Free to Be
Understanding Kids & Gender Identity
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Free to Be
Buy for $14.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Sean Patrick Hopkins
-
Jack Turban MD
-
By:
-
Jack Turban MD
About this listen
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 AudioListeners also enjoyed...
-
Tomorrow Will Be Different
- Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
- By: Sarah McBride, Joe Biden - foreword
- Narrated by: Sarah McBride
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 483
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 432
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 430
Before she became the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016 at the age of twenty-six, Sarah McBride struggled with the decision to come out—not just to her family but to the students of American University, where she was serving as student body president. She’d known she was a girl from her earliest memories, but it wasn’t until the Facebook post announcing her truth went viral that she realized just how much impact her story could have on the country.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing Trans story
- By MNB on 02-07-21
By: Sarah McBride, and others
-
Whipping Girl
- A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity
- By: Julia Serano
- Narrated by: Julia Serano
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 510
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 442
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 438
Julia Serano shares her experiences and insights - both pre- and post-transition - to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our societal attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole. Serano's well-honed arguments and pioneering advocacy stem from her ability to bridge the gap between the often-disparate biological and social perspectives on gender. In this provocative manifesto, she exposes how deep-rooted the cultural belief is that femininity is frivolous, weak, and passive.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Beautiful
- By Tamika on 11-05-16
By: Julia Serano
-
American Teenager
- How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era
- By: Nico Lang
- Narrated by: Nico Lang
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Media coverage tends to sensationalize the fight over how trans kids should be allowed to live, but what is incredibly rare are the voices of the people at the heart of this debate: transgender and gender nonconforming kids themselves. For their groundbreaking new book, journalist Nico Lang spent a year traveling the country to document the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teens and their families.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Absolutely incredible and engaging
- By Charles on 03-04-25
By: Nico Lang
-
How to Raise a Healthy Gamer
- End Power Struggles, Break Bad Screen Habits, and Transform Your Relationship with Your Kids
- By: Alok Kanojia MD MPH
- Narrated by: Alok Kanojia MD MPH
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 84
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 84
Whether your goal is to prepare your child for a healthy relationship to technology or to curb unhealthy amounts of time spent gaming, How to Raise a Healthy Gamer will help you better understand, communicate with, and—ultimately—empower your gaming enthusiast to live their best life.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
not the target audience but
- By nick on 03-13-24
-
Star-Spangled Jesus
- Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith
- By: April Ajoy
- Narrated by: April Ajoy
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 220
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 209
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 209
Social media influencer and podcast host April Ajoy wouldn’t have called herself a Christian Nationalist when she performed her original song “America Say Jesus” on the Jim Bakker show, or when she participated in Jesus Marches across America, or when she posted cringe-worthy videos on YouTube to campaign for Mitt Romney. April just considered herself a good Christian: faithful, Republican, and determined to make America a Christian nation once again.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Education in Christian Nationalism
- By KM on 04-03-25
By: April Ajoy
-
Gender Euphoria
- Stories of Joy from Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Writers
- By: Laura Kate Dale - editor
- Narrated by: Laura Kate Dale
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 18
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 18
So often the stories shared by trans people about their transition center on gender dysphoria: a feeling of deep discomfort with their birth-assigned gender, and a powerful catalyst for coming out or transitioning. But for many non-cisgender people, it's gender euphoria that pushes forward their transition: the joy the first time a parent calls them by their new chosen name, the first time they have the confidence to cut their hair short, the first time they truly embrace themself.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
simply life changing
- By Grant Vargas on 06-01-24
-
Tomorrow Will Be Different
- Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
- By: Sarah McBride, Joe Biden - foreword
- Narrated by: Sarah McBride
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 483
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 432
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 430
Before she became the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016 at the age of twenty-six, Sarah McBride struggled with the decision to come out—not just to her family but to the students of American University, where she was serving as student body president. She’d known she was a girl from her earliest memories, but it wasn’t until the Facebook post announcing her truth went viral that she realized just how much impact her story could have on the country.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing Trans story
- By MNB on 02-07-21
By: Sarah McBride, and others
-
Whipping Girl
- A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity
- By: Julia Serano
- Narrated by: Julia Serano
- Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 510
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 442
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 438
Julia Serano shares her experiences and insights - both pre- and post-transition - to reveal the ways in which fear, suspicion, and dismissiveness toward femininity shape our societal attitudes toward trans women, as well as gender and sexuality as a whole. Serano's well-honed arguments and pioneering advocacy stem from her ability to bridge the gap between the often-disparate biological and social perspectives on gender. In this provocative manifesto, she exposes how deep-rooted the cultural belief is that femininity is frivolous, weak, and passive.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Beautiful
- By Tamika on 11-05-16
By: Julia Serano
-
American Teenager
- How Trans Kids Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy in a Turbulent Era
- By: Nico Lang
- Narrated by: Nico Lang
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Media coverage tends to sensationalize the fight over how trans kids should be allowed to live, but what is incredibly rare are the voices of the people at the heart of this debate: transgender and gender nonconforming kids themselves. For their groundbreaking new book, journalist Nico Lang spent a year traveling the country to document the lives of transgender, nonbinary, and genderfluid teens and their families.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Absolutely incredible and engaging
- By Charles on 03-04-25
By: Nico Lang
-
How to Raise a Healthy Gamer
- End Power Struggles, Break Bad Screen Habits, and Transform Your Relationship with Your Kids
- By: Alok Kanojia MD MPH
- Narrated by: Alok Kanojia MD MPH
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 99
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 84
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 84
Whether your goal is to prepare your child for a healthy relationship to technology or to curb unhealthy amounts of time spent gaming, How to Raise a Healthy Gamer will help you better understand, communicate with, and—ultimately—empower your gaming enthusiast to live their best life.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
not the target audience but
- By nick on 03-13-24
-
Star-Spangled Jesus
- Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith
- By: April Ajoy
- Narrated by: April Ajoy
- Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 220
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 209
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 209
Social media influencer and podcast host April Ajoy wouldn’t have called herself a Christian Nationalist when she performed her original song “America Say Jesus” on the Jim Bakker show, or when she participated in Jesus Marches across America, or when she posted cringe-worthy videos on YouTube to campaign for Mitt Romney. April just considered herself a good Christian: faithful, Republican, and determined to make America a Christian nation once again.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Education in Christian Nationalism
- By KM on 04-03-25
By: April Ajoy
-
Gender Euphoria
- Stories of Joy from Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex Writers
- By: Laura Kate Dale - editor
- Narrated by: Laura Kate Dale
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 18
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 18
So often the stories shared by trans people about their transition center on gender dysphoria: a feeling of deep discomfort with their birth-assigned gender, and a powerful catalyst for coming out or transitioning. But for many non-cisgender people, it's gender euphoria that pushes forward their transition: the joy the first time a parent calls them by their new chosen name, the first time they have the confidence to cut their hair short, the first time they truly embrace themself.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
simply life changing
- By Grant Vargas on 06-01-24
What listeners say about Free to Be
Highly rated for:
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ana
- 06-27-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emil Cucksee
- 06-11-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carissa Anderson
- 06-28-24
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-19-24
10/10 Does Exactly What the Cover Suggest Increases Understanding of Trans People
As a mental health professional, I will be recommending this book to all of my colleagues, my own family, friends, and really anyone interested in learning more about trans people. I’m also going to utilize the attached resource document.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-19-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- B. Rich
- 06-29-24
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Adrian
- 10-04-24
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joe
- 11-26-24
Excellent book
Honors the parents view of trans youth, the youth themselves and the research to support trans rights
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-16-24
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
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!