jackbauer12's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
marnielicious's review against another edition
Found this book on sale at the library for $1.50!
juniperusxx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
What a tragic and sad story of a baby who accidentally loses his penis in a circumcision and on the advice of an 'expert' has to live as a girl until puberty. Much has happened in the field of treating gender identity cases after -60's when this boy was born , but making the decisions are still hard for their families.
This book arose much emotions and even more, when I read about this case from wikipedia and found out that both the twin brothers ended in suicide shortly after this book has been published in 2000.
This book arose much emotions and even more, when I read about this case from wikipedia and found out that both the twin brothers ended in suicide shortly after this book has been published in 2000.
blankcrayon's review against another edition
4.0
Currently enrolled as a doctoral student at Johns Hopkins, and going through the IRB process for my dissertation research, so the Hopkins connection was personally interesting. Also, my summer course is Multicultural Education, a quite relevant framework for reflecting as I read this book. Fascinating case study of an elective sex change in a child and the subsequent emotional, physical, and social issues that arose. While the author does not totally discount the influence of nurture on individuals, the book makes a clear case for nature as the foundation of gender identity.
thereadingwren's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
This was a fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring story.
This story was featured as an episode on Law & Order: SVU and it was one of the episodes I’ve always remembered. I never knew it was real until this book. Even when reading it I thought the show must have dramatised some events to make it entertaining for tv audiences, but no. Bar that initial incident that gets the SVU involved (and the last cliffhanger) everything that happened during that episode happened in real life. I couldn’t believe someone had to live a life so fraught with deception and trauma.
The things David went through were horrific, the things Money said and did were truly evil and psychotic, the science at the time was borderline barbaric. But through it all, David and his family survived and that’s the most inspirational part.
John Colapinto really has a way of telling a story, I was riveted the entire time and never wanted to stop reading. He thoroughly did his homework on the case and researched every single person ever involved, a sign of a good reporter.
I read this for the Trans Book Club’s January pick and I’m so glad I was introduced to this story.
This was a fascinating, heartbreaking, and inspiring story.
This story was featured as an episode on Law & Order: SVU and it was one of the episodes I’ve always remembered. I never knew it was real until this book. Even when reading it I thought the show must have dramatised some events to make it entertaining for tv audiences, but no. Bar that initial incident that gets the SVU involved (and the last cliffhanger) everything that happened during that episode happened in real life. I couldn’t believe someone had to live a life so fraught with deception and trauma.
The things David went through were horrific, the things Money said and did were truly evil and psychotic, the science at the time was borderline barbaric. But through it all, David and his family survived and that’s the most inspirational part.
John Colapinto really has a way of telling a story, I was riveted the entire time and never wanted to stop reading. He thoroughly did his homework on the case and researched every single person ever involved, a sign of a good reporter.
I read this for the Trans Book Club’s January pick and I’m so glad I was introduced to this story.
rebleejen's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is over 20 years old now, but relevant to the current debate in gender medicine. Sad, but fascinating.
kflemingg12's review against another edition
informative
4.0
Not at all what I thought it was going to be but very, very interesting. Surprised me that I liked it.
red_sky's review against another edition
5.0
It was a 'big sad' kinda day. So Patrick took me to Second and Charles were we browsed around like we usually did we I saw this book. I was familiar with the case but only vaguely. I don't usually choose non fiction but psychology is one of my favorite subjects. I had to get it, and even better is was only $3!
David was so strong and it's so unfortunate he had to go through what he did.
John Money is a disgusting human being who only cares about himself and proving himself right at any cost.
He should be in jail not only for advocating for thousands of surgeries on children when he knew it was wrong, but more so for what he did to them in their follow up meetings.
I think my mouth actually fell open when it was revealed that Money had written the paper with information contradicting everything he would later say. It's unfortunate that no one was able to get a hold of it from Stanfords records sooner, and potentially save many children.
The only thing I didn't enjoy was how every time a new person was introduced it went in depth how they didn't think Brenda acted like a girl with the exact same description and repeatative formula. I understand that it's what they really thought and it's important to the story however I just thought it was redundant.
Closing statements: F*** you John Money you piece of human filth. 'Nuff said.
David was so strong and it's so unfortunate he had to go through what he did.
John Money is a disgusting human being who only cares about himself and proving himself right at any cost.
He should be in jail not only for advocating for thousands of surgeries on children when he knew it was wrong, but more so for what he did to them in their follow up meetings.
I think my mouth actually fell open when it was revealed that Money had written the paper with information contradicting everything he would later say. It's unfortunate that no one was able to get a hold of it from Stanfords records sooner, and potentially save many children.
The only thing I didn't enjoy was how every time a new person was introduced it went in depth how they didn't think Brenda acted like a girl with the exact same description and repeatative formula. I understand that it's what they really thought and it's important to the story however I just thought it was redundant.
Closing statements: F*** you John Money you piece of human filth. 'Nuff said.
dutchtineke's review against another edition
3.0
I finished this book yesterday and it was a quick read. Horrible what happened to this child. With my 21st century eyes I can't really understand why his parents chose to go this route. Shame on this doctor for ignoring all the signs and not being more careful in applying procedures, since we're talking about human lives here. He came across as being very manipulative. It looked as if he did all this to advance his scientific career. But even a layman like me knows that this isn't good rersearch. To have reliable research it must be reproducable by other research, it has to have the same outcome time and again. Bad scientist.
Coincidentally, on the same day I finished this book I watched a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode where this story was heavily referenced. The doctor said and did the same things, the girl acted the same, she asked the same question when finding out she used to be a boy. Okay, except for the murders...
But that was fun.
Coincidentally, on the same day I finished this book I watched a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode where this story was heavily referenced. The doctor said and did the same things, the girl acted the same, she asked the same question when finding out she used to be a boy. Okay, except for the murders...
But that was fun.