crossdressing) with my wife we had a wonderful time....

[windycissy]

If you're looking for good fiction with a crossdressing theme, try The Jessica Project (http://snurl.com/jessicaproject)

[Sheri 4242]

Does anyone know of any good croosdressing books?

First, for the most part you probably are going to have to buy the books you want -- and mostly online. Many (most) of these are not on the shelves of most libraries -- in fact, they aren't on the shelves of most national bookstores, although most can obtain them and ship them to you

Second, there are a great number of books that address the subject -- the thing is to realize the angle of the book, or IOW, where the author is coming from.

Before I go further I'd like to make an observation: finding these books can be tricky. I had looked in a number of college and university libraries starting some 30-plus years ago without any success. Then, at one rather large, liberal southern university I found a copy of a book entitled Boys Will Be Girls: The Hidden World of the Heterosexual Male Transvestite by John T. Talaminin. I found this book at a university library in Atlanta -- and the book, while well-researched and well-written "for its publication date," was probably in the library b/c some professor had asked the library to order it for student research. The general content was informative, yet overall, the book took on the mores of the day. It had obviously been part of the university's library collection for some time when I found it -- and I imagine it was there for research purposes, in re some survey course in psychology or sociology. While I disagreed with the slant of this book, it was historically sound and served to clear up (probably without intending to) many common misconceptions.

At least the book acknowledged that it was addressing "male heterosexual crossdressing." As I read a great deal -- and keep a large personal library -- I found a way to buy a copy, though out of print.

As has been suggested, Dr. Peggy Rudd's books -- most especially starting with My Husband Wears My Clothes, and her subsequent titles, are more current treatments on the subject of mtf heterosexual crossdressing, written with an acceptance and empathy that can be helpfull to many a struggeling SO - and even CDers who are coming to terms with who and what they are. I've seen several non-accepting / non-tolerating GG's start on the road to tolerance and acceptance after reading Dr. Rudd's books b/c of the manner inwhich she describes CDing as intrinsic to the CDer's very being.

I appreciate Helen Boyd's My Husband Betty, and the author's most recent contribution, She's Not The Man I Married, the latter being an expansion of the first. That said, I personally think a cautionary note should be issued when suggesting these books!!! I have seen a number of GG's become extremely worried about where their life with their CDing husband is actually heading. Intentionally or not, Betty's story is, IMHO, about one who is, in mind and spirit, more than a mtf heterosexual crossdresser, but rather one who would, if they could, transsition. Now, I am not against transsitioning if that is who one is -- and, likewise, I understand that there is a segement of our community that includes those who would transsition if certain circumstances were right. These books seem to place Betty into this category, which is fine, but yet I have seen GG's (and heard of others on this forum agree) that these books come across as if this is the norm. It may be for Betty, but it isn't for me -- and if one is trying to explain and convince their wife that they are a mtf heterosexual CDer and nothing more, these two books, however well-intentioned, has been shown to put a scare in some (many?) readers.

I liked Joann Roberts' Coping With Crossdressing. It seemed to have something for the CDer, the SO of a CDer, and other family members of CDers. I particularly liked the fact that it points out the intrinsic needs of a crossdresser, regardless if one's SO is tolerating, accepting, or participating.

Then there is Alice in Genderland by Richard Novick (? Novic ? ). The author is a highly educated MD -- psychiatrist -- who has a compelling way of explaining what CDers go through -- the labels, misunderstandings, and conflicts. It is a work of hope!!!

Well, there are a few more I'd like to suggest, but I think I'm keeping my wife awake, so maybe tomorrow. Hope this list helps!!!

[Sally24]

Not a crossdressing book, per se, but a transexual bio. "She's Not There" by Jennifer Finney Boylan. It was my first, and favorite book that touched on the transgendered topic. She spent much of her life like alot of us.


http://www.colby.edu/personal/j/jfboylan/not_there.htm

[RylieCD]

Also not CD but TS oreinted are Wrapped up in Blue, which is an autobiography. and Trueselves which is written by a DR; I like this book since it was also set up as time periods of the transgender life.

[Jillm]

Casey, good thread. Something I once thought about but never asked.
Sheri, I’m not a book reader but my SO is. I walked away from my computer for a coffee fill up and left your post on the screen. My SO seen it and asked me about it. What would be a good book if any for my SO. It look like you have read a few.
Thanks
Jill

[Diane1950]

I bought copies of "My Husband Wears My Clothes" and "My Husband Betty"
at my local Barnes and Noble store and have ordered "She's Not the Man I Married" without getting a reaction from the clerk. All are paperback, so no heavy investment is necessary.

The oddity is that they are all in the "Gay & Lesbian" section in the store.

[Alexis Sue]

"My Husband Betty" is a must read. I finished it a week or so ago. What an eye opener from all perspectives and 'spectrums'.

xoxo,
Alexis

[elaineg]

I also have "Out & about The Emancipated Crossdresser" & "7 Secrets of successful crossdressers" By Ms. Lacey Leigh she came to one of our TriEss meetings and gave a presentation on them. Another great read. Hope these help you too.
Hugs Elaine

[trannie T]

Amazon.com has quite a few books regarding crossdressing.

[Emma England]

Some books have been mentioned, but are they any good?

I was thinking of buying "My Husband Betty" and "My Husband Wears My Clothes".

For all those that have read these, what is your opinion?

[serinalynn]

GREAT information presented here My thanks to all of you for posting.:thumbsup:

[Sheri 4242]

Sheri, I’m not a book reader but my SO is. I walked away from my computer for a coffee fill up and left your post on the screen. My SO seen it and asked me about it. What would be a good book if any for my SO. It look like you have read a few.

Jill,

I'd have her start with My Husband Wears My Clothes, by Peggy Rudd. Also, another good starting point would be the "mtf heterosexual crossdressing" section of Amy Bloom's Normal (about a third of that book).


Some books have been mentioned, but are they any good?

Emma,

I've read all the titles I talk about in my first post. You can take my assessment for what's its worth, my opinion. That said, I think I have provided a good abstract of each.

[switcheralso]

I bought My Husband Wears My Clothes. I am about half way through the book. I actually feel better about myself since I started reading the book. I even shared the book with my wife.

[Karren H]

So why not go out and buy a couple crossdressing books and donate them to your library???

My favorites are "The lazy Crossdresser" and "Crossdress For Success" Good beginers books... How to... ish Bought them locally at Barns and Noble

[Veronica Fallon]

Here's a link to find some...

http://www.your-fetish.com/crossdress.shtml

...I know nothing about dealing with/through this site- I had merely "bookmarked" it long ago, & just remembered it. Hope it helps...

Turning Pages,

Veronica

[Di]

The girls gave you all the books I was going to suggest. Thanks ladies:D But I wanted to add........your local library can get the books in if asked...they get them from surrounding larger librarys or sometimes order it for you ( they did that for me with Helens newest book)......if you are too shy to give them a list or tell them the names and authors.........you can do it online...get your librarys link and they should have a place where you can request books.Happy Reading!! Di

[JennMW]

One book I didn't see mentioned above is Dress Codes: Of Three Girlhoods-- My Mother's, My Father's, and Mine By Noelle Howey

Told by the daughter of a transwoman, it provides a unique perspective. I wouldn't put it above the others, but would recommend it.

http://books.google.com/books?id=wksnKpdL_xcC&dq=%22dress+codes%22+howey&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=dWVybQ416C&sig=OM7XwnQGv4OKgKu9I0eFgQBw1Jw

[Sheri 4242]

Here's a link to find some...

http://www.your-fetish.com/crossdress.shtml

...I know nothing about dealing with/through this site- I had merely "bookmarked" it long ago, & just remembered it. Hope it helps... Veronica

You can go to sites such as Amazon.com and enter the topic to get a list of books on the subject. One thing to be aware of (in doing it this way) is that sometimes you get different lists when you enter the topic different ways, e.g. "crossdresser," "cross dresser," "transvestite," "transvestism," "crossdressing," "cross dressing," etc.

[Christen3042]

I really liked Alice in Genderland.

[Sasha Anne Meadows]

Alice in Genderland can be scary to some wives cause the good doctor dates men, something most of us would not want to do.