Gender Outlaw

On Men, Women, and the Rest of Us

By: Kate Bornstein, S. Bear Bergman

Narrated by: Kate Bornstein

"I know I'm not a man...and I've come to the conclusion that I'm probably not a woman, either.... The trouble is, we're living in a world that insists we be one or the other."

With these words, Kate Bornstein ushers listeners on a funny, fearless, and wonderfully scenic journey across the terrains of gender and identity. On one level, Gender Outlaw details Bornstein's transformation from heterosexual male to lesbian woman, from a one-time IBM salesperson to a playwright and performance artist. But this particular coming-of-age story is also a provocative investigation into our notions of male and female, from a self-described nonbinary transfeminine diesel femme dyke who never stops questioning our cultural assumptions.

Gender Outlaw was decades ahead of its time when it was first published in 1994. Now, some 20-odd years later, this book stands as both a classic and a still-revolutionary work - one that continues to push us gently but profoundly to the furthest borders of the gender frontier.

©1994 Routledge (P)2018 Tantor

Kate Bornstein is Magnificent

This books would be great for any and all gender rebels! The updated version is lovely and the play at the end was a pleasant surprise!

Wonderful!

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to Kate and her words; I didn't know if it would be as applicable to a trans person in 2023, but it was! Loved the gender philosophy parts and potential explanations for gender expression

Life-saver/changer. Brilliant.

Books read by the author are almost always a no-go for me, but in this case Kate's reading of her own material raises the caliber of said material from merely incredible to nearly mind-blowing. She is a trained actor, which helps, but she's more than that: She is someone speaking so intimately and directly to her audience you can almost see her lips moving.

This book found me at a time in my life where I was experiencing the very things she writes so passionately about. She gave me the words and, with them, a safe space. This book feels like family. If you're a queer person of any stripe, or an ally, or just someone who appreciates stunning autobios... listen.

A beautiful piece of work.

Entertaining and informative

I think this book is great for anyone who wants to understand more about gender: for oneself, as a parent, as a teacher, therapist, etc. The book was funny, engaging and thought-provoking. I love the authors playful way of relating and talking about gender.

Excellent and thought provoking!

This book will help change the narrative and paradigm of binary gender! It helped open my eyes to new perspectives.

Amazing and heartfelt!

I laughed and I cried and everything in between. Kate Bornstein is an amazing and wonderful person!!

Really amazing.

Just an inspirational performance. I always look for author narrated pieces and was very happy to be able to experience this one since my daughter was born male.

Thank you Kate for sharing with us all. In this case you definite connected with your audience.

lovely

great book narrated by Kate Bornstein. last chapter is hard to listen but overall it is great

Deepest thanks Kate!

When I began my transition in the late 90s, passing as non trans was considered the gold standard. Something about that seemed wrong. When I found Gender Outlaw it was a breath of fresh air and helped set my course going forward. No longer was my path one of seeking more and better ways to hide my transness but rather one of accepting and affirming my transness. This update is beautifully written, eloquently read and as vitally important today as it was when I first read it in the late 90s. Thank you Kate!!!!

wonderful book read very well by an amazing person

Kate Bornstein is an amazing person and it's just fabulous to hear all her emphasis and enunciations. you can really get an idea of how the book sounds in the author's own head and I loved every minute of it!