The Autobiography of a Transgender Sc..., Ben Barres
The Autobiography of a Transgender Sc..., Ben Barres
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The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist

Author: Ben Barres, Nancy Hopkins

Narrator: Paul Boehmer

Unabridged: 4 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/28/2018


Synopsis

Ben Barres was known for his groundbreaking scientific work and for his groundbreaking advocacy for gender equality in science. In this book, completed shortly before his death from pancreatic cancer in December 2017, Barres (born Barbara Barres in 1954) describes a life full of remarkable accomplishments—from his childhood as a precocious math and science whiz to his experiences as a female student at MIT in the 1970s to his female-to-male transition in his forties, to his scientific work and role as teacher and mentor at Stanford. Barres recounts his early life—his interest in science, first manifested as a fascination with the mad scientist in Superman; his academic successes; and his gender confusion. Barres felt even as a very young child that he was assigned the wrong gender. After years of being acutely uncomfortable in his own skin, Barres transitioned from female to male.

As an undergraduate at MIT, Barres experienced discrimination, but it was after transitioning that he realized how differently male and female scientists are treated. This led him to become an advocate for gender equality in science.

About Ben Barres

Ben Barres (1954-2017) was Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Stanford University and one of the world's leading researchers on the role of the brain cells known as glia.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Berit on September 23, 2019

I read this book because I wanted to hear about the unique experience of being both a man and a woman. However, the major part of this book deals with Barres’s work as a neurobiologist. Page after page with neuro lingo is really boring. At least to me. I would have wanted more about his actual trans......more

Goodreads review by Sami on July 11, 2024

obsessed with ben and his decision to put a lot of science in this book that you need a neuroscience background to understand. it’s his memoir and he can do what he wants! and i support that for him tbh......more

Goodreads review by Alison on May 02, 2024

So powerful and inspiring. Also made me want to do a postdoc?......more

Goodreads review by Ivonne on December 16, 2024

The late Ben Barres was truly loved. A brilliant scientist and neurologist, a devoted mentor, a hero in the LGBTQ+ community, Barres provides a brief biography of his life before and after transitioning from female to male. My heart went out to him for having lived in shame and discomfort for 40 yea......more

Goodreads review by Emily on January 13, 2019

Barres describes his life, his scientific body of work, and his advocacy. People like him make the world a better place. If you don't care about his amazing science on the interaction of glia and neurons, skip the middle portion of the book; I suspect it's quite dry for non-scientists.......more