The Secrets of My Life

By Caitlyn Jenner

The Secrets of My Life - Caitlyn Jenner
  • Release Date: 2017-04-25
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 3.5
3.5
From 317 Ratings

Description

In this remarkable memoir former Olympian and Kardashian family member Caitlyn Jenner reveals shocking and heartbreaking stories from her journey to become a transgender woman and fight for the LGBTQ+ community.

Imagine denying your core and soul. Then add to it the most impossible expectations that people have for you because you are the personification of The American Male Athlete.
Bruce Jenner, the celebrated Olympic icon and later the patriarch of one of the most famous families in the world, seemed to be living a dream life of success, fame, and prosperity. But the all-American image and million-dollar smile belied a lifelong struggle with gender dysphoria, and it wasn't until the sensational Diane Sawyer interview that the public mask of Bruce Jenner was finally retired, and through the memorable Vanity Fair piece by Buzz Bissinger, that Caitlyn Jenner was introduced to the world and set free to exist on her own terms. Since then, Caitlyn has undertaken an arduous emotional and physical odyssey to achieve the completeness she always felt was missing.
In The Secrets of My Life, Caitlyn reflects on the inner conflict she experienced growing up in an era of rigidly defined gender identities, and the cruel irony of being hailed by an entire nation as the ultimate symbol of manhood. She recounts her Olympic triumph, her rise to fame, and relates how her sense of frustration and shame grew with the passing years and the lengths to which she had to go to conceal her true self. Caitlyn in turn uncovers the toll that these personal struggles had on her three marriages and, subsequently, the relationships with her children. She also talks candidly about her life in the public eye as a member of the Kardashian clan, what led to her decision to become Caitlyn, and how she, her family, the transgender community, and the rest of the world has since embraced her new life.
Filled with incredibly personal and moving stories of struggle and victory, of anxiety and fear, and, finally, of surrender and acceptance, The Secrets of My Life reveals the real Caitlyn Jenner by tracing her long and eventful journey to becoming herself.

Reviews

  • Wonderful book

    5
    By dhfkaf
    Bruce Jenner was one of my heroes as I was growing up. I was so disappointed when I saw that he had transitioned to a woman. However, after reading his story, I totally support him and think his transition is wonderful. I think everyone should read his book so they can understand that being transgender is real and cool!!
  • Just desperate to earn money!

    1
    By mc hottie
    This book is full of crap! I read it cause i was curious but this book is full of crap!
  • More corrections on quotes than describing life

    1
    By ricoml
    Caitlyn spoke more about mistakes and how the media portrays her and views her rather than just talking about what life was like living with this huge secret. Would never hAve bought it had I known how much time was wasted just making corrections on public speeches that was misconstrued or taken out of context . Smh
  • Not worth the purchase

    1
    By Shayna Rae
    It’s such a slow read. The details are lame and accusatory. Seems like I read a forced or embellished journal entry.
  • The secrets of my life

    4
    By Spice chicken
    Very interesting and educational. She is a brave woman and deserves a happy and fulfilling life. Impressed with her courage and wish her a life of joy and peace.
  • Very candid

    4
    By LisiHere
    I can feel his pain when he describes his internal struggles for not being his authentic self for many years. It was evident he felt like a female since he was very young. It was interesting to see how sports became his distraction from his inner thoughts and struggles, while at the same time pushing more towards what he didn’t want- being a stereotypical good looking male jock. I didn’t care to read about OJ Simpson. I’m also not sure if he was truly honest when sharing that a few years after marrying Kris Jenner, she made it difficult for him to be with his older kids. He did admit to not being a present father or much of a caring father before, prior to marrying Kris, so I think that’s more of the real truth. I’m glad Cait’s happy now and living her life to the fullest, not living as a hermit or in fear of being found out. I wish the book was longer. I’m sure there were more stories to share.
  • Not what I expected

    3
    By OzGal4Now
    Caitlyn may have felt she was unfolding her secrets but few things were surprising. A mediocre story with little to teach.
  • There Are No Adequate Words

    5
    By BakerReader
    This journey describes Bruce's lifelong feelings of isolation, fear, and the awkward fraudulent existence he endured for many years. This journey describes his rage and depression- his exasperation in living a lie. What Bruce AND Caitlin did together is courageously walk through a painful and amazing transition to get to an felusive but imagined beautiful authentic self. One that hopefully is anxiously waiting your arrival - and hasn't given up on you. Your real self, whom you have never met, but yet have known your whole life. A self you pray likes and accepts your entrance and embraces your future. I am not transgender and had no personal pull to read about the subject. However, more often than not, I realize I don't always know the why, until I have experienced the wow. You were amazing on the TV in my Oklahoma living room when I was 12, and you are even more amazing now. Thank you for writing this. Thank you for opening up to so many who desperately need just a spark of your experience. Just a spark can and will move them from hurting to hope. p.s. you're absolutely beautiful. Alice B. Oklahoma City, Oklahomap
  • Glad I read but yeesh poor writing

    4
    By Jb0362370
    I’m glad I read it but had no fluidity. One minute it’s 1980 next it’s 2007 and then it’s the olympics. Hard to follow and a large portion was just telling off public enemy’s. But again glad I read the perspective of the person.
  • Don't judge a book by the cover

    5
    By Dr.Erick Chávez
    There's a saying that goes there's 3 versions of a story, yours, mine, and the truth. We all were taken by surprise when we welcomed Caitlyn, and we rushed to judge her based on our points of view, and also in our preconceptions of the Kardashian clan. But reading the book I empathize a lot more with the Transgender family and when money and status can't buy the self-esteem and sense of who we are. Just because she has influence, that does not makes the experience easier is just another journey.