Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls
A national bestseller in Canada, hailed by The New York Times as an “intimate expression of self-acceptance and forgiveness, tenderly written to fellow trans women and others.”
“Required reading.”—Glennon Doyle, #1 bestselling author of Untamed
A THEM AND AUTOSTRADDLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE PAT LOWTHER MEMORIAL AWARD
What happens when we imagine loving the people—and the parts of ourselves—that we do not believe are worthy of love?
Kai Cheng Thom grew up a Chinese Canadian transgender girl in a hostile world. As an activist, psychotherapist, conflict mediator, and spiritual healer, she’s always pursued the same deeply personal mission: to embrace the revolutionary belief that every human being, no matter how hateful or horrible, is intrinsically sacred.
But then Kai Cheng found herself in a crisis of faith, overwhelmed by the viciousness with which people treated one another, and barely clinging to the values and ideals she’d built her life around: justice, hope, love, and healing. Rather than succumb to despair and cynicism, she gathered all her rage and grief and took one last leap of faith: she wrote. Whether prayers or spells or poems—and whether there’s a difference—she wrote to affirm the outcasts and runaways she calls her kin. She wrote to flawed but nonetheless lovable men, to people with good intentions who harm their own, to racists and transphobes seemingly beyond saving. What emerged was a blueprint for falling back in love with being human.
“Required reading.”—Glennon Doyle, #1 bestselling author of Untamed
A THEM AND AUTOSTRADDLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE PAT LOWTHER MEMORIAL AWARD
What happens when we imagine loving the people—and the parts of ourselves—that we do not believe are worthy of love?
Kai Cheng Thom grew up a Chinese Canadian transgender girl in a hostile world. As an activist, psychotherapist, conflict mediator, and spiritual healer, she’s always pursued the same deeply personal mission: to embrace the revolutionary belief that every human being, no matter how hateful or horrible, is intrinsically sacred.
But then Kai Cheng found herself in a crisis of faith, overwhelmed by the viciousness with which people treated one another, and barely clinging to the values and ideals she’d built her life around: justice, hope, love, and healing. Rather than succumb to despair and cynicism, she gathered all her rage and grief and took one last leap of faith: she wrote. Whether prayers or spells or poems—and whether there’s a difference—she wrote to affirm the outcasts and runaways she calls her kin. She wrote to flawed but nonetheless lovable men, to people with good intentions who harm their own, to racists and transphobes seemingly beyond saving. What emerged was a blueprint for falling back in love with being human.
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Community Reviews
Falling Back in Love with Being Human: Letters to Lost Souls had me in my feels. I get a real jolt of excitement and joy when I can say a book really left a lasting impact on me, be that emotionally, mentally or spiritually.
I had this on my TBR for a few months and decided to pick it for the Trans Rights Readathon. The premise and title does draw the attention of readers who may be struggling with a number of things currently but I think this book is one everyone should read. It's a wonderfully honest, reflective and positive collection of poems and passages to members of the transgender community and the queer community for people who have felt like outcasts, felt wrong or ashamed of themselves, those who have been hurt, taken advantage of, those in pain, those with anger, rage and sadness. Those who are or feel lost.
I had this on my TBR for a few months and decided to pick it for the Trans Rights Readathon. The premise and title does draw the attention of readers who may be struggling with a number of things currently but I think this book is one everyone should read. It's a wonderfully honest, reflective and positive collection of poems and passages to members of the transgender community and the queer community for people who have felt like outcasts, felt wrong or ashamed of themselves, those who have been hurt, taken advantage of, those in pain, those with anger, rage and sadness. Those who are or feel lost.
Kai pours so much into each section words to process, reflect and even recapture pieces of oneself that may have been lost or broken along the way. The notes that follow each chapter/letter are helpful, small things that are not too difficult or hard to complete especially during a time of crisis or mindful meditation.
Kai and I have not had the same lived experiences but growing up and still today, there are a lot of past traumas and demons I still struggle with everyday just to keep on going. This is going on my highly recommended list and my re-read list. I can't wait to read more from Kai.
This is a worthwhile book to revisit whenever you feel down. Each letter is beautifully written, unapologetically pro-trans rights in nature, and some of the most inclusive prose I've ever read.
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