An in-depth review
All reviews represent the opinion of DSinclairWriting and are not sponsored; there are no affiliate links on this page.
Overall Score: 9/10
Key Takeaways
For the purposes of this review, the title of the book trans will have bold emphasis to distinguish it from other uses of the word. Rogers Brubaker expresses how the lack of capitalisation relates to the conceptual openness that he speaks about in the book in contrast to capitalised identities such as ‘Black’ or ‘Transgender’.
Review: 9/10
trans is a book I didn’t realise I needed. I came to it partly through friends’ recommendations and partly as a deliberate attempt to deepen my understanding of sex and gender identities.
Yet this is not the focus of the book!
trans instead approaches identity through its most fundamental meaning: fluidity, movement, change, and crossing boundaries.
In a time when discussions around trans identities, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial identity are often charged and complex, learning is essential—and trans delivered in ways that were both thought-provoking and necessary.
| Readability | 8/10 |
| DEIJ awareness | 8/10 |
| Applicability | 9/10 |
| Classroom use | 7/10 |
| Reading Speed | Natural pace |
| Reading order | Beginning to end |
| Uniqueness | A concise engagement which meaningfully crosses the two major worlds of identity discussions |
“The more heterogenous the categories and the more blurred their boundaries, the less resonant and meaningful they will be in organizing the lives of their members, the less pertinent and informative they will be as categories of analysis, and the less effective they will be in guiding public policy.” – Rogers Brubaker – trans
trans immediately dives into its themes. Deliberate in its approach, trans engages with identity without becoming entangled in political stances that might alienate broad audiences (well, at least for readers willing to engage beyond initial assumptions about the title!). It is a book of exploration, both academic and human, avoiding the ‘logic of the trial’ and instead seeking understanding.
Rogers Brubaker begins by highlighting two pivotal moments—the public response to Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out and the contrasted ‘exposing’ of Rachel Dolezal. Using these cases as jump-off points, he then sets a conceptual premise with strong supporting examples and considerations. He acknowledges the limitations of his work, situating it within Western settings and focusing on societies generally regarded as comparatively progressive. Through this lens, he crafts thought-provoking passages that help navigate the complexities of identity politics.
After establishing a context for identity and its relationship to society, Brubaker expands on his ideas with structured approaches that encourage readers to think with trans rather than merely think about trans. Thinking with a lens of change and fluidity as opposed to set categories, rather than thinking simply about the categories themselves.
I recommend engaging with thinking with trans to anyone working in community settings, especially those with the power and responsibility to shape access and inclusion based on identity categories. Also for those who wish to make sense of public reactions to identity expression and, more personally, deepen their understanding of the ways in which people perform, represent, and articulate their identities in response to societal reception and legal recognition.
Brubaker’s conceptual model—trans of migration, trans of between, and trans of beyond—resonated deeply with me. It offered a framework through which I could reconsider my own relationship with identity, particularly in my rejection of imposed racial categorisations. Rather than accepting established categories of race, I have sought more fluid and personal forms of self-identification, and Brubaker’s structuring helped me to articulate that impulse.
Beyond conceptual models, trans shines a light on the symbiosis between racial and sex/gender identity activism. With supporting knowledge about civil-rights movements, it is clear that each step forward in race-aligned activism laid the foundation for progress in sex/gender activism, and now, the immense work of gender-queer communities is reshaping conversations around the meaning and salience of racial identity. As discussions of gender fluidity challenge traditional ideas of categorisation, they open new possibilities for rethinking racial identity beyond historical frameworks.
trans gives readers a powerful new way to frame discussions, moving beyond surface-level controversy to engage with the transformative structures that shape identity debates. Rather than remaining locked in reactive questions like:
“Can this person go into these toilets?” or “Is this person allowed to express themself in this way?”
Brubaker redirects us to consider fundamental inquiries (these questions are generated by Daryl Sinclair’s reading of trans):
- What defines whether a person can or cannot do that?
- What is the relationship between how a person identifies and how society identifies them?
- Are these definitions compelling, or are they primarily used to preserve societal norms and structures?
- Are identity categories fixed, or can they evolve?
- Who decides?
Despite the powerful conceptual framings Brubaker provides, challenges remain in his engagement with racial identity. The trade-off of a concise book is that some complexities around race may not be explored in sufficient depth. Readers less familiar with identity discourse might miss these nuances, though many could have been resolved with more depth.
For example, when referring to Rachel Dolezal and the broader idea of a person racialised as white “passing” as someone racialised as Black, Brubaker uses the term ‘passing down’. This phrasing risks being read as reinforcing problematic hierarchies. However, when racial hierarchy is understood as a societal structure rather than an inherent personal reality, the term ‘passing down’ carries a certain accuracy.
Other areas which deserve more attention include;
- the complex interplay between identity advocacy among racialised groups and those aligned with sex/gender categories
- the major theoretical discussions on identity as a performance of self to other
- a more pointed consideration of scale, from the personal to the national and beyond
- contrasting Western approaches to race and sex/gender with global perspectives, offering alternative frameworks and going beyond.
Rogers Brubaker has put together an important and thought-provoking text that gets straight to the point but may have benefited from a little bit of a longer journey. This does not detract from its impact though. A page-turner and source of much refinement and inspiration, Brubaker has created a book that partners well with Yascha Mounk’s The Identity Trap and Sheena Mason’s The Raceless Antiracist as a way to reimagine a future for identity and how we engage with it as communities and a society as a whole.
trans ends without offering a single definitive answer or grand revelation, but instead urging us to think with trans as we continue navigating the evolving complexities of identity.trans is a work that may lead to epiphanies, may affirm your thoughts about self, and embolden you to think with trans as you seek to support inclusivity and belonging within your communities.
Detailed review:
Readability – 8/10
The printed book is reasonably small and will certainly require reading glasses for those who regularly use them. The 151 page length of the core book is a comfortable read and many regular readers will get through it within a week or two. The writing style is narrative and academic, designed to trigger many thoughts and ideas. I recommend making notes around and highlighting sections that you agree with and disagree with and exploring why. There are many quotes and references that you may find yourself wanting to refer to in the future so tag pages with book marks and post-it notes as you go.
The language used in the book is such that having a dictionary open on your phone as your read can be useful to ensure full understanding of the phrasing. The book is structured to build you towards Brubaker’s conceptual structure and this feels natural and is done well. Once fully read, there is great use as a reference book and to revisit thought-provoking passages.
DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) awareness – 8/10
Rogers Brubaker in trans is engaging with one of the most important concepts within DEIJ work, our ability to navigate and reimagine identity. Using trans to support DEIJ work and go beyond. Despite this there are some challenges in his engagement with race such as the use of the language ‘passing down’ to refer to a person who gets racialised as white passing as a person who gets racialised as black. Although conceptually robust, this language is vulnerable to reinforcing problematic hierarchies as it lacks appropriate explanation.
It appears that the depth of insight regarding central concepts of identity and racial identity are less well communicated as the insight into sex and gender identities. This can be navigated with critical reading and great growth can still be inspired from reading trans with the intention of application of your learning in a DEIJ context.
Applicability: Work – 9/10
The central conceptual model presented in trans can be applied to critical engagement with policy-making, community-building, and leadership strategies. trans supports de-escalation of complex discussions about identity through a focus on principles, values, and perspectives. Using thinking with trans as a framework for professional decision-making will greatly support DEIJ initiatives.
Applicability: Life – 9/10
trans can inspire epiphanies in how we view ourselves and how we critically engage with the world around us. By providing with a comprehensively structured lens for identity, how we categorise ourselves, others, and engage with how society reads us and others, we may be able to communicate more clearly and navigate communities more safely and inclusively.
Classroom use – 7/10
Classrooms are full of individuals who are literally forming their identities in the most salient ways. Individuals who may perform, intentionally and subconsciously, different identities on a daily basis as a response to the influences around them. trans is presented in a clear manner which enables the conceptual model to provide a framework for lessons about identity for students in secondary school.
As with all complex topics, appropriate translation of the ideas for the age and educational needs of the students within their context is key, but engaging with the central ideas in trans can greatly support the creation of an inclusive learning space and support the education of the whole-person.
Reading Speed – Natural pace
trans is a comfortable read in structure and pacing. Its shorter length is conducive to greater commitment to reading it and completing it without feeling like a marathon. Of course, the complexity of the subject matter means having space to discuss and ponder is key,as are approached with enough clarity that extensive ruminating is unlikely to be necessary until you reach the point to taking your thinking further. Pick it up and get started is what I am trying to say here!
Reading order – Beginning to end
trans is a beginning to end book and a great reference. Due to its short and concise nature, jumping through specific chapters can lead to important contextual points being missed.
Uniqueness – A concise engagement which meaningfully crosses the two major worlds of identity discussions
Rogers Brubaker has created an accessible and important text for many of the changes in identity-based rights happening in the world today. By making previously purely academic concepts of identity more accessible, we may see even more progress in movement away from restrictive identity lables. I encourage pairing trans with other notable texts in the space, and thoroughly recommend it.
