No Way Renee: The Second Half of My Notorious Life

by Renee Richards, John Edward Ames

In 1975, at the age of forty, Richard Raskind, a renowned eye surgeon and highly ranked amateur tennis player, "died," and Renée Richards was "born," in what was to become the most public and highly scrutinized sex reassignment to date. It was not until Renée Richards was discovered playing in an amateur tennis tournament that the world took notice. Extensive media coverage and criticism thrust Renée reluctantly into the spotlight, sparking an intense public debate over her private life. Now, at seventy-two, Richards looks back and speaks frankly about all aspects of her complicated and often notorious life in this eye-opening, thought-provoking memoir.

Richards' honest and compelling narrative explores the dichotomy between the successful life she lived as Dr. Richard Raskind, who seemed to have everything (devoted friends, a beautiful wife and son, a stellar record of academic and professional achievement, and outstanding athletic ability), and a secret life of struggle with a drive that could not be suppressed, even by years of psychotherapy and the force of a considerable will.

Richards takes readers through her difficult decision to undergo surgery and the complex mixture of relief and continued frustration that came with the realization of her new identity. Discussing life after her transformation, Richards candidly relates the details, trials, and pleasures of her romantic life as well as fascinating stories about her tennis career, including her experiences as Martina Navratilova's coach. She also provides an intimate account of her difficult but rewarding relationship with her rebellious son: runaway teenager, high-stakes Vegas gambler, karate champion, and entrepreneur. She describes the deterioration of a once-loving marriage and the challenges of reclaiming her place at the forefront of her demanding medical specialty. Having lived as a woman almost as long as she lived as a man, Richards draws on a personal history that illuminates thirty years of remarkable change in society's attitude toward gender issues. Her absorbing and inspiring story, at once heartbreaking and uplifting, is a testimony to how far we have progressed in our ability to discuss and accept sexuality in all its iterations, as well as a reminder of how far we still must travel.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, LGBT, Gender, Transgender, Memoir, Queer

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 7, 2006

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Larry Levine once remarked ‘Renée, you have led the most unconventional of lives but have the most conventional views’.”

This feels like the most clear summary of a book that covers chasing a 13 year old son down to Jamaica when he ran away (from new york), learning to pilot planes in iowa, and suing to participate in pro-women’s tennis. Overall her life was really interesting and I found this book to be painfully honest. Especially at the end speaking of the regrets generated through living a life to the age of 70. I genuinely found Renèe’s politics and ideas to be very conservative throughout her recounting stories of her life. I found her perspective on her own ‘groundbreaking’ really interesting especially reading at a time with several (disgusting) attempts within the US to ban trans children from participating in sports.

“However, I have never wanted to be pigeonholed as a transsexual, and I don’t want to be remembered solely as one who took on the world in behalf of her kind and won an important battle. I am first and last an individual. When I think of myself, I don’t think “transsexual.” First, I am a doctor. If I have to characterize myself further, I am likely to say, “I am an old Blue.” A Yale graduate. Why? Because transsexuality is something that happened to me; whereas, graduating from Yale and from the University of Rochester Medical School are things I made happen.”

[Readersaurus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really a must read, but a fascinating look at a pioneer in transgender America and how the way we talk about gender has changed so much in the past few years. This book is 16 years old, and Richards is looking back at a life that began in the 1930s. There’s some fun stuff in here about professional tennis in the 70s and 80s, too, and reflections on parenting and how a person becomes happy with oneself.

[Asher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even accounting for how old this book is and the era Renée grew up in, I did not appreciate her comments regarding other trans people or her seeming commitment to maintaining normalcy. Maybe it helped her lead the life she's led, but it doesn't make things better for the community at large, even if she insists on that.

[Brad McMasters · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read her first autobiography when I was in the 7th grade (why would a mother hand a child that book?) and was totally INTRIGUED. I remembered the news in the 70's. The story stuck with me for many years. I recently attended a Little Black Dress Run in which I ran 5 miles in a black tank dress and tennis shoes. I felt I looked like Renee Richards and I began to wonder how the rest of her life (was she even still living?) had went. I discovered she'd just written her second autobiography.

As a child, I was intrigued with the story. As an adult, with a lot more life experience, I was more interested in the person. I found Renee Richards not very likable. Stuffy, arrogant, selfish, but I also found her honest in many ways. She's been criticized for admitting that she's not comfortable with her position as a post-op transgendered role model and questioning some of her life decisions (including that big one), but I appreciated her fortitude in standing her ground to the very end of the book, and, it seems, her life.

[Evanston Public Library]

I vaguely remember the 1976 controversy when tennis amateur Renee Richards became the first transgendered person to play on the circuit, however after recently catching the documentary Renee on cable I wanted to know more. The documentary covered Dick Raskin turned Renee Richards’ personal and professional life, both as a gifted tennis player and talented ophthalmologist. She seemed to me to be such a paradox, moving from the east coast to California post surgery to begin her new life as a woman and yet also entering tennis tournaments that were sure to uncover the secret she claimed she desperately wanted to hide. Wanting to know more about her life, I sought out Richards’ second book, No Way Renee, which focuses on the second half of her life, post gender change. She takes the reader through the highs and lows of her life thus far, and let’s us in on the joys and regrets she has faced. Richards is an honest and unapologetic narrator and her story makes for an interesting read.

Rika G.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting as far as Renee's life goes, but not something to turn to if you want to learn about transsexuals in general. She admits that she is not part of the greater trans* community, but she says things like 'Transsexuals tend to dress like your Aunt Mildred', and a few other things that reinforce negative stereotypes about trans* women. That particular quote was also said well after she recognizes the existence of FtM trans* people, as well.

[Mindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting learning about the realities of a sex-change operation, and the description of a childhood at Deer Lake Camp sounded idyllic, except for the chicken-gutting part! "Deer Lake campers knew that fried chicken did not appear magically in a cheerful cardboard bucket."

Unfortunately, many of Renee's comments about other people throughout the book come off as tiresomely whiny and catty.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had bought and read the 1st bio from this author several years ago. Finding out there was a 2nd book was a nice surprise. You don't have to be interested in trans issues or tennis or anything specific to enjoy the easy and engaging syle of these books. The author has a nice and easy candor that makes these books a fun read.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book! Renee Richards, is so eloquent, clear and honest about her experiences as a human being.

[Barbara]

I couldn't read it. First chapter or two turned me off so much that I decided "life's too short".