SELF-ish

May 15, 2018

In her debut book, Schwenke takes readers on a journey from her childhood in a marine corps family, where she felt like a girl trapped in a boy's body, to her work as a senior advisor on democracy, human rights, and governance for Africa under the Obama administration. Although presented in narrative format, the writing at times comes across as a series of essays detailing the reality, and often struggles, of transitioning one's gender presentation in American society while simultaneously reflecting on the author's former life with her ex-wife and two children along with her spiritual journey as a Quaker. "In my distress I owned that authenticity, together with the satisfaction of having brought such a person into the lives of family and friends. For me, Chloe is worth it. For others, the arrival of Chloe is not always welcomed." Schwenke's story provides a personal perspective into the life of a person who transitioned in order to be true to herself. In many ways, her story raises questions and generates discussion regarding the future of gender definitions and norms. VERDICT A candid memoir that belongs on the shelves of all libraries.--Mattie Cook, Flat River Community Lib., MI

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2018
Schwenke, the first transgender political appointee in the federal foreign-affairs agencies and?at the time?one of only four openly transgender appointees ever in the federal government, has been a feminist, a human-rights and social-inclusion activist, policy expert, educator, and ethicist. But her story transcends her impressive resum�: it is part memoir, part extended meditation on what it means to be female, and part spirited polemic. More personally, it is the story of her journey across genders. She was born Stephen and lived her life as a man, marrying twice and fathering two children, until late middle age, when the ever-growing realization that she had a woman's brain in a man's body became unendurable and she came out?to her family and, because she was never selectively out, to the world. In its wake, there were people who told her she was inexcusably selfish and had not considered the profound impact her act would have on her family. She writes movingly about that but also about her quest for self?hence, the term she has coined: self-ish. There is much more to her story; she writes eloquently about her very international life, her many years in Africa and England, her first career as an architect, her increasing focus on global issues. It is a fascinating, illuminating story of an exemplary life and an essential book in helping people understand the condition of being a transgender person. It belongs in every library.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)