Crossing: A Memoir

Crossing: A Memoir is Donald McCloskey's account of transitioning to become Deirdre McCloskey at age 53. The author, an established economics professor, documents the experiences and decisions involved in this gender transition during the 1990s. The memoir follows McCloskey's path through medical procedures, family reactions, and professional consequences in academic circles. It presents both personal and social dimensions of transition, including interactions with medical professionals, colleagues, and loved ones. The narrative tracks the practical and bureaucratic steps of gender transition, from initial counseling through legal processes. McCloskey maintains focus on concrete experiences rather than abstract theory. The work stands as a document of gender identity, self-discovery, and institutional power in American academic and medical systems. Through its detailed chronology, the memoir reveals intersections between personal authenticity and social structures.

Readers found McCloskey's detailed account of gender transition honest and intellectually rigorous. The book resonated with academics and economists due to its analytical approach to personal transformation. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of medical procedures and challenges - Integration of economic and social analysis - Humor despite difficult subject matter - Insights into academic culture Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Too much focus on professional life over emotional journey - Lengthy economic and academic digressions - Some readers found the tone detached Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (267 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Brings an economist's precision to a deeply personal story" - Goodreads reviewer "Too cerebral, needed more heart" - Amazon reviewer "Important perspective on gender in academia" - LibraryThing review "Sometimes gets lost in academic minutiae" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔹 Deirdre McCloskey's transition from Donald to Deirdre began at age 53, making her one of the most prominent senior academics to transition at the time (1995). 🔹 Before writing this memoir, McCloskey was already a well-respected economist and historian, having published numerous influential works in both fields under her previous name. 🔹 The book caused controversy in academic circles not only for its subject matter but because it challenged the traditional style of academic writing with its deeply personal narrative approach. 🔹 The memoir details how McCloskey maintained her professional standing while transitioning, continuing to teach at the University of Iowa and publish scholarly works throughout the process. 🔹 McCloskey's ex-wife and adult children initially tried to have her committed to a mental institution during her transition, a dramatic episode that forms one of the book's most powerful segments.