10 Books Every Non-Binary Person (and Allies) Should Read
Books are one of the easiest ways to feel seen, especially when you’re non-binary and grew up without the language for who you are. School libraries weren’t exactly overflowing with gender-diverse stories; most of us were working with scraps, subtext, Tumblr, and a lot of guessing.
Creating a curated non-binary reading list now feels like reclaiming something: history, identity, community, and a sense of belonging that many of us had to assemble ourselves.
For this list, Enby Meaning™ is partnering with Bookshop.org 📚
You can check out the complete list here: https://bookshop.org/lists/10-books-every-non-binary-person-and-their-allies-should-read
Bookshop is an online bookseller. It’s a certified B Corp, it supports independent bookstores, and it actively invests in more sustainable, community-focused online retail. For Enby Meaning™, partnering with a platform that centers indie shops and diverse voices makes far more sense than feeding yet another corporate giant. Enby Meaning™ participates in Bookshop’s affiliate program, which means that if you purchase a book through our link, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Bookshop doesn’t own us, we’re not tied to their decisions, and we’re not endorsing every move any company makes. This is just a platform we’re using because it aligns well with our values around accessibility, community, and supporting queer-friendly booksellers. As this site expands, we’ll be adding more region-specific purchase options across NZ/AU/UK/US/CA so you can buy locally wherever possible.
Now, let’s get into the books.
Enby Voices: Core Reads for Identity & Self-Understanding
These are the books that speak directly from non-binary experience: the grounding, the language, the lived reality, the identity formation, the messy and beautiful parts of gender outside the binary.
If you only read a handful of books from this entire list, start here.
1. Nonbinary: Memoirs of Gender and Identity
Edited by Micah Rajunov & A. Scott Duane
“Nonbinary” is a landmark anthology of essays from non-binary, genderqueer, agender, and otherwise gender-expansive writers. Every entry is different, some poetic, some academic, some deeply personal, but all rooted in lived experience.
Micah Rajunov and A. Scott Duane are long-time community organizers and researchers who wanted to document the complexity of non-binary identity at a time when representation was scarce. Their goal was to create a multi-voice snapshot of gender diversity.
This is a foundational text for understanding the spectrum of non-binary identity. It proves, page by page, that there’s no one way to be non-binary, which is precisely the point. Allies will walk away with a nuanced understanding, and non-binary readers will find dozens of moments that feel like recognition.
2. Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story
Jacob Tobia
“Sissy” is a funny, sharp, emotional memoir about growing up feminine, queer, Southern, and “too much” for every gender box people tried to stuff Jacob into. It’s laugh-out-loud, then suddenly punches you in the heart.
Jacob Tobia is a writer, activist, and unapologetically femme non-binary icon whose work blends gender exploration with humor, politics, and pop culture. Their voice is both accessible and subversive.
“Sissy” is a must-read because it’s one of the best examples of how gender can be playful, rebellious, and joyful. If you want a book that dismantles the binary not through theory but through storytelling, this is it. Allies will understand why femininity gets policed. Non-binary readers will feel seen in the pain and joy.
3. Gender Queer: A Memoir
Maia Kobabe
“Gender Queer” is an illustrated graphic memoir following Maia’s journey through identity, sexuality, pronouns, dysphoria, and self-discovery. It’s tender, honest, and visually stunning.
Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir) is a non-binary cartoonist whose work has been celebrated, censored, banned, and defended, making this book unintentionally one of the most politically critical queer texts in recent history.
The graphic memoir format is incredibly accessible and helps communicate emotion in a way prose can’t. It’s perfect for questioning readers or allies who want a gentle yet deeply impactful visual introduction to non-binary life.
4. Beyond the Gender Binary
Alok Vaid-Menon
“Beyond the Gender Binary” is a concise, powerful guide that dismantles myths about gender and challenges people to rethink everything they assume is “normal.” Short enough to read in an afternoon, deep enough to stay with you for years.
Alok (ALOK) is a poet, performer, and internationally recognized non-binary voice pushing conversations on gender, fashion, beauty, violence, and freedom.
“Beyond the Gender Binary” is the book you hand to sceptics, allies, confused relatives, and even yourself on bad days. It’s articulate, compassionate, and cuts straight through the noise.
“They/Them/Their” is a clear, accessible guide to non-binary and genderqueer identities, covering language, pronouns, relationships, transition, social dynamics, and everyday realities. It’s structured, practical, and genuinely helpful.
Eris Young is a non-binary writer, editor, and sensitivity consultant based in Scotland. Their work focuses on gender identity, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and navigating the world as a genderqueer person. They bring lived experience and community insight to every chapter.
This book is a must-read because it’s one of the best introductory guides available, direct enough for beginners, nuanced enough for people already deep in their identity journey. It’s particularly helpful for allies, workplaces, parents, educators, and anyone who wants to engage respectfully and confidently with non-binary people.
Gender-Diverse Perspectives: Trans Context You Need
These books aren’t exclusively non-binary, but they offer crucial context: trans history, politics, embodiment, community, and the lived realities that shape the gender-diverse world we inhabit. Understanding non-binary identity means understanding the broader landscape it sits within, and these titles do that brilliantly.
6. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves (2nd Edition)
Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth
“Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” is the definitive resource text created by trans and gender-diverse people for trans and gender-diverse people. It covers everything: identity, health, sexuality, relationships, culture, legal rights, history, parenting, and more. Think of it as an encyclopedia with a heart.
Laura Erickson-Schroth is a psychiatrist and longtime advocate who brought hundreds of trans writers, activists, clinicians, and everyday community members together to build this massive collaborative project.
“Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” acknowledges the vastness of gender diversity without collapsing everyone into a single narrative. For non-binary people, it provides validation and context. For allies, it’s the most comprehensive education you can get in a single volume.
“The Transgender Issue” is a sharp, accessible, elegantly written book about the political, social, and economic realities facing trans and gender-diverse people today. It examines employment, healthcare, housing, media, incarceration, and more through a compassionate and rigorous lens.
Shon Faye is a British trans writer, journalist, and speaker whose work blends queer politics, feminism, and social justice. She’s known for being both incisive and deeply humane in her analysis.
It’s a must-read because gender doesn’t exist in a vacuum; the non-binary experience is shaped by the same systemic pressures that affect all gender-diverse people. This book provides a broader context for the “why things are the way they are” and helps allies understand the stakes of real-world trans justice.
8. The New Girl: A Trans Girl Tells It Like It Is
Rhyannon Styles
“The New Girl” is a raw, honest, sometimes chaotic memoir about transition, identity, community, and rebuilding an entire life from the inside out. Rhyannon writes with vulnerability and humor, making the story feel intimate and deeply human.
Rhyannon Styles is a writer and performer whose work often explores queer transformation, self-reinvention, and the emotional landscape of gender.
Even though this book isn’t specifically about being non-binary, it captures the universal aspects of gender exploration: fear, joy, grief, curiosity, and liberation. It reminds us that transition isn’t linear, identity isn’t boxed, and gender isn’t something you “figure out once” and then never revisit.
9. Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity & Expression
Iris Gottlieb
“Seeing Gender” is a colorful, engaging, illustrated guide to gender identity, history, culture, activism, and expression. It’s the kind of book that makes complex ideas approachable without dumbing them down.
Iris Gottlieb is an illustrator and writer known for creating educational content that is both beautiful and accessible. Their work brings clarity and humor to topics that often get over-academized.
Visuals help people understand what words sometimes can’t capture. This book works beautifully for allies who need an accessible entry point, and for non-binary people who want a creative, validating companion on their journey.
Queer Legacy & History
Understanding non-binary identity today also means understanding the people who pushed gender boundaries long before the language “non-binary” was widely used. Queer history isn’t background material; it’s our ancestry. It shows us the roots, the courage, the mistakes, the joy, and the messy humanity behind the rights and representation we have now.
This final book is less a “guide” and more a window into queer legacy.
10. We Both Laughed in Pleasure: The Selected Diaries of Lou Sullivan
Edited by Ellis Martin & Zach Ozma
“We Both Laughed in Pleasure” is a collection of diary entries from Lou Sullivan, a trailblazing gay trans man whose life and activism helped redefine gender, sexuality, and queer identity. The diaries are intimate, erotic, thoughtful, lonely, hopeful, and unapologetically honest.
Lou Sullivan (1951–1991) was an activist who fought relentlessly to separate gender identity from sexual orientation in medical and social understanding. His work directly paved the way for more expansive conceptions of gender, including non-binary identity. He lived at a time when “gay trans man” was considered impossible, and he insisted on existing anyway.
“We Both Laughed in Pleasure” is a must-read because Lou’s diaries show what it takes to build a life without a template, a struggle familiar to many non-binary people today. You don’t have to share his exact identity for his writing to resonate. He challenged the binary decades before many of us were born, and his legacy reminds us that we’re part of a much larger story.
Final Thoughts
Non-binary books aren’t just “representation”, they’re tools for self-understanding, cultural memory, political clarity, and queer joy. They give language to feelings many of us carried long before we knew what they meant. They help allies understand us beyond quick definitions. And they remind us that we’re not alone, not new, and not going anywhere.
If any of these books speak to you, you can explore the complete curated list here: https://bookshop.org/lists/10-books-every-non-binary-person-and-allies-should-read
Buying through this link supports independent bookstores, queer writers, and Enby Meaning™, helping us keep creating content, guides, and community resources with fewer ads, no paywalls, or zero corporate compromise.
As the platform grows, we’ll continue adding more region-specific buying options so readers in NZ, AUS, UK, US, and Canada can shop locally. And we’ll keep updating this list with new recommendations, themed collections, and deeper reviews.
If you’ve read any of these, or if you have your own must-read queer titles, I’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment, send a message, or share this list with someone who needs it.
Here’s to reading widely, lovingly, and outside the binary 💛🤍💜🖤
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