Title: Forty Years to Life
Author: Brenda Bradford Ward
Publisher: Goldtouch Press, LLC
ISBN: 978-1959143055
Pages: 526
Genre: Parent & Adult Child Relationships / Job Hunting & Career Guides
Reviewed by: Tony Espinoza
Hollywood Book Reviews
In our modern world, one of the most contentious topics of discussion, especially in the United States but also on a global scale, is the question of gender identity and how we discuss it. For some, the question of gender is simple, if you were born a boy you are a boy, and if you were born a girl you are a girl. Yet for many, this question is far more complex, as people must not only contend with the ways in which society defines masculine and feminine behaviors and interests, but how they themselves feel and identify with. The fight to be heard and acknowledged in society and by the law of a nation has been fought for decades, and with recent attacks by more conservative politicians on children and adults alike who identify as transgender, this discussion is more prevalent than ever before.
In author Brenda Bradford Ward’s Forty Years to Life, the author blends memoir style writing with social explorations of the journey one takes into exploring and accepting their transgender identity. Showcasing the hardships and struggles many people feel when having to hide their true selves from the world, the author showcases the harsh realities of society either erring on the side of lax permissiveness or destructive suppression in regards to the question of gender identity. The book not only tries to understand and explore the nature of gender identity, but tries to explore the history behind gender identity and the issues many have faced as a result of having to repress it within themselves.
The author did an incredible job of conveying both the raw emotional aspect of this journey and the societal issues and misconceptions which exist to this day. The balance the author was able to find between the personal experiences they went through, and the more technical, scientific, and psychological nature of gender identity and the social and political issues that arise as a result of the lack of knowledge or understanding about gender identity was incredible to read, and added a feeling of expertise and research into the otherwise personal narrative they were conveying.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those that enjoy books on gender identity, memoir-style writing, and in-depth studies on the political, social, psychological, and faith-based aspects of gender identity and how these issues can cause misconceptions that affect how people perceive it. As someone who has longed to not only understand more but help further others understanding of gender identity as a whole, I was both enthralled and inspired by the authors journey and the information both emotional and psychological that they were able to impart on me as a reader to better know the experiences those finding their gender identity go through.
Thought-provoking, engaging, and inspiring, author Brenda Bradford Ward’s Forty Years to Life is a must-read non-fiction book on gender identity. It is the perfect read for those who either want to understand gender identity and the journey to accept it for themselves, or for those who are going through this experience already, the author’s writing style allows for both relatability and knowledge to be felt and experienced firsthand The natural way the author fuses personal experiences with the psychological and scientific exploration of this topic made for a truly one of a kind reading experience.