Self-Ish - by Chloe Schwenke (Paperback)

About the Book

A moving memoir of a remarkable transgender woman's life, from her childhood in a military family, an architectural career in Africa, a spiritual journey as a Quaker, and her service as a political appointee under President Obama.

Book Synopsis

A moving memoir of a remarkable transgender woman's life, from her childhood in a military family, an architectural career in Africa, a spiritual journey as a Quaker, and her service as a political appointee under President Obama.

Review Quotes

Interview in Quaker Speak: My Journey as a Transgender Quaker

Chloe Schwenke's Self-ish offers an intelligent, thoughtful look at the complex journey that is gender transition, illuminating aspects of gender transition--such as the difficulties of job hunting, the process of forming and renegotiating friendships, and the intersection of trans identity and Quaker religious practice--that haven't received much attention in memoirs or the media.
--Joy Ladin, author of Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders

Self-ish takes the reader through a powerful, heart-wrenching journey of the innumerable, daunting challenges of gender transition confronted by a transgender woman. It is ultimately also a story of extraordinary courage in persevering through formidable odds to be true to oneself. Schwenke underscores the moral, human and societal imperative to confront and ameliorate the challenges faced by transgender people, and others marginalized by mainstream society.
--Sanjay Pradhan, CEO, Open Government Partnership

What makes this story compelling is this push-pull of perspectives: the emerging identification as Chloe and diminishing association as Stephen. We identify with and root for Chloe--yet it's like a horror movie for those closest to Stephen...Self-ish is a fascinating puzzle of identity.
--Master Michael Quinn, Gertrude Press