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Not Today: How I Chose Life
“I know that one day I’ll kill myself, because I don’t know how to stop feeling this way but it won’t be today.
In the meantime I’m going to do the best I can to enjoy every single day and then on the day that I die, in many, many years time, I’ll look back and realise that I didn’t get around to doing it.”
“With this simple revelation I found a way to live. It may not have slain my demons completely but it significantly reduced their power to hurt me.”
Having spent a lifetime hating herself and struggling with post traumatic stress, her gender identity, self harm and suicide, RAF veteran and former motorbike racer, newspaper editor, Premier League football and rock photographer, Sophie Cook was at breaking point when she transitioned from male to female in 2015.
For the first time ever Sophie tells the full inspirational story of how she conquered her demons to come out as transgender in the Premier League, run for Parliament and learn to love herself.
“Witty.”
“Life changing.”
“Inspirational.”
“With this simple revelation I found a way to live. It may not have slain my demons completely but it significantly reduced their power to hurt me.”
Having spent a lifetime hating herself and struggling with post traumatic stress, her gender identity, self harm and suicide, RAF veteran and former motorbike racer, newspaper editor, Premier League football and rock photographer, Sophie Cook was at breaking point when she transitioned from male to female in 2015.
For the first time ever Sophie tells the full inspirational story of how she conquered her demons to come out as transgender in the Premier League, run for Parliament and learn to love herself.
“Witty.”
“Life changing.”
“Inspirational.”
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 20, 2018
4 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Cook
4 books4 followersEx-RAF, motorbike racer, newspaper editor, Premier League football and rock photographer, self harm and suicide survivor and transgender.
Sophie Cook is a media personality and activist whose wide portfolio of work includes presenting, producing, writing and photography.
She became the first transgender woman to work in football’s Premier League as club photographer for AFC Bournemouth following her transition from Steve to Sophie in the summer of 2015.
Europe’s first trans TV newscaster, Sophie has hosted her own TV and radio chat shows and is an experienced broadcaster.
In April 2017 she was selected by the Labour Party to contest the East Worthing and Shoreham seat, increasing the Labour vote by 114% and narrowly missing out on becoming the UK’s first transgender MP.
Sophie’s first book ‘Not Today: How I chose life’ - autobiography, political manifesto, philosophy and self help book is out now.
Sophie Cook is a media personality and activist whose wide portfolio of work includes presenting, producing, writing and photography.
She became the first transgender woman to work in football’s Premier League as club photographer for AFC Bournemouth following her transition from Steve to Sophie in the summer of 2015.
Europe’s first trans TV newscaster, Sophie has hosted her own TV and radio chat shows and is an experienced broadcaster.
In April 2017 she was selected by the Labour Party to contest the East Worthing and Shoreham seat, increasing the Labour vote by 114% and narrowly missing out on becoming the UK’s first transgender MP.
Sophie’s first book ‘Not Today: How I chose life’ - autobiography, political manifesto, philosophy and self help book is out now.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 11, 2018
I’ve known Sophie since she came to Brighton, so was keen to read her book, and learn about her life. This is her first book, and is an impressive first book. She is able to create a real sense of place, a real sense of what it felt,smelt,and looked like, whether it be the dressing room of a football club, or on stage at a concert, performing in the Middle East, or lonely in a Birmingham cottage. There are some very detailed passages invoking things I’ve not known about before...punk music, military aircraft, motorbikes to name a few...and her passion for things she is passionate about shines through.
I finished the book wanting to know more..always a good sign. I didn’t feel that I got all the answers to why she became the inspiring woman that she has, and that’s intriguing. So...hopefully she’s ready to write the sequel, not necessarily what happened next, but more of what happened before.
I finished the book wanting to know more..always a good sign. I didn’t feel that I got all the answers to why she became the inspiring woman that she has, and that’s intriguing. So...hopefully she’s ready to write the sequel, not necessarily what happened next, but more of what happened before.
January 2, 2019
Sophie has really opened my eyes to the struggles of being transgender.
I’m a bit squeamish, so some sections were difficult to read, yet vital to understand her struggles. As Sophie says, “you need the horrors of the lows to understand the redemption.”
This book is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions and educational too; I couldn’t put it down!
PS - I love the star fish analogy!
I’m a bit squeamish, so some sections were difficult to read, yet vital to understand her struggles. As Sophie says, “you need the horrors of the lows to understand the redemption.”
This book is such a rollercoaster ride of emotions and educational too; I couldn’t put it down!
PS - I love the star fish analogy!
November 25, 2018
A brilliant book.You really feel her pain .A brave lady
December 16, 2018
Brilliant read. I knew Steve and I can remember some of the RAF and Saudi stories. I haven’t met Sophie yet but hope to do so in the future.
December 13, 2018
Well- written, searingly honest and beautifully heartbreaking. A must read so a brilliant Christmas present - you, and your friends, will love it.
December 24, 2018
Loved this book - superbly written with pace and conviction.
December 21, 2018
I was lucky to know Steve, and I'm proud to know Sophie. When I say 'know', I actually knew very little. Not Today: How I Chose Life, is an interesting, educational and emotional account of an incredible life journey. Well written, and with humour and honesty, I really enjoyed my bedtime reading! Looking forward to the next installment Sophie! x
January 15, 2019
'Always stay strong. Always stay true to yourself'. This is the inscription Sophie put in my copy of her book.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Sophie for over ten years. As Steve he took all my PR photos and you would expect they have yet to be surpassed. This book is awesome. Sophie gives the most frank and open account of her life and the daemons which plagued her all her life. It will make you cry and laugh at the same time. Not Today is an insight into her struggle with these daemons and how she conquers them and came out as transgender. There are many beautiful poems for days when you too are feeling down and when you are feeling happy.
Not Today will inspire you and should be mandatory reading for every HR executive. It puts the trivia of life in its right place whilst dealing with the real challenges and emerging a stronger person.
I've had the pleasure of knowing Sophie for over ten years. As Steve he took all my PR photos and you would expect they have yet to be surpassed. This book is awesome. Sophie gives the most frank and open account of her life and the daemons which plagued her all her life. It will make you cry and laugh at the same time. Not Today is an insight into her struggle with these daemons and how she conquers them and came out as transgender. There are many beautiful poems for days when you too are feeling down and when you are feeling happy.
Not Today will inspire you and should be mandatory reading for every HR executive. It puts the trivia of life in its right place whilst dealing with the real challenges and emerging a stronger person.
January 2, 2019
I have seen Sophie talk about her life. I was most impressed by her honesty. She has a willingness to lay her soul bare, in order to help others struggling with their identity to realise that they are not alone. Despite the difficulties in Sophie's life, what shines through over the course of this book is compassion, empathy and a willingness to educate. This is a fascinating read and I highly recommended it.
January 14, 2019
I am so pleased Sophie wrote this book. After first listening to her speak at the Emirates Stadium I was completely hooked! Her story is not only painful to read, but also hugely inspirational and at times very funny. It’s also very educational about transgender issues not to mention her emotional and beautiful poetry which is scattered throughout the book. A must read.
January 2, 2019
Love, Fear, Pain & Success. It's all in this book.
Sophie Cook's strength to get up each day and face life and win is something we could all do with a little of.
I laughed, I cried & I feel incredibly proud to say I know her.
Sophie Cook's strength to get up each day and face life and win is something we could all do with a little of.
I laughed, I cried & I feel incredibly proud to say I know her.
January 2, 2019
A personal story, well written, humorous and very moving. We all have a lot to learn from Sophie Cook's journey. A triumphant masterpiece.
January 2, 2022
Having not met Steve, I found this an intriguing and enlightening account of the journey the two of you have made thus far. The book was thoughtful and well written, describing in brutal honesty the trials, tribulations and challenges that both encountered, and surmounted mostly, but spoken with a voice of warmth and enough self-deprecating humour that only an iron heart could not empathise nor be moved.
A biography , or should that be biographies? that offer up some quite unpalatable moments but always dealt with in a dignified and respectful way - a quite astonishing array and diversity of experiences - work, relationships, addiction, mental health - all described with an expert hand - with depth, wit and emotion.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, there were several moments that really resonated and some unforgettable lines - there were times I laughed out loud and times where I was stopped in my tracks. I should add that some of the poetry was also incredible, especially the examples from the military.
The book was moving and uplifting and a brilliant account of a very unusual life, you meet people and you have a rough idea of who they are - but this has allowed me a further glimpse into the world of Sophie Cook and I’m delighted that she has always chosen to say “not today”
A biography , or should that be biographies? that offer up some quite unpalatable moments but always dealt with in a dignified and respectful way - a quite astonishing array and diversity of experiences - work, relationships, addiction, mental health - all described with an expert hand - with depth, wit and emotion.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, there were several moments that really resonated and some unforgettable lines - there were times I laughed out loud and times where I was stopped in my tracks. I should add that some of the poetry was also incredible, especially the examples from the military.
The book was moving and uplifting and a brilliant account of a very unusual life, you meet people and you have a rough idea of who they are - but this has allowed me a further glimpse into the world of Sophie Cook and I’m delighted that she has always chosen to say “not today”
September 3, 2021
I can't imagine how hard it must have been at times to write this book. I thought I understood the challenges faced with being transgender, but it was more theoretical. I needed a book like this and a story like this to see through the gender binary to be able to truly empathise with the emotional and mental anguish of growing up in a binary system, that makes it so hard for people to be able to live their truth. The bare minimum we can do as human beings is read a story like Sophie's and question why things have to be so reductive. Why are we, as a system, so intent in holding on to the black/white, masculine/ feminine, gay/straight, able/disabled binary, when we are each of us, such a beautiful, varied and colourful tapestry woven through with many different threads.
I couldn't put this book down and had far too many late nights reading just a few pages more, just a few more! Thank you Sophie for sharing your life with us. 100% recommend.
I couldn't put this book down and had far too many late nights reading just a few pages more, just a few more! Thank you Sophie for sharing your life with us. 100% recommend.
July 3, 2020
Very readable autobiography
Sophie's book flies under an LGBT banner, and illustrates the pain and bravery vividly. But it is much more than a(nother) plea for tolerance and understanding from a rainbow warrior.
Firstly she's very frank about her mental anguish and tg sensibilities, enough to satisfy those who wish to hear of those issues.
But the book also describes a remarkable life, and an enviable set of adventures and accomplishments.
In the broadest sense it is a shame that the tg-ism is the central issue for her, her supporters and critics, since she/he/it/them (whatever), has a remarkable set of talents that would and should be enough on their own merit.
It is a shame that her detractors will never be drawn to this book, as for me it scores highly, being polished, erudite, thoght-provoking, and interesting.
Sophie's book flies under an LGBT banner, and illustrates the pain and bravery vividly. But it is much more than a(nother) plea for tolerance and understanding from a rainbow warrior.
Firstly she's very frank about her mental anguish and tg sensibilities, enough to satisfy those who wish to hear of those issues.
But the book also describes a remarkable life, and an enviable set of adventures and accomplishments.
In the broadest sense it is a shame that the tg-ism is the central issue for her, her supporters and critics, since she/he/it/them (whatever), has a remarkable set of talents that would and should be enough on their own merit.
It is a shame that her detractors will never be drawn to this book, as for me it scores highly, being polished, erudite, thoght-provoking, and interesting.
April 7, 2019
I’ve not known Sophie for long so was really keen to read her book and her story. One of the most courageous people I know. Her honesty, pain, joy and all emotions jump out of the book and stay with you well after the pages have been turned. Thank you Sophie, a brilliant book. You are a bloody legend
April 15, 2019
An excellent read that is difficult to put down. Well written and of an interesting and eventful life. Anyone on the transgender spectrum will identify with much of the b00k, however there is so much more to the book than the gender experience. This is a heart-felt human story of an individual who is not afraid to lay themselves bare in order to inspire others. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2019
There are no words...... this honest and poignant account of a life only partially lived is touching beyond belief.
A frank honest and authentic account of Sophies journey.
A must read which will give you insight into both transgender and mental health issues...
I challenge you not to be moved by this book...
One starfish at a time... ❤️
A frank honest and authentic account of Sophies journey.
A must read which will give you insight into both transgender and mental health issues...
I challenge you not to be moved by this book...
One starfish at a time... ❤️
April 18, 2019
Not Today-How I Chose Life, is a stand out brutally honest, sad, funny, heartwarming read. Deeply impressed that Not Today- How I Chose Life is Sophie Cooks first book.
September 24, 2019
Sophie Cook has written of her lived experience of gender dysmorphia, PTSD, depression and self-harm. A compelling read and important contribution.
February 6, 2022
I was bought this book due to my struggle with my mental health, so many relatable parts in this book. It's a must read. Thankyou Sophie
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews