this is my name - Alpha Kartsaki - Bog

What's in a name? What happens when we consciously choose a different name? How do names influence our identity? this is my name is a collection of intimate stories about the personal journey of people who have consciously decided to change their names: amongst others a non-binary teenager from Germany, a journalist from Turkey persecuted for his political beliefs, a Hungarian performance artist who works with trauma through rituals, and a trans-woman asylum seeker from Mexico.

Through interviews and testimonials, the stories open a discussion about racial prejudice, mental health issues, neurodiversity, transphobia, xenophobia, resistance towards anything non-normative, freedom of choice and authenticity.

Whether you have changed your own name or are thinking about it, this book is a companion for all people who undergo transformations, an empowering tool for self-identification and an ode to diversity of any kind. It also aspires to create a much-needed community for those who have the courage to change.