Free to Be

Understanding Kids & Gender Identity

By: Jack Turban MD

Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins, Jack Turban MD

An authoritative guide to understanding and navigating gender identity from an acclaimed expert on the mental health of transgender and gender diverse youth.

Kids today are more gender fluent and expansive than ever before. In America, around two percent of teenagers (over 700,000) openly identify as transgender. As it becomes increasingly common for us to encounter and know transgender kids, as well as kids with more expansive notions of gender than past generations, it is vital that we have the tools we need in order to truly see and support them.

Free to Be is an authoritative deep dive by internationally renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Jack Turban into the science, medicine, and politics of gender identity. You will be immersed in the lives of three trans and gender diverse youth—Meredith, Kyle, and Sam—as they navigate their gender identities, make decisions around gender-affirming medical and psychological care, and confront an overwhelming political and social terrain.

By combining the latest scientific research, stories of transgender children, and the intricacies of today’s political gender wars, Free to Be gives you the tools to help the kids in your life navigate the complexity of gender identity, while also coming to better understand what the nuances of gender mean to yourself and society at large.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Jack Turban (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Everyone should read this book

This book is for everyone who needs better knowledge around this topic. Specifically if you live in the US. I highly recommend.

A must read for any trans person or parent of trans kids

Compelling case studies and the Narrator is very easy to listen to. I also recommend the authors interview with Dr. Mike on YouTube, that’s how I found this book! He holds his ground and defends trans rights in a way that is easy for anyone to understand. Thank you for this wonderful book!

A book that actually centers trans voices

With the current anti-trans panic that has been prevalent throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe, is it refreshing to have academics and medical doctors who are willing to speak up in support of the trans community. I am a transgender man myself, and despite the growing hostility towards and infantilization of the transgender community, our voices have been ignored regarding our own rights and healthcare. Recent debate surrounding documents like the Cass Review has prioritized faux concerns of cisgender people over the rights and lives of those who are most affected by anti-trans legislation -- trans people. These actors have prioritized the voices of political pundits and undermined parsimony in scientific discussion of transgender healthcare. This is why I was happy to see Dr. Turban release a book on this subject during a point in time where transgender people need support from those in academia and medicine.

Drawing from the contents of this book, Dr. Turban incorporates a combination of qualitative and quantitative research and presents it in an easily digestible manner that laypeople can understand. He addresses a variety of topics including puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgery, hormones, and the manner in which the modern political landscape has shaped the experiences of transgender people, including trans youth. Many of the testimonies he references are complemented by scientific literature, resulting in a great literary flow throughout the book.

While I unfortunately doubt that many anti-trans activists will ever end up reading this book, it incorporates a compelling combination of factual and emotional appeal that I believe would allow many people to not only understand the scientific consensus behind gender-affirming care but would also help to ease politically-manufactured distress. If you are uncertain about trans healthcare and wish to understand the experiences of trans people ourselves, then I strongly recommend this book. It is easy to get through and is highly informative, even for those who are already well-versed in the subject.

A clear and sympathetic explanation of gender affirming care for kids in the US

Dr. Jack Turban offers a nuanced and sympathetic look into gender affirming care for young people in the US context. Using composite case studies from his own years of experience, he is able to bring his patients to life as real, three dimensional people rather than just abstractions tossed about in the culture wars. His exploration extends into the science and evidence-based research that informs transgender medical care, talks about the current political climate, and addresses many of the misconceptions repeated in the popular media. This is a great primer for exploring the many aspects of gender affirming medical care and the patients served by it.

A Book Worth Recommending

I feel that the importance of this book in the current political climate can't be understated. It's focus on real people, their stories, the science, and the common political misconceptions about trans people is refreshing, to say the least.

Such an important book!

This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to form a science based opinion on transgender identity. Jack’s explanation of the most standard concepts of the transgender experience is beautifully told, and strongly backed. As a transgender adult, I had 0 complaints about how he portrayed trans topics. He did this with humility, empathy and strong research. I wish anyone who had questions about what transgender people, specially children, endure would read this book. I think the world would be a better place if this book was used to inform opinions on the topic. Thank you Jack!

Excellent book

Honors the parents view of trans youth, the youth themselves and the research to support trans rights

Goated book fr 🧤🧤🧤

Before I read this I came in with very low expectations. But it was not only very informative but also it was very comforting realizing there are people in the medical system care

Super helpful for a trans parent

This was science based and really helped me understand the world from a trans kid/teen perspective. Really good info on all the options for care!

Thanks. You have helped me help my kid.❤️

Helpful, research-based, science-backed guidance and perspective for people experiencing gender dysmorphia and their support systems