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  • Beyond the Gender Binary

  • Pocket Change Collective
  • By: Alok Vaid-Menon
  • Narrated by: Alok Vaid-Menon
  • Length: 1 hr and 7 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (55 ratings)

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Beyond the Gender Binary

By: Alok Vaid-Menon
Narrated by: Alok Vaid-Menon
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the 2021 In The Margins Award

"When reading this book, all I feel is kindness."—Sam Smith, Grammy and Oscar award-winning singer and songwriter

"Thank God we have Alok. And I'm learning a thing or two myself."—Billy Porter, Emmy award-winning actor, singer, and Broadway theater performer

"Beyond the Gender Binary will give readers everywhere the feeling that anything is possible within themselves"—Princess Nokia, musician and co-founder of the Smart Girl Club

"A fierce, penetrating, and empowering call for change."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"An affirming, thoughtful read for all ages."—School Library Journal, starred review

In Beyond the Gender Binary, poet, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate Alok Vaid-Menon deconstructs, demystifies, and reimagines the gender binary.

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, Beyond the Gender Binary, Alok Vaid-Menon challenges the world to see gender not in black and white, but in full color. Taking from their own experiences as a gender-nonconforming artist, they show us that gender is a malleable and creative form of expression. The only limit is your imagination.

©2020 Alok Vaid-Menon (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

"There's no better time for a new conversation about the damaging effects of mainstream society's oppressive, dismissive, and silencing stance on who folks are supposed to be based on...what...? Thank God we have Alok. And I'm learning a thing or two myself." (Billy Porter, Emmy award-winning actor, singer, and Broadway theater performer)

"This beautiful book is a beacon, just like Alok. Having Alok in my life has saved me in so many ways, and now you can have a little bit of them with you, too. When reading this book, all I feel is kindness. This is a step-by-step education on what it means to respect non-binary people. Alok is a human being who has a deep love and commitment to other human beings. They have come to us from the future to show us what life could be like if we all loved a little harder and dug a little deeper." (Sam Smith, Grammy and Oscar award-winning singer and songwriter)  

"Beyond the Gender Binary is a literary vessel of light for those who are looking for hopefulness, honesty, and a stimulating education in the exploration of themselves. This book is a twenty-first-century survival guide for queer-identifying people of all walks of life—Alok provides a safe space of shared experiences, commitment, and love to expand the gender binary to create a brighter and more inclusive present and future. This book shares wisdom, knowledge, and the universal spirit of celebrating one's self by shattering the transphobic lens that hinders most gender non-conforming people. Beyond the Gender Binary will give readers everywhere the feeling that anything is possible within themselves, and that self-love through whatever choice of gender expression is truly attainable." (Princess Nokia, musician and co-founder of the Smart Girl Club)

What listeners say about Beyond the Gender Binary

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Soul Inspiring & Thoughtful

I love that Alok narrates Their own book. Their voice and compassion is felt throughout the content.

This was easy to listen to & understand. It was thought provoking & I wish all people in the world thought as They do ♡

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Wow!!!!

I came out almost a decade ago and always thought of my femininity as a discrepancy to be phased out on my journey to becoming a palatable cis gay guy. This book completely turns everything I knew about myself on its head. I had to pause every so often to process what Alok was saying and compare it to my own experiences. A very powerful and extremely thought-provoking read.

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A quick and powerful message

Thank you Alok for being so validating and informative. This book gives you permission to be yourself and challenge heteronormative beliefs

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Alok's words hold so much wisdom

A really easy listen, concise and informative, as well as validating for those who are yet to find out who they are as a person.

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great listen

I often wish i was more articulate, and this book has helped me understand how I'm feeling.

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Essential

Alok speaks in a way that feels like it connects deep within your soul. Their writing is most eloquent and their story here leaves you with few questions other than, what am I so afraid of?

I encourage everyone to read and listen to the voices of those who walk a varied path to our own and this is a remarkable, short but powerful message.

Thank you Alok - your colour, presence, style and art in this world is a gift 🌈

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Insightful

A short, but nonetheless important discussion about how the confines of the gender binary hurt and hinder us all. Ideal for anyone wanting to support a trans or non-binary friend or family member.

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they're amazing

i loved this book, especially with Alok reading it. highly recommended, especially for people who want to know more about non binary life.

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Important information

Alok shares their story in an accessible way. I recommend this book and as it's not hours and hours long, I think it's easy to add it to your list.

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