The Secrets of My Life

by Caitlyn Jenner

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Gender

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2017

About the author

Caitlyn Marie Jenner formerly known as Bruce Jenner, is an American television personality and retired Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete.

Reviews

[Ary Chest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ary: Hi, Caitlyn! Glad you have a moment to sit with me and chat about your new book. Congrats!

Caitlyn: Hi, Ary. Beautiful home you have. I didn't know welfare bought you nice houses like this one nowadays.

Ary: Oh, Caitlyn. You're so funny. Like when you said you endorsed Ted Cruz, and later stated that you believed Trump could be flipped in trans issues. You broke the internet more than Kim's butt!

Caitlyn: That wasn't a joke.

Ary: (Coughs.) Anyway, let's get to the book. Can you tell us about it?

Caitlyn: Of course! I'm so proud of it! It's got more words than I could produce in one season of a reality show!

Ary: Can you tell us what's in it?

Caitlyn: I cover a lot of time in 300 pages. It starts from when I was little boy. There's a lot of focus on the last two years, when Caitlyn was introduced and got adjusted into the world. I still am!

Ary: Interesting. Last two years? You mean the same chunk of time that was extensively covered by every major media outlet, blogger, and your own reality show I Am Cait?

Caitlyn: Exactly! It was the most turbulent yet rewarding time of my life!

Ary: Interesting for a book titled The Secrets of My Life. Where are the secrets? It's not secret if cameras were on you 24/7.

Caitlyn: Oh, there are secrets! You see, the book has a special structure. Each chapter alternates from my early years and Olympic career to the more recent past. The last two years are sort of a framing device to show how I'm making a difference for the trans community, while the chapters on the past show how I came to terms with my trans identity.

Ary: Wonderful! That's a lot like Alan Cummings memoir Not My Father's Son. He used the same structure to show how far he came from his poor, English town and how he navigated his adult life being in the closet. Was this contrast a shared goal with your book?

Caitlyn: Not really. I had a much juicier goal. I used the present day chapters to debunk media myths that were made about me and fire back at people who talked about me in a way I didn't like. There's also a lot on how mean O.J. was.

Ary: So what exactly is so unique and secretive about writing the last two years since your first Diane Sawyer interview?

Caitlyn: You get to read about it from my point of view! I tell a lot about my Versace dress.

Ary: Now let's go into the past a little.

Caitlyn: I struggled with gender identity for a long time.

Ary: Go on.

Caitlyn: What? That's all you need to know. I give lots of stories about how I used to crossdress and see if I could get away with it in public. I had many close calls. That's pretty wild.

Ary: What about the part when you truly accepted your trans identity? Did it happen, when your first wife caught you crossdressing.

Caitlyn: The answer is in the book.

Ary: It just says she was shocked. What happened after that?

Caitlyn: Moving on.

Ary: What about Linda? You wrote that you two went to couples therapy over the matter. What were on those sessions? That seems pretty secretive.

Caitlyn: Nobody cares.

Ary: What about Gertrude, the gender therapist you sought out. You had a special bond with her. Did you tell us what was talked about in those sessions?

Caitlyn: Get over your obsessions with therapists. Therapists aren't glamorous.

Ary: But Kris is. And she is pissed over what you wrote about her. What did you write that is irking her so much?

Caitlyn: That she was controlling over my gender identity and didn't want me doing anything weird in public.

Ary: That's kind of expected of a woman who trademarks herself as a momager. We all figured that she was also a wifeager. Anything else? There has to be something. You can't possibly tell me that Kris being controlling of your image is the reality behind the reality show. Otherwise, that would make her public statements about your book just another PR stunt to boost sales. I can't think of why she would do that, other than maybe so you'll stop suing her for money because you aren't collecting a paycheck from your show anymore.

Caitlyn: .....

Ary: So I guess you could say the secret in The Secrets of My Life is that the media and people are getting you wrong.

Caitlyn: Bingo!

Ary: Let's talk about the most controversial quality about you. Your politics. Do you go into why being a Republican can go hand in hand with being transgender or part of the L.G.B.T.Q. community?

Caitlyn: No, actually, Bill Bissinger, my ghost writer made me appear more liberal. I say nothing about my politics, but I talk extensively about my white privilege and how not enough light is shed on the community. That's pretty openminded.

Ary: That's pretty intriguing. Did that get you thinking about how the L.G.B.T.Q. movement goes hand in hand with the Black Lives Matter movement. Both minorities knows what it's like to be discriminated. The Stonewall Riot was instigated by a trans woman. Do you see parallels between that revolutionary communal act and the protests happening today?

Caitlyn: No idea what you're talking about.

Ary: I guess those talks with Bill didn't go so great.

Caitlyn: No, but he did do a good job writing in my voice. I've struggled with reading my whole life, so Bill was courteous to write the book like I would've done it, with tons of grammatical errors that make reading it hard. I tell you, I hate commas. When I write, I don't bother creating clauses in my sentences, so they run on.

Ary: It looks to me like Bill did a lot more than write in your voice. He captured the characteristics you most value in yourself. Like how humble you say you were after the Olympics, not wanting to milk your fame too much, even though you did nothing but make public appearances for a living and signed on to be a sports correspondent. But it's not your fault. It's not like there was anything you could've done. Triathlon coach is so old retiree work. And then there's how you say you're such a good listener. Never mind you turning into a nuclear bomb when your costars on I Am Cait disagreed with you on who should be the next president. I can see these listening skills were applied to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. You did a lot of research. Like when you said there had never been an openly gay N.F.L. star.

Michael Sam: Hey, I beg to differ!

Caitlyn: Shut up, Michael. Your fifteen minutes are over. I didn't even have my first public kiss with a guy yet. And, Ary, you're wrong about me and the community. I talk about my trans friends a lot in the book.

Ary: Yes, everyone who was on the show with you. I can tell you are nostalgic for I Am Cait. You ever refer to Jenifer Finney Boylan as your I Am Cait sister. Not your trans sister, your I Am Cait sister. Yes, because reality TV is what binds us all together for life. Isn't that right, Kim?

Kim: What did you say? Cait, you better not get a bigger ass than me!

Cait: The show was groundbreaking. I mean, I shone the spotlight on a community in the shadows.

Ary: Yes, I love all those interviews you conducted with so many people who suffered. You were like a real journalist. I could feel the passion to take a bad experience and use it to make the world a better place. Oh, wait, I'm thinking of Leah Remini's docuseries on Scientology.

Leah: Hey, my book kicks way more ass!

Ary: Yes, it does, Leah. Yes, it does.

I can't with this woman. I know this will be a #1 bestseller. She's like that one guest at the party you have to invite so you don't appear like a dick, not because you want to. She just keeps barging into our lives with some ridiculous statement. Caitlyn does try to humble herself in this book, but she only does it to the bare minimum she needs to. She isn't this deep, introspective person because she wants to, but because she knows she has to, if she wants to be liked. Caitlyn, take an example from The Art of the Deal. If there's anything Trump has taught us, being liked has nothing to do with being successful.

I know you still have your flaws. I know you are still working things out. I'm proud you can be open about them. And, I'll give it to you, the humor sprinkled in your book was kind of funny. But, please, for someone who admires Janet Mock's and Kate Bornstein's books, you could've taken the opportunities to amplify their messages in your writing. I know this is a memoir, and it is about you. It should be, of course. But, like your show, we don't learn anything new about being trans that we already got from the internet. God forbid a trans woman be your ghost writer.

This book is just an extension of her reality show because, like the rest of the Kardashians, she only way she can see herself is through a camera.

[Miranda Reads]

As mentioned in the novel, I will be using Bruce/he for her past as Bruce (as the author did), and switching to Caitlyn/she for when she transitioned.

As with much of the world, I am fairly aware of the Kardashians/Jenners and their various scandals and upheavals. I remember hearing about the transition close to when the Vanity Fair article aired and thought, "Well, that's a new one."

It's so easy to think of reality TV stars as characters rather than people. They're larger-than-life, dealing with issues often worthy of a sitcom and more often than not, they appear so two-dimensionally ridiculous. This book shattered such notions.

Bruce Jenner always wanted to be a girl - from when he was a child trying on his sister's clothing to his adulthood, applying makeup in a hotel bathroom - he never felt right in his skin. When he finally began to transition, he continuously went back and forth - terrified of what his family, friends and media would think.

Especially the media. When you're in the public eye, everyone thinks you're fair game. For example, when TMZ (somehow) found out he was starting to transition, Bruce begged them not to publish. He hadn't even told his whole family yet and was filled with terror. He remembers thinking,

"You keep a gun in the house. Why not use it? Just get it over with."

And this is someone who's dealt with the media his entire life.

"Some people mention the word bravery in my transition from Bruce to Caitlyn in the spring of 2015 at the age of 65. It is flattering...For me it was a form of cowardice to wait so long."

Reading this book gave depth previously unknown to Caitlyn and this memoir was absolutely fascinating.

"Please, I am begging you, don’t ever let your life succumb to what others think. Do not give into fear, as I did for so many years. Do what is in your heart and soul. I guarantee you will never ever regret it. Instead, you will have the very opposite, not an imagined life but a life of new possibility, a true life."

Audiobook Comments
Normally, I bash authors who do not read their own memoirs but not this case. Caitlyn read an introduction, explaining the years of dsylexia she's suffered and how she wants this book to be seen/heard the way she intended.

The 2018 PopSugar Reading Challenge - A book with a LGBTQ+ protagonist

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

To see the review with more photos got to my blog https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

Note: In my review of this memoir I'm going to follow the author's lead, using male pronouns for Bruce 'pre-transition,' and female pronouns for Caitlyn 'post-transition.'

In 1976 Bruce Jenner won an Olympic gold medal for the decathlon, earning the title 'World's Greatest Athlete.' In photos, it's clear the champion was well-built and movie-star handsome.


Bruce Jenner won an Olympic Gold Medal for the Decathlon

No one would have guessed that Bruce hated his body, feeling he was stuck with the wrong (male) physique. Almost forty years later, in 2015, Bruce publicly transitioned to his true female gender, becoming Caitlyn Jenner. In this book Caitlyn tells her story.


Caitlyn Jenner after her transition

From the time he was in elementary school, Bruce felt like something was wrong with him. He was dyslexic, with "massive reading difficulties", and dreaded going to school.

He was also drawn to female attire and - when alone in the house - would put on his mother's dress, slip on his sister's shoes, apply a dab of lipstick, and gaze into the mirror.....feeling "something was right about this."



At that time, in the 1950's - the word 'transgender' was far in the future - and Bruce had no vocabulary to describe his compulsions. Thus he was bewildered, uncomfortable, and intensely secretive.

Bruce soon discovered he was a gifted athlete and threw himself into sports, in part to distract himself from his gender concerns. As a youth Bruce took up water-skiing, basketball, football, and track and field - becoming a high school star.


Bruce Jenner was a high school athlete

It was at Graceland College, though, where Bruce set his sights on the decathlon. With the strong encouragement of college Coach L.D. Weldon, Bruce started to train for the ten decathlon events: the 100 meters, the long jump, the shot put, the high jump, the 400 meters, the 110-meter hurdles, the discus, the pole vault, the javelin, and the 1,500 meters. According to the author, "You can lose yourself in that [practice]. Whatever thoughts you have inside don't go away, but they do go numb."


Bruce Jenner was a college athlete

At Graceland College Bruce met his first wife, Chrystie Scott, who supported him emotionally and financially as he trained to be a world class competitor.


Bruce Jenner and his first wife Chrystie Scott

In secret, Bruce would don his wife's clothes, and when Chrystie discovered this in 1973, Bruce told her about his gender issues. Chrystie was shocked, but Bruce (disingenuously) told her it was 'a phase', and matters were left like that as Bruce continued training.

Once Bruce won the gold medal at the Montreal Olympics, he had many financial opportunites: he became the 'face' of Wheaties; appeared on talk shows; did a special with Bob Hope; dipped a toe into movies and TV series; became a broadcaster for a number of network sports shows; and traveled around the country giving motivational speeches.


Bruce Jenner was the face of 'Wheaties'

For various reasons - including his gender dysphoria - Bruce and Chrystie grew apart and separated. Attempts at reconciliation failed, and the couple divorced in 1981, leaving their son and daughter - Burt and Casey - essentially fatherless.

Meanwhile, Bruce met Linda Thompson, an actress and songwriter who happened to be Elvis Presley's former girlfriend. Bruce and Linda dated for several years, married in 1981, and had two sons - Brandon and Brody.


Bruce Jenner and his second wife Linda Thompson

While married to Linda, in the early 1980s, Bruce was "struggling with the issue of [his] identity more than ever." The author writes about those years, "I seek every opportunity I can to cross-dress" and "[I] get my hands on a couple of wigs." Fearing Linda would catch him, Bruce told her that he identified as a woman. She didn't understand, was shocked to see him in female mode, and their marriage ended shortly afterward. Once again, Bruce essentially abandoned his children.

Bruce was very unhappy by the mid-1980s, so he isolated himself in a small house in Malibu and lowered his public profile. Bruce started seeing a therapist named Trudy Hill and got electrolysis - a long term, painful procedure - to permanently remove his facial and chest hair. Bruce's trusted friend, Wendy Roth, helped him purchase women's clothing and wigs. Bruce also started hormone therapy, which gave him womanly breasts. Jenner writes, "Obviously.....when you have your beard removed and the effects of hormones kick in, people are going to notice."


Bruce Jenner started to look more feminine

In addition, Bruce sometimes ventured out and drove around dressed as a woman. The writer states about that era, "I am now almost forty. I feel good....[having] allowed the woman inside me to live and breathe." BUT, Bruce greatly feared discovery - afraid of what his kids would think and doubtful of obtaining employment if he was exposed.

Feeling he needed to bring 'Bruce Jenner - Olympic champion' back into the public eye, Bruce discontinued hormone therapy in 1990 and started dating Kris Kardashian, who was in the middle of a divorce. Bruce and Kris married in 1991, and - according to the author - had a loving, sexual relationship (at first).


Bruce Jenner and his third wife Kris Kardashian

Jenner notes that Kris knew about his cross-dressing and permitted it.....but not at home. Thus, Bruce packed wigs, make-up, and womens' outfits when he went out of town for promotional talks, and dressed up in his hotel at night. He would then walk through the lobby and go for a drive wearing ladies' garments.....a terribly risky venture.

According to the author, Kris got him back in the gym and 'helped restore his image and credibility.' She also reveled in being married to a high profile celebrity. For his part, Bruce was a caring stepfather to the Kardashian kids - (Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob) and a devoted dad to his two daughters with Kris (Kendall and Kylie).

In recent years, Jenner - who openly admits to being a terrible father to the first four Jenner children - reached out and established affectionate bonds with them as well.


Bruce Jenner with his grown sons Brody and Brandon


Bruce reconnected with his grown children Burt and Casey

Bruce, Kris, and their brood rubbed along pretty happily until 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' - which debuted in 2007 - became a runaway hit. Jenner observes that he was depicted on the show as, "....the well-meaning but confused and helpless father and husband. I get love but little respect." Jenner also observes, "I believe that the more successful [the show] becomes, the less [Kris] needs me and "[it's] more obvious.....that Kris wants me out of the house as much as possible." Moreover, the scads of people in the house during the show's filming afforded Bruce little privacy - and he was desperately lonely amidst the crowd.

By 2013 Bruce had separated from Kris and moved into a house in Malibu. He had a tracheal shave, to reduce the size of his Adam's apple and - despite elaborate efforts at secrecy - was exposed on TMZ....to his great embarrassment.


Bruce Jenner was exposed as being transgender

Bruce contemplated suicide at this time, but spoke to his pastor and rallied. By 2015, Bruce decided to make the transition to female. At the time, the author contemplated, "How am I going to do this without being subjected to even more worldwide ridicule than I already have been? The idea of a man becoming a woman is still shocking and weird to people, ghoulishly funny."

Thus, Bruce contacted his former publicist, Alan Nierob, who arranged for an interview with Diane Sawyer and an article in Vanity Fair magazine - both respected forums in which Bruce would tell the world he was becoming Caitlyn.


Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine

Prior to the publicity, Bruce confided his plans to his family - sister, mother, children, and step-children - and to his management team.....all of whom expressed support (though Bruce suspected not everyone was completely sincere).

The author thought, "I want to look as physically a woman as I possibly can" and went on to have facial feminization surgery, a breast augmentation, and "The Final Surgery"
- a vaginoplasty (conversion of penile tissue into a vagina).

Towards the end of the book, Caitlyn writes, "I have written this book to help us see that there is no right way to be, no wrong way to be, or any way to be except who you are." Caitlyn talks a great deal about her support of the LGBTQ community, especially transgender individuals - who experience frequent discrimination....and even violence. Caitlyn knows that her position as a high profile transgender person gives her a platform to try and effect change.

For people interested in the 'dishier' parts of the book, here are a few tidbits:
- During his motivational speeches, Bruce dressed in a suit and tie.....but had a bra and panties on underneath.
- Jenner says about O.J. Simpson, "[Knowing him] a litle bit goes a very long way because of his endless braggadocio" and "[O.J.] is the most narcissistic, egocentric, neediest, asshole in the world of sports I had every seen." Jenner believes O.J. murdered Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, and asserts that Kris's ex-husband, Robert Kardashian - one of O.J.'s lawyers - wouldn't have minded if O.J. was convicted.

-Kris controlled all the money during their marriage (though she generously bought Bruce a Porsche) and scrutinized his credit card purchases with a fine tooth comb.
- Of the Kardashian clan, Kim is the most accepting of Caitlyn's transition, while Khloe is having the most difficulty with it, and barely speaks to her stepfather. (Caitlyn notes that she told her kids it's fine to call her 'dad.')
-Caitlyn is not particularly interested in sex with either women or men.
-Caitlyn is a lifelong Republican, though that party is not renowned for its open-mindedness towards LGTBQ issues. (On her Instagram, Caitlyn takes Donald Trump to task, telling him to 'call her.')
-Rumors that Caitlyn regrets making the transition are a complete lie.

I read this book out of curiosity. I had seen Caitlyn promoting the book on morning TV and read an excerpt in People magazine....so when I saw the book on the 'new arrivals' shelf at the library, I snagged it. In my opinion, this is a sincere depiction of Caitlyn's experiences as she remembers them. Caitlyn's story is compelling, and helped me better understand people who have gender dysphoria. I felt great empathy when Caitlyn talked about her shame, fear, loneliness, and isolation - which reverberated through the years and affected every relationship she had. I hope Caitlyn's story provides help and comfort to people who have issues similar to hers.

That said, the book's writing (I assume by co-author Buzz Bissinger) is on the lower end of adequate and the story includes a lot of fluff and padding. Still, if you have an interest in (or are curious about) the subject, you'll find something here.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caitlyn deserves credit for being so honest about her confusion and life-altering decisions. She's very fortunate that Bruce's ex wives and children are all so supportive. What kept going through my mind as I read this though was that this story was in no way typical for a transgender. This was practically a fairy tale compared to the majority of those faced with the difficult choices that come with being trapped inside the wrong body. Caitlyn has tons of money, a huge support system, access to excellent medical care. That's why her advocacy of the LGBT community is so positive. She is a well-known face in the media who is compassionate and sincere. I hope she can make a difference.

[Lisa K · Rating 1 out of 5]

3 stars for the OJ gossip, especially bold considering he's up for parole and hates women, zero stars for the rest!
Off the top of my head:
#1 are you allowed to describe someone as having a "Jewish accent"
#2 did Kris edit the book so she could take a royalty cut but not actually read it or was there just no editor whatsoever
#3 I can't decide if it was "shopping addict" Buzz Bissinger or Caitlyn but how are you comparing male ejaculation to menstruation
#4 Caitlyn WHY would you brag about not reading feminist authors
#5 extremely misleading title, THERE WEREN'T ANY SECRETS
This book sucked!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve written of a book because I’m not really sure what to say. It was a good book and really informative about being a transgender. There were a lot of interesting chapters but there was a lot of boring chapters too. Some were quite repetitive and I found that Caitlyn just seemed to care about what clothes she should wear than anything else. I wish there was more information regarding the kardashian/jenner family and felt it was just glossed over. She is very brave for all she’s been through and I wish her all the best.

[Aaron · Rating 1 out of 5]

So very tone deaf

[Susan Crowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

So very glad I decided to read/listen to this book. I did it all in one day. Highly recommended if you want to know Caitlyn's story.

May 19, 2021
I am changing my 5 star review to a one star. I'm very disappointed and disgusted with this person.

[Gina *loves sunshine* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The memoir of Bruce Jenner, now Caitlyn. I thought it was well paced, interesting and the narrator was good. In the case of memoirs, I really enjoy when a author narrates their own book. But as Caitlyn explains in the beginning, she is not a great reader, has always suffered from dyslexia, and thought it would work better with a professional - it was fine and still felt authentic!

I do watch the Kardashian's show, I did watch the interview with Diane Sawyer, I did not watch The Cait show after the first few episodes. I don't pay much attention to Enews or magazines, etc. I didn't read Vanity Fair. I tell you this because I did feel like the first 60% of the book was more of a rehash of what they have all talked about on their show - because a lot of what this book is about - is feelings!! I had read Linda's book, his ex-wife, and she told a lot of the same stories. I would not say this book is full of secrets. I do feel like so much is already out there! It's not dishy, just a "getting to know you better" feel to it!! It's a look at the life of Bruce and his family and how he felt at key parts. As a boy, in college while he was competing, at the olympics, with his parents and siblings and with each of his wives. I imagine it does feel good to just put your side out there!

The final 40% of the book covers his relationship with Kris, which may be the most revealing. Also the last 2 years of life that does touch on a lot of the struggles with his relationships with family and covers all the things she did to achieve her full transition.

Obviously pick up this book if you are curious!!!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review,so many mixed emotions when reading this book. Looked forward to reading this book for a while.Its a great insight of Bruce life as a child trapped in the wrong body to becoming an athlete hiding his true identity from wearing womens garments and after years of torment and eventually becoming a woman.that part of the story I found true and honest.The part of the book I found he avoided was the three marriage she said the first marriage his wife knew about the cross dressing and they just grew apart.theres two sides to the story and wanted more from caitlyn side of the marriage.I totally get in them days it wasnt easy to say you wanted to be a woman.Then the second marriage she didnt know for years for me I can never understand. Hide it from the world but to the one you love is deceitful.In the book it said he learned from the second marriage and told kris the truth but did he or part truths in my opinion Bruce wasnt completely honest to his wives he was hiding part of himself and when he told them he wanted to be a woman he thought they understand but they lost the person they fell in love with.caitlyn needed to show the good side to there marriages kris and Bruce married for many years as I watch there show and theres blame on both sides but in this book Bruce doesn't own up to his faults.Im glad caitlyn got to become the woman shes always wanted to be the many years hiding.she deserves to find happiness in being a woman I just wish she had the courage many years ago.and wish her all the luck in the future.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, here's the thing - I don't like Caitlyn. I didn't like Bruce either, and I had high hopes that Caitlyn would soften that part of the personality I couldn't stand. Unfortunately that is not true, and I kind of think Caitlyn is even worse now than Bruce was. Just my opinion.

But, I couldn't resist reading this. I used to watch the Kardashians all the time (sad but true) and I still remember how shocked I was when Bruce confirmed he was transitioning. So naturally, I was interested in this memoir.

This was a very entertaining and readable book, but it was also pretty shallow. Anything that made Bruce look bad (his first two marriages, for instance) is completely glossed over in favor of random chapters where Caitlyn vehemently defends recent attack in the news. Having these present day chapters mixed in during a chapter about childhood was confusing, and oftentimes those chapters were not really needed. It seems to me that Caitlyn really just wanted a platform to fire back at people, and used this book to do so.

Regardless, this WAS pretty entertaining, as stated above. I wasn't expecting much and I didn't get much, but I had fun reading it anyway.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenner’s fame is the reason this book got published. There are undoubtedly more and better stories out there, but this is the book the “system” has delivered. Although it has been filtered by a ghost writer, I believe this is as honest a record as we will get for now of the turmoil experienced by those whose gender orientation differs from their physical gender.

Jenner shows
• how this orientation was manifest well before puberty.
• gender orientation has nothing to do with sex.
• the social/family/financial pressures that keep the orientation hidden
• how the internet has made possible the sharing of both feelings and information helpful to this community in a way not possible before.
• the physical pain required to bring the physical body in line with its emotional core.

Jenner’s story is as dramatic as can be. Not only was he a gold medal Olympian (with all the iconography that comes with it) but also a star of a global reality TV franchise.

There are interesting observations such as how a celebrity works with agents; the connections you need to launch a reality TV show; how top athletes share a bond; OJ Simpson’s demeanor; Robert Kardashian’s motivations; the celebrity fishbowl, the persistence of the paparazzi and even on the difference in golfing with men and with women.

The progress made for transgendered people is cited as though it happened by magic, not as it did by action taken by the Obama administration (despite harassment by Republican politicians and right wing media). It is hard to believe that Jenner is so naive that he believes that Trump will continue to improve life for the transgendered community.

If you have a negative opinion of Jenner, this book is not for you. If you are interested in the topic, there is a lot of food for thought.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reserved this book at the library because i was curious about all the hoopla being given over it. I never really watched the Kardashians. My sister does and thus i'm always getting updates from her. I kept seeing articles about how furious the Kardashians were over this book. I decided to see what the big deal was about.

They're definitely over reacting. This book lacked substance. I read it quickly, but that means nothing. I read magazines quickly. This was like one giant People magazine article. Jenner basically repeats the same thing over and over and over again. It got so repetitive and redundant. The whole book could have been condensed in one chapter with the subpoints of 1) I've always crossed dressed, 2 I'm gender dysphoric, 3) I love my kids, but i was absent father, and 4) I'm not that popular in the community i'm supposed to represent. The same 4 themes were repeated over and over again.

The only really bad thing that Jenner says about Kris is that she knew about the gender dysphoria before they got married and that there was cross dressing. That and she was controlling (something we know). A great deal of compliments were given out to the Kardashian and Jenner clans. I really fail to see why the whole big drama of it. I can only guess it might be some back door deal to sell books. This book is not going to sell itself otherwise. If you want true juiciness go read Holly Madison's book "Down the Rabbit Hole". That one was entertaining. This one was just bad.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was a gossipy listen which was an entertaining companion to a remote teaching lifestyle. It's undemanding, and reads like a trashy magazine. It is what I hoped it would be. No complaints.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the book because I was very curious about this situation, and I come away with a lot of empathy.

[SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was a very honest portrayal of the Olympians life,her struggles and her accomplishments. I congratulate her on living her authentic life.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you don't agree with her political believes (which I don't), I hope you can still find compassion for her. Her life was REALLY hard and brutal and so extraordinary. Winning the 1976 Olympics decathlon, setting a world record .. that's AMAZING! That's something to be proud of and that's hard to achieve and only a small group of people can do that.

As I was looking at old photos of Bruce at the end of the book and seeing that photo with Chrystie right after winning I was thinking to myself: "What a hot dude and look at those guns, every men would want to be him and every woman would want to date him!" But reading about the moment the next day after winning, when Bruce stood naked in front of a mirror with the gold medal around his neck and thinking that now there really is no way out of this body.. that's heartbreaking!

I can't imagine living the life Bruce had to live, pretending that she is a man, when she is feeling like a woman. None of us could live like this. Society shouldn't punish people for something that wasn't in their power to cause. Socienty should stop peeking into someone else's home and judging them. Society should work on herself/himself. Stop hating and hurting people. Just STOP.

[EA Solinas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps my standards are too high, but when I read a book called "The Secrets of My Life," I expect there to be... well, secrets being revealed. New information. Something worth my time.

But nothing such appears in "The Secrets of My Life," the memoir of Olympian-athlete-turned-reality-"star" Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner. Despite supposedly covering Jenner's entire lifetime, it focuses on exactly one aspect of said life -- that she is transgender, and that she always has been, and this has caused her a lot of turmoil and unhappiness over the years. All other aspects of life -- children, marriages, other experiences -- are treated as secondary appendages.

Jenner's story is told in a non-chronological order -- half is in the present, where she has to repeatedly debut her new female identity; and half is the sixty-plus years that led up to this point. Born as a boy in New York, Bruce was raised in a conservative fifties town where the thought of being LGBT was shocking, and the idea of being transgender was almost unheard of. And so he threw himself into the world of sports, ultimately winning a gold medal for the decathlon in 1974.

Also along for the ride -- three wives and a gaggle of children, including reptilian reality-TV matriarch Kris Jenner and her coven of daughters. But as Jenner struggled as the beleaguered sitcom dad on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," it became obvious that he could no longer hide who he really was -- a woman named Caitlyn. Who would, of course, receive massive worldwide press, and become the face of the trans community (who really deserve better).

The biggest problem about "The Secret of My Life" is that there aren't really any secrets here -- there's not even much in the way of biographical material, as Jenner skims over most parts of her life that don't involve gender dysphoria. You never get the feeling that ANYTHING in the life of a thrice-married Olympian was really very interesting or important; the only parts to get any loving detail are after she comes out as transgender and gets surgery, goes on road trips and gets a new wardrobe.

And while this story should feel inspiring.... it really doesn't. Instead, it feels vaguely narcissistic as Jenner floats through a whole lifetime focused almost exclusively on herself. It's hard to tell anything about her many kids or three ex-wives, for instance, because so little attention is paid to them. Certainly that's true of Jenner's first two, lesser-known wives and their offspring, who come across as being distractions along the way.

Instead, Jenner seems more focused on letting us know what a wonderful person she is, and how those selfish or uncaring things are TOTALLY not what she's like. But the selfishness slips out of the cracks when she's not looking (when the first ex-wife Chrystie had a child that Jenner suggested she abort, Jenner isn't upset because she wasn't there for her daughter's birth... but because it's a blow to her self-image as a good guy). It's this self-absorption that makes "Secrets of My Life" so staggeringly BORING -- there's nothing but a breezy navel-gazing safari trip through Jenner's life, with no focus on anyone else unless they're lavishing all praise on her.

Some parts of the book are striking and interesting (going back to her alma mater as a woman), but it also highlights that Jenner hasn't suffered any kind of blowback or misfortune as a result of transitioning. Instead, she occasionally launches into defensive political rants, or laments that it's SO awful that she was constantly being hounded by the paparazzi as she was transitioning (including the infamous accident where a woman died).

"The Secrets of My Life" contains neither secrets nor much of a life -- it's a tedious, self-indulgent slog that isn't detailed enough to be a biography, and is too self-centered to be very inspiring. There are better stories of trans success out there.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Argh, I was not a fan of this book. It felt so fake and forced... and that it was just written to cash in on the fame and strike while the iron is hot. Even with a ghostwriter, the writing was subpar.

I listened to audio and it was not narrated by Caitlyn Jenner. She spoke in the introduction and after explaining that she had learning disabilities and reading aloud can be difficult, I understood why a professional narrator was hired.

If you've watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians and/or I Am Cait, you probably already know most of the information in this book. There were no "secrets revealed" and every time I thought that Caitlyn was going to explain things, I was disappointed with the answer. She talked so much about being authentic, but then didn't go into much detail or share many of her personal thoughts. But it was like a car crash where I couldn't help but look... I had to finish this book to see if there was anything redeeming. Not much. I have a lot of empathy for Caitlyn and can't even imagine how it would feel to be trapped in the wrong gender's body. I think the toughest part was that Bruce let this go on for so long and didn't completely transition to Caitlyn until he was 65. When you think about it... that's crazy. Not that she transitioned, but that she waited SO LONG.

This review is also right on, in my opinion.

Thanks to San Diego County Library for the digital audio version via Libby app.

[Audio: 8 hours, 32 minutes]

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to give this 2 stars but realized I ended up reading it word for word and figured if I was that interested in Caitlyn's journey to becoming a woman, it deserved one extra star.

This wasn't particularly that well written, which is odd as the co-writer's Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream was well liked by library patrons, but Jenner's story came across as real and heartfelt. The problem is there were times like I felt she protested too much about various incidents in her life and gave too many excuses why children were ignored, marriages crumbled, and more. She also used the word "authentic" a few too many times.

If a reader is truly interested in Jenner's journey, by all means pick this up, but if you feel pretty "meh" about her entire messy life or if reading one more word about the Kardashians will cause you to fall on a sword, don't bother. For a better book on transforming from a man to a woman, read Jan Morris' 1974 memoir, Conundrum.

[Jen Shep · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to challenge myself and try reading something other than fiction. So I thought I would try a memoir. I definitely picked the wrong one. This was so boring and offensive. She comes off as extremely ignorant in regards to trans issues. She also briefly touches on how she can successfully be a member of the LGBTQA+ community and be a Republican, her explanation was laughable. She said she was brought up to be conservative and that she thinks republicans have been unfair to the trans community, but identifies as a republican for "fiscal reasons." So basically she only cares about money, which isn't all that surprising seeing as she has lived as a rich white privileged person her whole life. Caitlyn Jenner did help bring widespread attention to the transgender community and that's great, but she is a terribly selfish person and not a good representation of the trans community. This book is just her trying really hard not to seem like a terrible person. Not a good read.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Caitlyn Jenner's story of gender dysphoria and transition from Olympic Medalist, Bruce to her authentic self.Due to Bruce's celebrity, we watched from the POV of paparazzis and rumors for years until she "came out" with Diane Sawyer and Vanity Fair. Then of course, we had two seasons of I am Cait where she tried to tell her story and learn lessons along the way. It is a very personal book. I am not sure how well she explains her issues with gender overall, but she tries to be honest and share her pain and fears and relief and growth. The main point being to see her for the person she is. I enjoyed the read but felt like a lot of others' pain might have been glossed over a bit but I think we need to read the story to understand a life much more complicated than we thought.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read all the kardashian nonfiction i can because of the truly uncanny black lodge recreation of american society in microcosm. something disturbing and fascinating drifts through all these books (none of the "authors" in questions have any idea about what they're doing) and CAITLYN JENNER's is easily the most horrific and gory of the bunch. starbucks fantasia including the endless detailing of pealing glue and skin off of caitlyn's scalp, burning hairs out of her face with lasers, the fear of fetish, the fear of being seen.... of course, jenner and her ghost writer are hardly articulate and there's a lot of boring cardboard when it comes to the olympic sections (who cares) but the viscera and nightmare oozing from caitlyn's crossdressing night trips to the hotel lobby is something transcendent to behold.

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know yourself as well as Caitlyn Jenner does? This honest and candid story, full of Jenner's voice and Bissinger's strong writing, covers the landmark successes and failures, both personally and professionally, that define Jenner's life. Bruce is here, and so is Caitlyn. Those who have followed the media frenzy and I AM CAIT show will appreciate the expanded context of those recent moments. Those new to this tale can follow the arc of Jenner's journey and understand--or at least appreciate--the candor it takes to acknowledge how internal personal pain can destroy a family. Read this, and then talk about it--as candidly as Jenner does--with everyone you know.

[Shelly Hendrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Caitlyn Jenner strikes me as a self-centered person with an inability to find joy in others. She iss incredibly poor at relationships and even after admitting her abandonment of those she should have held in high esteem (namely, her famiyl and first two sets of children), she says after her transition, it seems "many" are not close to her now. Does she work at it? Does she put them first?

She is highly critical of Kris Kardashian, for whom I hold no affection, but blames her for a lot without taking personable responsibility.

I find her character lacking at best, transgender aside.

[Che · Rating 1 out of 5]

Once you've put this book down, you simply can't pick it up again.

[Tan Markovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rtc

[Pavellit]

To my total respect for the the trans community I'll not rate this. Written in a first person POV as if a third person. I wanted to learn about being trans and what it meant, to look deeper into the human psyche and the struggles human souls face, people who have some differences in their hearts, minds, inside their bodies. What I've been informed were some jaw-dropping-tabloid splashes. I should have researched it better.

DNF at 100%.

[Evelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kanske inte en bok som jag själv skulle ha valt att läsa, men när jag fick den från förlaget så bestämde jag mig för att läsa den, kan vara bra att utmana sig själv ibland. Lättläst och det var riktigt intressant att lära sig mer om transpersoners villkor i USA. Hela recensionen: https://ewelinasbokblogg.blogspot.se/...

[Sara]

I have a ridiculously big exam coming up, and as I feel it approaching, I do everything I can to escape. So the last couple of weeks I've went through every single episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians. Plus the spin-offs. And now I read this book. I'm not even gonna call it a guilty pleasure because u know what, there is 0% guilt and 100% pleasure.