Wondrous Transformations - by Alison Li (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Harry Benjamin (1885-1986), a German-born endocrinologist, was an early pioneer in hormone therapy and transgender medicine. During his long career, he assisted many people in transitioning, including Christine Jorgensen, the 1950's 'Ex-GI' turned 'Blond Bombshell' media sensation. The two became close collaborators, with Jorgensen working with Benjamin on his influential book The Transsexual Phenomenon, published in 1966. Alison Li's much-needed biography of Benjamin chronicles his passion for hormones and his lifelong interest in sexology. Drawn from extensive research in archival documents, secondary sources, and interviews, Li tells the story of Benjamin's collaborative work with over a thousand transgender patients and his efforts in education, research, and networking, helped to create the institutional foundations of transgender medicine"--

Book Synopsis

Harry Benjamin (1885-1986), a German-born endocrinologist, was a pivotal figure in the development of transgender medicine. He was physician to transgender pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen, the 1950s "Ex-GI" turned "Blonde Beauty" media sensation, and in turn, she and other collaborators helped to shape Benjamin's influential 1966 book, The Transsexual Phenomenon. Alison Li's much-needed biography of Benjamin chronicles his passion for hormones and his lifelong interest in sexology.

Drawing from extensive research in archival documents, secondary sources, and interviews, Li tells the story of Benjamin's early ventures in gerontology and his later work with over a thousand transgender patients. Benjamin's contributions to treatment, education, research, and networking helped to create the institutional foundations of transgender medicine. Moreover, they set the stage for a radical reconsideration of gender identity, challenging us to reflect upon what it is to be male or female and to envision moving beyond these long-held categories.

Review Quotes

"Wondrous Transformations excels at painting a vibrant portrait of Benjamin . . . . Li's engaging prose harnesses the affordances allowed in biography to craft an engrossing narrative . . . . She has done an admirable job in bringing the two halves of Benjamin's career together, and her work is a great service to the fields of trans history and the history of hormones."--The Watermark

"[A] welcome contribution to trans history, the history of sex science, and broader conversations about cross-Atlantic knowledge production in the twentieth century. It is a lively read, and eminently approachable. . . . [Li's] work tremendously expands our collective knowledge of his thinking, his motivations, and his location in the whirlwind development of sex research."--History and Sociology of Science

"A smart and highly readable contribution to transgender studies."--Publishers Weekly

"A thorough, revealing narrative of Benjamin's life. . . . Li's rich scene-setting and the colorful anecdotes from Benjamin's diaries make for an often enjoyable biography . . . ultimately leaving space for people of the future, especially trans people, to build on its path-breaking foundations."--American Historical Review

"Alison Li's Wondrous Transformations is an excellent biography of Harry Benjamin (1885-1986). It is deeply researched, clearly written, and remarkably skillful in placing this marginal figure in the medical profession at the center of the history of transsexual people in the United States. . . . Li is a sure-handed guide through the complicated science of this story. . . . Kudos to Li for telling [Benjamin's] story so well."--Journal of American History

"Beautifully written. . . . [T]his is a very readable book, and I hope it will be widely read, especially by politicians and journalists, so that today's debates about gender-affirming care are better informed now that they have been around for a hundred years."--Bulletin of the History of Medicine

"Li argues that Benjamin's efforts to reverse aging using injections, irradiation, and glandular transplants formed a crucial foundation for subsequent practices. The biography provides an eminently readable and compelling argument that there is more continuity across the mid-twentieth century development of trans medicine than is often appreciated."--Journal of Social History

"Skilfully composed as a scholarly trade book, Wondrous Transformations will be an important book for historians of medicine, usable in university courses, but also accessible to a wide non-specialist audience interested in the transgender revolution."--Social History of Medicine

"Through the career of [Harry Benjamin], Li provides us with a wonderful survey of 20th-century sexology. . . . Li provides the much anticipated full appraisal of [Benjamin's] many contributions to gerontology, sexology, and endocrinology."--Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide

"Wondrous Transformations is cultural history masterfully interwoven with medical history which highlights not only how scientific innovation impacts our society at large but also the influence of popular culture on the propagation of scientific innovation."--Contingent Magazine

About the Author

Alison Li is a historian of science and medicine and writes about hormones, medical research, and the culture in which they are shaped. She is the co-editor of Women, Health, and Nation: Canada and the United States Since 1945.