Non-Binary Lives by

Non-Binary Lives

LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST

'Essential reading' - THE INDEPENDENT
'Vital and insightful' - OWL FISHER

What does it mean to be non-binary in the 21st Century?

Our gender identity is impacted by our personal histories; the cultures, communities and countries we are born into; and the places we go and the people we meet. But the representation of contemporary non-binary identities has been limited, until now.

Pushing the narrative around non-binary identities further than ever before, this powerful collection of essays represents the breadth of non-binary lives, across the boundaries of race, class, age, sexuality, faith and more.

Leading non-binary people share stories of their intersecting lives; how it feels to be non-binary and neurodiverse, the challenges of being a non-binary pregnant person, what it means to be non-binary within the Quaker community, the joy of reaching gender euphoria.

This thought-provoking anthology shows that there is no right or wrong way to be non-binary.

Reviewed by lovelybookshelf on

5 of 5 stars

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Non-Binary Lives is a diverse collection of personal narratives that encompasses a huge variety of perspectives, reminding readers that there are endless ways to be non-binary. There are so many identities and intersections in this book: age (including coming out at different ages), health, neurodiversity, sexuality, body size, family size (including pregnancy and parenthood), gender identity, gender assigned at birth, race, nationality, class, faith. 

I especially loved Fred Langridge's essay "Non-Binary Experience in a Liberal Faith Community," about being a member of the Quaker community. And Lucy/Luc Nicholas's essay "Am I Allowed To Be Non-Binary, Too?" hit me right in the gut. 

Cis readers will learn a great deal from this collection. There are some surprising perspectives in here, and so much to think about, even if you aren't cis. Trans and non-binary readers, you will feel seen. Is impostor syndrome hitting you hard? Read. This. Book.

We often have language for what we are not before we have language for what we are. Non-Binary Lives is the kind of book that helps give readers language for - and celebrates - who they are.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 21 February, 2020: Finished reading
  • 21 February, 2020: Reviewed