Best of
Sexuality

2017

The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity


Esther Perel - 2017
    And yet, this extremely common human experience is so poorly understood. What are we to make of this time-honored taboo—universally forbidden yet universally practiced? Why do people cheat—even those in happy marriages? Why does an affair hurt so much? When we say infidelity, what exactly do we mean? Do our romantic expectations of marriage set us up for betrayal? Is there such a thing as an affair-proof marriage? Is it possible to love more than one person at once? Can an affair ever help a marriage? Perel weaves real-life case stories with incisive psychological and cultural analysis in this fast-paced and compelling book.For the past ten years, Perel has traveled the globe and worked with hundreds of couples who have grappled with infidelity. Betrayal hurts, she writes, but it can be healed. An affair can even be the doorway to a new marriage—with the same person. With the right approach, couples can grow and learn from these tumultuous experiences, together or apart.Affairs, she argues, have a lot to teach us about modern relationships—what we expect, what we think we want, and what we feel entitled to. They offer a unique window into our personal and cultural attitudes about love, lust, and commitment. Through examining illicit love from multiple angles, Perel invites readers into an honest, enlightened, and entertaining exploration of modern marriage in its many variations.Fiercely intelligent, The State of Affairs provides a daring framework for understanding the intricacies of love and desire. As Perel observes, “Love is messy; infidelity more so. But it is also a window, like no other, into the crevices of the human heart.”

The Wonder Down Under: A User's Guide to the Vagina


Nina Brochmann - 2017
    With wisdom, humor, and scientific aplomb, medical students and sex educators Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl take readers on a fascinating journey of female sexual organs and sexual health--from the clitoris to contraception to cervical cancer.More than a user's manual, this book is demystification, and tribute to the vagina that we have been waiting for. The Wonder Down Under is filled with astonishing, important, and little-known information--relayed with both medical expertise and genuine empathy. Did you know, for instance, that female and male sex organs are merely variations on the same basic structure? Or that there's no such thing as a virginity test--because a broken hymen is not a meaningful indicator of whether or not someone's had sex?Brochmann and Dahl have written a tour-de-force about the biology, anatomy, and reality of the female body, stopping along the way to explain how misinformation and silence about the vagina have been harmful to women over time. The Wonder Down Under makes crucial contributions to the discussion: the book was an instant bestseller that sold out in its native Norway in just three days. Since then it has been acquired by publishers in more than two dozen countries around the world.The Wonder Down Under is a joyful and indispensable book that will educate readers of all kinds and equip a new generation to make informed choices about their sexual health and happiness.

Making All Things New: Restoring Joy to the Sexually Broken


David A. Powlison - 2017
    But with sin came a world filled with sexual brokenness. Thankfully, God is always in the business of restoration.This book offers hope for both the sexually immoral and the sexually victimized, pointing us all to the grace of Jesus Christ, who mercifully intervenes each moment in our lifelong journey toward renewal. Author David Powlison casts a vision for the key to deep transformation, better than anything the world has to offer--not just fresh resolve, not just flimsy forgiveness, not just simple formulas, but true, lasting mercy from God, who is making all things new.

Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity


Gregory Coles - 2017
    Let's make a deal, you and me. Let's make promises to each other. I promise to tell you my story. The whole story. I'll tell you about a boy in love with Jesus who, at the fateful onset of puberty, realized his sexual attractions were persistently and exclusively for other guys. I'll tell you how I lay on my bed in the middle of the night and whispered to myself the words I've whispered a thousand times since: I'm gay. I'll show you the world through my eyes. I'll tell you what it's like to belong nowhere. To know that much of my Christian family will forever consider me unnatural, dangerous, because of something that feels as involuntary as my eye color. And to know that much of the LGBTQ community that shares my experience as a sexual minority will disagree with the way I've chosen to interpret the call of Jesus, believing I've bought into a tragic, archaic ritual of self-hatred. But I promise my story won't all be sadness and loneliness and struggle. I'll tell you good things too, hopeful things, funny things, like the time I accidentally came out to my best friend during his bachelor party. I'll tell you what it felt like the first time someone looked me in the eyes and said, You are not a mistake. I'll tell you that joy and sorrow are not opposites, that my life has never been more beautiful than when it was most brokenhearted. If you'll listen, I promise I'll tell you everything, and you can decide for yourself what you want to believe about me.

Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get It


Laurie Mintz - 2017
    Mainstream media, movies, and porn have taught us that sex = penis + vagina, and everything else is just secondary. Standard penetration is how men most reliably achieve orgasm. The problem is, women don’t orgasm this way. We’ve separated our most reliable route to orgasm—clitoral stimulation—from how we feel we should orgasm—penetration. As a result, we’ve created a pleasure gap between women and men:50% of 18-35-year-old women say they have trouble reaching orgasm with a partner64% of women vs 91% of men said they had an orgasm at their last sexual encounter55% of men vs. 4% of women say they usually reach orgasm during first-time hookup sexIn Becoming Cliterate, psychology professor and human sexuality expert Dr. Laurie Mintz exposes the broader cultural problem that’s perpetuating this gap, and what we can do about it. Pulling together evidence from biology, sociology, linguistics, and sex therapy into one comprehensive, accessible, and prescriptive book, Becoming Cliterate features:Cultural & historical analysis of female orgasm (spoiler: the problem’s been going on for ages)An anatomy section (it’s all custom under the hood)Proven techniques for cliterate sex (it starts with training the sex organ between your ears)A comprehensive final chapter for men (because you don’t have to have a clitoris to be cliterate)By dispelling the lies, misunderstandings, and myths that have been holding us back, Becoming Cliterate tackles both personal and political problems and replaces them with updated outlooks and practical skills needed to change our collective perspective on sex. It’s time to finally inform women and men on how to have satisfying experiences in bed that benefit both parties.The revolution is cuming—and Becoming Cliterate offers a radical, simple solution to progress and pleasure for all.

Popes and Feminists: How the Reformation Frees Women from Feminism


Elise Crapuchettes - 2017
    The only "spiritual" calling for women was to be found in a convent. The Reformers confronted the bad theology which led to this (and other worse abuses, like priest-patronized brothels) and returned to the Bible to develop a theology of vocation that began to free Christians to be "holy" no matter their occupation. Christian women wondering about their place in society and comparing feminism with the Bible should start with the teaching of the Reformers and the lives of many exceptional women of the Reformation. Popes and Feminists argues that women today have some of the same choices facing them as women in the sixteenth century. In this fascinating study, Elise Crapuchettes shows how the Reformation changed the lives of Christian women as it turned them away from trying to earn their salvation and toward a joyful, liberating view of vocation and work.

Doing It!: Let's Talk About Sex


Hannah Witton - 2017
    VIRGINITY. CONSENT. THE BIG O... Sex-positive vlogger Hannah Witton covers it all.Nobody really has sex all figured out. So Hannah Witton wrote a book full of honest, hilarious (and sometimes awkward) anecdotes, confessions, and revelations. Hannah talks about doing it safely. Doing it joyfully. Doing it when you're ready. Not doing it. Basically, doing it the way you want, when you want (if you want).Doing It works as an introduction to sex as well as a guidebook for those who are already sexually active, with insight on topics such as healthy relationships, porn, contraception, sex shaming, and more. Approachable and empowering, this is a go-to resource for all things s-e-x.

Sex and the Constitution: Sex, Religion, and Law from America's Origins to the Twenty-First Century


Geoffrey R. Stone - 2017
    Stone demonstrates how the Founding Fathers, deeply influenced by their philosophical forebears, saw traditional Christianity as an impediment to the pursuit of happiness and to the quest for human progress. Acutely aware of the need to separate politics from the divisive forces of religion, the Founding Fathers crafted a constitution that expressed the fundamental values of the Enlightenment.Although the Second Great Awakening later came to define America through the lens of evangelical Christianity, nineteenth-century Americans continued to view sex as a matter of private concern, so much so that sexual expression and information about contraception circulated freely, abortions before “quickening” remained legal, and prosecutions for sodomy were almost nonexistent.The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries reversed such tolerance, however, as charismatic spiritual leaders and barnstorming politicians rejected the values of our nation’s founders. Spurred on by Anthony Comstock, America’s most feared enforcer of morality, new laws were enacted banning pornography, contraception, and abortion, with Comstock proposing that the word “unclean” be branded on the foreheads of homosexuals. Women increasingly lost control of their bodies, and birth control advocates, like Margaret Sanger, were imprisoned for advocating their beliefs. In this new world, abortions were for the first time relegated to dank and dangerous back rooms.The twentieth century gradually saw the emergence of bitter divisions over issues of sexual “morality” and sexual freedom. Fiercely determined organizations and individuals on both the right and the left wrestled in the domains of politics, religion, public opinion, and the courts to win over the soul of the nation. With its stirring portrayals of Supreme Court justices, Sex and the Constitution reads like a dramatic gazette of the critical cases they decided, ranging from Griswold v. Connecticut (contraception), to Roe v. Wade (abortion), to Obergefell v. Hodges (gay marriage), with Stone providing vivid historical context to the decisions that have come to define who we are as a nation.Now, though, after the 2016 presidential election, we seem to have taken a huge step backward, with the progress of the last half century suddenly imperiled. No one can predict the extent to which constitutional decisions safeguarding our personal freedoms might soon be eroded, but Sex and the Constitution is more vital now than ever before.

A Better Story: God, Sex and Human Flourishing


Glynn Harrison - 2017
    . .. . . faced up honestly to our Christian subculture of shame?. . . reimagined what it means to be made sexual in the image of God? . . . remembered that we flourish when we live in harmony with God’s design?. . . left behind the broken promises of the sexual revolution to tell a better story of our own?

Unscrewed: Women, Sex, Power, and How to Stop Letting the System Screw Us All


Jaclyn Friedman - 2017
    In Unscrewed, Friedman brings her sharp expertise and incisive observations on the state of sexual politics to the fore, sparking a culture-wide rethink about sex, power and what we accept. With reportage and verve, Unscrewed builds a searing investigation into the state of sexual power in America, and outlines how to make real progress toward equality. Friedman reveals that the anxiety and fear women in our country feel around issues of their sexuality are not, in fact, their fault, but instead are side effects of what she calls our "era of fauxpowerment," wherein women have the illusion of sexual power, with no actual power to support it. Exploring the fault lines where media, religion, politics, and education impinge on our intimate lives, Unscrewed breaks down the causes and signs of fauxpowerment, then gives readers tools to take it on themselves.

Atomic Attraction: The Psychology of Attraction


Christopher Canwell - 2017
    Based on over 120 scientific studies, this book is the ultimate guide to creating and maintaining attraction with women. Attraction doesn’t grow in a warm, safe environment, it grows in a swamp of discomfort and anxiety. This is just one of many truths you’re about to discover.In Atomic Attraction Christopher Canwell takes us on a journey through the dark waters of attraction. What turns women on? What makes them choose one man over another? And how can you become truly desirable and attractive?This book answers these questions by combining the latest scientific research with real-life case studies to show you, the reader, how to ignite the fires of attraction and captivate those around you. INSIDE YOU’LL DISCOVER – How to get more sex, love, and affection– How to increase your sexual market value– How to use body language to attract women– How to create instant attraction with women– How to keep your girlfriend/wife interested in you– How to maintain attraction in long-term relationships– How to become the most attractive version of yourself– How to build attraction online by text and social mediaEverything you need to know about creating, building, and maintaining attraction with women can be found within these pages. *This book includes 40 real-life case studies.

God and the Transgender Debate: What does the Bible actually say about gender identity?


Andrew T. Walker - 2017
    What is transgender and gender fluidity? What does God's Word actually say about these issues? How can the gospel be good news for someone experiencing gender dysphoria? How do churches respond? These are questions Christians need to think through and this warm, faithful, careful book will help them do just that.

F*cked: Being Sexually Explorative and Self-Confident in a World That's Screwed


Corinne Fisher - 2017
    As the podcast grew, and Corinne and Krystyna got to know their fans, stories of sexual assault, verbal and emotional abuse, and crippling shame became common topics of discussion along with those humorous conversations highlighting overall sexual confusion among many adults. The podcast is now an community of over a million listeners worldwide, and a place where any and all taboo sex topics are discussed freely, both with celebrity guests and the real people in their lives.Their new book, F*cked, follows that model, as Corinne and Krystyna bring a mix of raw, ridiculous, and serious sexual conversation to the page that will include topics like:Why shame is completely made up and how we can stop giving into itSexual exploration and how it sometimes ends in a trip to the ERStuff we should stop doing: Snooping, nitpicking our bodies, and faking orgasmsAsking your sexual partner uncomfortable questionsHow to get yourself out of an unsafe situationMasturbation, threesomes, porn, sex toys, butt stuffAnd much, much moreCorinne and Krystyna are tired of books that pander to women like they’re hot messes, unable to handle their emotions without the assistance of a man, a glass of rosé, and a Xanax. This book will teach the reader, be they male, female, transgender or undecided, that you deal with sh*t, you brush your shoulder off, and you move the f*ck on. In a society where it has, for some reason, become chic to be the victim, they say this pity party ends now.This is a guide to love and sex for women who drink whiskey because they like it, not because it’s a cute thing to say on your Tinder profile. It has no trigger warnings because life doesn’t come with those. It won’t talk down to you or coddle you because you’re better than that. Corinne and Krystyna aren’t going to explain why he’s just not that into you, because it doesn’t f*cking matter. Despite what television, Rom-Coms, and glossy magazines tell you, you’re fine all by yourself. This is the book Bridget Jones should’ve read instead of writing that sh*tty diary in the first place.

Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator: Uncommon Love and Life


Amy Gahran - 2017
    Yet often, people assume that all healthy or serious intimate relationships must follow same trajectory. Fortunately, there are plenty of options. The “Relationship Escalator” is the bundle of social conventions for intimate relationships: monogamy, living together and much more, ideally until death do you part. If you wish to explore a different way of loving, it’s not always obvious what your options are, or where those paths might lead. Many people have stepped off the Relationship Escalator, to live and love in uncommon ways. In 2013-14, journalist Amy Gahran surveyed 1500 people about their unconventional intimate relationships: how those relationships work, how they feel, and why these people stepped off the Escalator. Participants shared moving, in-depth personal stories and insights. Over 330 individuals are quoted directly in this book (with permission). "Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator" explores how unconventional relationships might look and work differently from traditional relationships. Gahran identifies five main ways that intimate partners can step off the traditional Relationship Escalator. Off the Escalator, intimate relationships might be: - Nonmonogamous: Sexual/romantic nonexclusivity, with all-around informed consent. Polyamory, swinging, monogamish relationships and more. - Highly autonomous: Partners choose to not live together or otherwise prioritize their individuality over couplehood. - Egalitarian: Not defaulting to giving one partner, or romantic/sexual partners in general, top priority. - Nonsexual: Asexual people, and others, enjoy deeply intimate, committed relationships that never include a sexual connection. - Fluid or discontinuous: Sometimes intimacy is pause/play, or significantly shifts form, without a breakup or ending. This book aims to foster awareness and acceptance of relationship choice; to empower people to speak up for what they might want and find more ways to let love flourish. To not assume that love must look a particular way for it to be valuable and meaningful. At a point in history when divisiveness can seem overwhelming, finding more ways to connect with love can help us sustaining each other through tense times. This book is the first in a series. At least two more Off the Escalator books are currently in production: - (2017) What’s It Like Off the Escalator? 10 Common Questions About Unconventional Relationships - (2018) Off the Escalator, in the Closet: Navigating Stigma Against Unconventional Relationships More information about this ongoing project: OffEscalator.com

The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory: Everything You Need to Know About Open Relationships, Non-Monogamy, and Alternative Love


Dedeker Winston - 2017
    The Smart Girl's Guide to Polyamory incorporates interviews and real-world advice from women of all ages in nontraditional relationships, as well as exercises for building self-awareness, confidence in communication, and strategies for managing and eliminating jealousy. Chapters include:Polyamory: What It Is and What It Isn’tThe Biggest Question: JealousyThe Second Biggest Question: SexSmart Girl SkillsLand of Love-Craft: Crafting Your Relationships from the Ground UpIf you're curious about exploring group sex, opening up your current monogamous relationship, or ready to “come out” as polyamorous, this book covers it all!Whether you're a seasoned graduate, a timid freshman, or somewhere in between, you'll learn how to discover and craft unique relationships that are healthy, happy, sexy, and tailor-made for you. Because when it comes to your love life, being a know-it-all is actually a great thing to be.

Sex, God, and the Conservative Church: Erasing Shame from Sexual Intimacy


Tina Schermer Sellers - 2017
    The author first walks clinicians and readers through a critique of Western culture and the conservative Christian Church, and their effects on intimate partnerships and sexual lives. The book provides clinicians a way to understand the faulty sexual ethic of the early church, while revealing the hidden mystical sex and body positive understanding of sexuality of the Hebrew people. The book also includes chapters on strategies for a new sexual ethic, on clinical steps to heal religious sexual shame, and on specific sex therapy interventions clinicians can use directly in their practice. Finally, it offers a four step model for healing religious sexual shame and actual touch and non-touch exercises to bring healing and intimacy into a person's life.

The Grace of Shame: 7 Ways the Church Has Failed to Love Homosexuals


Tim Bayly - 2017
    Traditional marriage is out the window and every manner of sexual perversity is being pushed as good and healthy and normal on TV, in the movies, by the mainstream media, and by the fathers of our city and nation. At the forefront of this battle is homosexuality. It’s easy for Christians to see the enemy out there—to see all the ways that the modern tolerance machine is tearing down the bulwark of God’s moral law. But what if the culture doesn’t lead the church? What if the church leads the culture? What if the real responsibility lies with us? The Grace of Shame exposes the errors the church has made on sexuality over the last several decades, from failing to understand the sin of effeminacy to promoting the “gay Christian” movement. With reverence for the church universal, and a keen prophetic eye for the sins and failures of our modern church, this book exposes all the ways we have allowed this sin to triumph in the culture at large, and offers hope for the future.

The Ultimate Exodus: Finding Freedom from What Enslaves You


Danielle Strickland - 2017
    Danielle Strickland revisits the story of the Exodus to see what we can learn from a people who were slaves and who learned from God what it means to be free. We discover as we go that deliverance goes much deeper than our circumstances. God uproots us from the things we have become slaves to, and He takes us on a long walk to the freedom He created us to enjoy.

Grace/Truth 1.0: Five Conversations Every Thoughtful Christian Should Have About Faith, Sexuality and Gender


Preston Sprinkle - 2017
    This learning experience is designed for Bible studies, discussion groups, elder teams, pastoral staff, or any other small group of Christians who desire to engage questions of faith, sexuality and gender with both grace and truth. Grace/Truth 1.0 contains many questions designed to facilitate small group discussions where Christians can engage the material in thoughtful ways. It's also accompanied with a documentary about Christians who have wrestled with their faith, sexuality or gender identity, along with several short teaching videos for each chapter that help the group to engage the topics discussed in this book (The Grace/Truth 1.0 videos/DVDs must be purchased separately.) Those who want to go deeper can listen to podcasts and read pastoral papers that go deeper into the subjects discussed in Grace/Truth 1.0. The additional resources mentioned can be found online here: https://www.centerforfaith.com/resour...

Striptastic!


Jacqueline Frances - 2017
    If you're looking for a redemption narrative about a woman who feels ashamed about her body and the choices she's made, look elsewhere STRIPTASTIC! is a celebration of dope-ass c*nts who like money. It's a full-color, 150-page educational (and certainly entertaining) journey through the days and nights of life as a stripper.

The Scarlett Letters: My Secret Year of Men in an L.A. Dungeon


Jenny Nordbak - 2017
    By day she was a construction manager, but at night she became Mistress Scarlett. Working at LA’s longest-running dungeon, she catered to the secret fetishes of clients ranging from accountants to movie stars. She simultaneously developed a career in the complex and male-dominated world of healthcare construction, while spending her nights as a deviant sex worker, dominating men. Far from the standard-issue powerful men who pay to be helpless, Mistress Scarlett’s clientele included men whose fantasies revealed more complex needs, from “Tickle Ed” to “Doggie Dan,” from the “Treasure Trolls” to “Ta-Da Ted.” The Scarlett Letters explores the spectacularly diverse array of human sexuality and the fascinating cast of characters that she encountered along the way.

Thriving in Sex Work: Heartfelt Advice for Staying Sane in the Sex Industry


Lola Davina - 2017
    The adult industry is riddled with pitfalls and dangers. Erotic labor is often emotionally demanding, draining, and complex. It can be hard to know who to turn to for advice on keeping yourself safe and sane. Lola Davina, former stripper, dominatrix, porn actress and escort, provides the life skills you need to prosper: · Shattering myths, such as thinking you need the “perfect” body· Creating financial freedom so you only work when you want to· Avoiding bad behavior, bad decisions, and burnout· Cultivating boundaries in an often insane industry· Learning to love your work!Thriving in sex work means having a healthy body, mind, heart, and bank account. No matter your job title or gender, whether you’re independent or work for someone else, if you want to succeed in sex work, this book is for you.“I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! Lola Davina brings the insight, advice and compassion that only a centered, wise, experienced sex work veteran can cultivate and gather: her insider knowledge makes this book a powerful ally to any sex worker who wants a better life. Fierce, smart, pragmatic and loving — I can’t recommend it highly enough.”—Carol Queen, PhD Author, founding director of the Center for Sex & Culture

The Porn Myth: Exposing the Reality Behind the Fantasy of Pornography


Matt Fradd - 2017
    It draws from the experience of porn performers, recent research from neurology, sociology, and psychology to build a case for why pornography is destructive to individuals, relationships, and society. Matt Fradd provides insightful arguments, including the latest scientific research, on nearly every relevant subject imaginable, exposing the negative impact pornography has on our minds, our relationships, and our culture.This book addresses the neurological reasons porn is addictive, helps individuals learn how to be free of porn, and offers real help to parents and the spouses of porn users.Thanks to such new research on pornography's harmful effects on the brain, on relationships, and on society, there is today a wave of passionate individuals trying to change the cultural norm—inspiring others to pursue real love and avoid its hollow counterfeit. Today's younger generation wants a love that is untainted by warped perceptions of intimacy and by selfish desires. Millions are now recognizing pornography for what it is and rejecting its influence in their lives. This book is part of that movement.The Porn Myth will help readers to separate the myths from the reality about porn, and to reclaim real love in their lives. Matt Fradd masterfully articulates and dispels the falsehoods that have helped to spread porn addiction and sexual dysfunction, and he inspires us to take action against them.

Gender Roles and the People of God: Rethinking What We Were Taught about Men and Women in the Church


Alice Mathews - 2017
    Instead, they want to be accepted as full participants in God's work, sharing in kingdom tasks in ways that use their gifts appropriately.In Gender Roles and the People of God, author, radio host, and professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Alice Mathews surveys the roles women have played in the Bible and throughout church history, demonstrating both the inspiring contributions of women and the many hurdles that have been placed in their path. Along the way, she investigates the difficult passages often used to preclude women from certain areas of service, pointing to better and more faithful understandings of those verses.Encouraging and hopeful, Mathews aims for an "egalitarian complementarity" in which men and women use all of their gifts in the church together, in partnership, for the glory of God.

What IS Sex?


Alenka Zupančič - 2017
    But what if, as Lacan claims, we can get exactly the same satisfaction that we get from sex from talking (or writing, painting, praying, or other activities)? The point is not to explain the satisfaction from talking by pointing to its sexual origin, but that the satisfaction from talking is itself sexual. The satisfaction from talking contains a key to sexual satisfaction (and not the other way around) -- even a key to sexuality itself and its inherent contradictions. The Lacanian perspective would make the answer to the simple-seeming question, "What is sex?" rather more complex. In this volume in the Short Circuits series, Alenka Zupancic approaches the question from just this perspective, considering sexuality a properly philosophical problem for psychoanalysis; and by psychoanalysis, she means that of Freud and Lacan, not that of the kind of clinician practitioners called by Lacan "orthopedists of the unconscious." Zupancic argues that sexuality is at the point of a "short circuit" between ontology and epistemology. Sexuality and knowledge are structured around a fundamental negativity, which unites them at the point of the unconscious. The unconscious (as linked to sexuality) is the concept of an inherent link between being and knowledge in their very negativity.

Christian Cosmo: The Sex Talk You Never Had


Phylicia Masonheimer - 2017
    Rather than learn about sex from the culture, Christian Cosmo answers sexual questions from a Scriptural standpoint. By reframing sex for the single girl, we lay the foundation for God-honoring marriages and end the stigma on female sexuality.

Ask: Building Consent Culture


Kitty StrykerPorscha Coleman - 2017
    To resist rape culture, we need a consent culture—and one that is more than just reactionary. Left confined to intimate spaces, consent will atrophy as theory that is never put into practice. The multi-layered power disparities of today’s world require a response sensitive to a wide range of lived experiences.  In Ask, Kitty Stryker assembles a retinue of writers, journalists, and activists to examine how a cultural politic centered on consent can empower us outside the bedroom, whether it’s at the doctor’s office, interacting with law enforcement, or calling out financial abuse within radical communities. More than a collection of essays, Ask is a testimony and guide on the role that negated consent plays in our lives, examining how we can take those first steps to reclaim it from institutionalized power.

Better Bondage for Every Body


Evie Vane - 2017
    You’ll get insightful writings by bondage experts worldwide on topics like pain processing, anatomy, and rope relationships—plus the stretching warm-up you’ve been waiting for. And if you’re a rope bottom who’s curvy, male, 40+, or gender-nonconforming, or you have a special physical condition like fibromyalgia, you’ll get helpful ideas tailored just for you, gathered from bondage lovers spanning the globe. Those who love to tie haven’t been left out, either! You’ll learn ties for partners with limited range of motion, along with tips for guerrilla bondage (aka rope bombing) from one of its pioneers. And an entire chapter is devoted to self-tying, written by a professional international performer and longtime instructor. As for that groundbreaking research, put your thinking cap on. For the first time publicly, a 15-year neuroscientist shares his insights developed over four years—including through his own case studies—as to why rope bondage makes us feel as amazing as it does. Inspirational essays and a list of resources round out this remarkable volume, which comes on the heels of the popular Little Guide to Getting Tied Up. A heartfelt tribute to community and the beauty of rope bondage lovers in all their diversity, it belongs in the libraries of rope bondage lovers everywhere.

Curvy Girl Sex: 101 Body-Positive Positions to Empower Your Sex Life


Elle Chase - 2017
    Who says you have to be a size 6 to have the best sex of your life? Curvy Girl Sex is here to show you that regardless of size, shape, or flexibility you CAN get creative and have satisfying, sultry, sensual sex! Sex educator Elle Chase covers sex positions from basic to advanced in this new guide for plus-sized lovers. Elle covers specific challenges faced as plus-sized people, and provides precise, body positive tips, tricks and techniques that cater to your big, beautiful body. Curvy Girl Sex also features sections on which sex toys on the market that are best for a woman of size, the one unexpected item in just about every home that's just waiting to be used to enhance sex sessions, tried and tested methods and positions to make curvy girls quiver, and loads of "sex hacks".

Essence of Shibari: Kinbaku and Japanese Rope Bondage


Shin Nawakari - 2017
    Japanese-style bondage artist Shin Nawakiri shares his safe, sexy, and beautiful techniques in this newly-translated book, which contains numerous ties for the beginner artist and for intermediate or advanced players, including: sensual body wrapping without knots, binding one wrist or body column, body harnesses, futomomo (thigh ties), and takate kote (chest and arm binding). Explore the history of kinbaku, practical shibari for graceful and steamy play, the psychology of bondage (for those tying and those being bound), and more. Now is your time to enjoy this delicious form—learning from a renowned rope artist in the privacy of your home.

American Hookup: The New Culture of Sex on Campus


Lisa Wade - 2017
    She draws on broad, original, insightful research to explore a challenging emotional landscape, full of opportunities for self-definition but also the risks of isolation, unequal pleasure, competition for status, and sexual violence.Accessible and open-minded, compassionate and honest, American Hookup explains where we are and how we got here, asking, “Where do we go from here?”

Sex and Lies


Leïla Slimani - 2017
    In a country where the law punishes and outlaws all forms of sex outside marriage, as well as homosexuality and prostitution, women have only two options for their sexual identities: virgin or wife. Sex and Lies is an essential confrontation with Morocco's intimate demons and a vibrant appeal for the universal freedom to be, to love and to desire.

MODE ONE: Whisper Into a Woman's Ear What Is REALLY On Your Mind


Alan Roger Currie - 2017
    This book seeks to prevent these men from finding themselves relegated to a woman's dreaded 'friend zone,' and provoking women to view them instead as more of a potential husband, long-term boyfriend, or casual sex lover.

Do Animals Fall in Love?


Katharina von der Gathen - 2017
    Scorpions attract their partners with a romantic dance. Male humpback whales sing together for days at a time to bring females from many miles away.This illustrated compendium is based on questions asked by children in sexuality education classes. It is frank, humorous, and with something to amaze on every page, including seduction methods, physiology and mating, the most devoted fathers in the animal kingdom, and the sweetest animal babies on Earth.

Pelvic Liberation: Using Yoga, Self-Inquiry, and Breath Awareness for Pelvic Health


Leslie Howard - 2017
    In addition to explaining practical yoga techniques that will heal body and mind, Pelvic Liberation will take you through eye-opening reflections to help you overcome cultural and historical influences that have impaired every woman’s health. Leslie brings thoughtfulness, a dash of humor, and a therapeutic focus to a subject that can be difficult and overwhelming. This book is a shout-out to normalize the conversation about pelvic health and improve a woman’s knowledge and awareness of her pelvis. Every woman, yoga instructor, and women’s health professional will benefit from this richly informative book.

Sensate Focus in Sex Therapy: The Illustrated Manual


Linda Weiner - 2017
    This book is the only one to: vividly describe and illustrate the specific steps of, activities involved in, and positions associated with Sensate Focus; emphasize the purpose of Sensate Focus as a mindfulness-based practice; and distinguish between the purposes of Sensate Focus 1 and Sensate Focus 2.Through the use of artful drawings and descriptive text, this manual engages mental health and medical professionals and their clients by appealing to both the visual and the analytical. It discusses how modifications to Sensate Focus can be applied to diverse populations, such as LGBTQ clients, the elderly, the disabled, trauma survivors, and those with challenges such as Autism Spectrum, anxiety, and depression. The book also offers suggestions for dealing with common client difficulties such as avoidance, confusion, and goal directed attitudes. This comprehensive approach to Sensate Focus will remind readers of the beauty and power of touch while offering suggestions for moving from avoidance to sensory transcendence.

Mere Sexuality: Rediscovering the Christian Vision of Sexuality


Todd A. Wilson - 2017
    Wilson highlights the stunning shift of opinion on issues of sexuality in the evangelical church and why this break with the historic church is problematic for the future of Christianity. Along the way he provides ordinary believers with an introduction to the historic Christian vision of sexuality, yet does so in conversation with some of the twenty-first century's leading challenges to this vision.In a culture that is deeply confused about human sexuality, Wilson believes it is time for evangelicals to retrieve the historic Christian tradition and biblical teaching on the question of sexuality. Mere Sexuality seeks to guide readers back to the beauty and coherence of this vision of sexuality in the face of an aggressive and all-consuming pagan and secular worldview.

Enjoy Sex: (How, when and if you want to): A Practical and Inclusive Guide


Meg-John Barker - 2017
    This isn’t that kind of book.Enjoy Sex is a truly practical, friendly guide through the confusing, and sometimes alarming, world of sex and sexuality. Its radical approach puts your experience at the heart of the book, and invites you to explore what might be enjoyable to you. With the authors’ engaging and thoughtful style, the book challenges the messages we receive about ‘normal’ sex, looks at how to understand and care for yourself, delves into ideas of pleasure for different bodies, ages and tastes, explores relationships, and tackles the tricky topics of communication and consent.So, throw out the rule book and learn to listen to your own desires. This may just be the most helpful book about sex ever.

Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics


R. Marie Griffith - 2017
    The origins of these conflicts, historian R. Marie Griffith argues, lie in sharp disagreements that emerged among American Christians a century ago. From the 1920s onward, a once-solid Christian consensus regarding gender roles and sexual morality began to crumble, as liberal Protestants sparred with fundamentalists and Catholics over questions of obscenity, sex education, and abortion. Both those who advocated for greater openness in sexual matters and those who resisted new sexual norms turned to politics to pursue their moral visions for the nation. Moral Combat is a history of how the Christian consensus on sex unraveled, and how this unraveling has made our political battles over sex so ferocious and so intractable.

A Brief Guide to Ministry with LGBTQIA Youth


Cody J. Sanders - 2017
    Sanders challenges pastors and church leaders to reflect on the various trials that adolescence brings for LGBTQIA youth. Designed for congregations that currently have a theologically and biblically affirming stance toward the LGBTQIA community, this unique resource provides insight and practical advice for tough questions like:How does an affirming stance toward LGBTQIA people affect the day-to-day experience of teenagers in a church setting? In what ways can a church's youth ministry have a positive impact on the lives of LGBTQIA youth who want to fully live out their Christian faith and their gender identity? How can a pastor, youth minister, or youth ministry volunteer embrace, nurture, and provide skillful care for LGBTQIA youth in a congregation or community?A glossary of terms to use when talking about LGBTQIA issues and a list of national and location resources that can be used to support LGBTQIA youth are included.

Fucking Magic #1


Clementine Morrigan - 2017
    A meditation on sexual trauma and shame this zine reclaims sexuality as a practice of magic. Tracing lineages of trauma through child sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, emotional abuse, queerphobia, and multiple rapes, sexuality is rediscovered as a site of transformation and healing. Reimagining sluttiness and nonmonogamy in sobriety, seeking out femmme4femme desire, facing down queerphobia and biphobia, pursuing pleasure and surrendering shame, this zine is a declaration of the healing power of claiming sexuality on one’s own terms. A celebration of the power of friendship, an affirmation of the importance of joy, and an invocation of magic as a practice of embodied collaboration with a living im/material world, this zine dives deep into pain while making space for profound wonder and gratitude. Hopeful, heartfelt, disturbing, and empowering Fucking Magic is an act of love in the context of complex trauma.

Why I Don't Call Myself Gay: How I Reclaimed My Sexual Reality and Found Peace


Daniel Mattson - 2017
    Raised in a Christian family, and aware of attractions to other boys at age six, Mattson's life was marked by constant turmoil between his faith in God and his sexual attractions. Finding the conflict between his sexual desires and the teachings of his church too great, he assumed he was gay, turned his back on God, and began a relationship with another man. Yet freedom and happiness remained elusive until he discovered Christ and his true identity.In this frank memoir, Mattson chronicles his journey to and from a gay identity, finding peace in his true identity, as a man, made in the image and likeness of God. Part autobiography, part philosophy of life, and part a practical guide in living chastely, the book draws lessons from Mattson's search for inner freedom and integrity, sharing wisdom from his failures and successes. His lifelong search for happiness and peace comes full circle in his realization that, above all else, what is true about him is that he is a beloved son of God, loved into existence by God, created for happiness in this life and the next. Mattson's book is for anyone who has ever wondered who he is, why he is here, and, in the face of suffering, where to find joy, happiness, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

The Mediterranean Love Plan: 7 Secrets to Lifelong Passion in Marriage


Stephen Arterburn - 2017
    In this fascinating book, the authors explore research on seven activities that prompt passion, then describe how Mediterranean cultures practice these secrets in everyday life. Steve and Misty also share how these fun-to-apply secrets have taken their own marriage from confused to confident, from discouraged to delighted– and how you can do it too.   The Mediterranean Love Plan will help couples become more playful, creative, connected and romantic -- burning with passion that stands the test of time.

Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy


Mark Regnerus - 2017
    Coupled sexual activity has become more widely available than ever. Cheap sex has been made possible by two technologies that have little to do with each other - the Pill and high-quality pornography - and its distribution made more efficient by a third technological innovation, online dating. Together, they drive down the cost of real sex, and in turn slow the development of love, make fidelity more challenging, sexual malleability more common, and have even taken a toll on men's marriageability.Cheap Sex takes readers on an extended tour inside the American mating market, and highlights key patterns that characterize young adults' experience today, including the timing of first sex in relationships, overlapping partners, frustrating returns on their relational investments, and a failure tolink future goals like marriage with how they navigate their current relationships. Drawing upon several large nationally-representative surveys, in-person interviews with 100 men and women, and the assertions of scholars ranging from evolutionary psychologists to gender theorists, what emerges is astory about social change, technological breakthroughs, and unintended consequences. Men and women have not fundamentally changed, but their unions have. No longer playing a supporting role in relationships, sex has emerged as a central priority in relationship development and continuation. Butunravel the layers, and it is obvious that the emergence of industrial sex is far more a reflection of men's interests than women's.

Enjoy!


Joyce J. Penner - 2017
    In Enjoy: The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women, Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner dispel assumptions that can keep women from accepting and expressing their God-given sexuality in marriage. After more than forty years as sex therapists and educators, the Penners have learned what helps couples build lasting, mutually enjoyable sex in marriage. Their knowledge is culled from the stories of thousands of individuals and couples who sought help with frustrations and have found relief and mutual fulfillment. In this book they share step-by-step, practical ways for wives to move from duty and disappointment to pleasure and fulfillment. Learn how the woman's biblical role for sex in marriage is to pursue all of who she is sexually and share her sexuality with her husband, which will, in turn, increase his satisfaction. Be empowered as a woman to embrace your sexuality and find deeper enjoyment with your husband. This title is a companion to The Married Guy's Guide to Great Sex, also by the Penners.

Piss On It: New And Selected Poems


Arthur Graham - 2017
    New and selected poems by Arthur Graham.

Dragon Mother: A New Look at the Female Psyche


Michael Tsarion - 2017
     Of particular interest is his analysis of the female role in the criminal history of the world. The myth of female nonviolence is convincingly decimated. Michael introduces us to six human types, two normal and four abnormal, and each a product of their mother’s positive or negative influence. Michael walks us through the manner in which the four malignant types shape the world in their image, a world getting more deranged and amoral as every day passes. Michael’s Jungian analysis of the roots of consciousness and culture is insightful as well as troubling. He outlines the serious implications for the world in which children continue to be raised by parents indifferent to their own psychological profiles and levels of emotional maturity. Michael’s penetrating inquiry reveals how many of our cherished notions about sexuality, gender, masculinity, motherhood, child abuse, addiction and teen delinquency, are inadequate and wrongheaded. His insights have profound consequences for psychiatry, psychoanalysis and other healing methodologies. In clear no-nonsense language, and with great insight, Michael shows us how to radically rectify the many troubling problems that confront us today, psychologically, domestically and socially. If you are dedicated to healing inner pain, grief and childhood trauma, this book provides you with an encyclopedia of invaluable Self-Help meditations and insights. If you are a practicing therapist, Dragon Mother allows you to massively upgrade your analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic skills. This is not a book of the spinner-rack variety, but a deep psychological analysis of the most important subject there is. Dragon Mother is certainly politically incorrect and will cause knee-jerk reactions from oblivious, acculturated people who have not questioned or investigated this profound but obscure matter. It will, however, be a treasure for those wishing to know more about the potentially damaging effects of the psychic exchanges between mother and child. The latest neuroscientific discoveries confirm Michael's theories about the damage done to a fetus by the consciousness and self-conversation of a toxic mother. Dragon Mother will also be revealing to readers who doubt the familiar cliche telling them that all violence and destructiveness is due almost exclusively to men. Michael’s uncompromising look at the female psyche obliterates this bankrupt theory. Visit us at dragonmother.org to read Michael's articles: Understanding Female Mystique and Malignant Feminization & the Modern World.

How Dare We! Write


Sherry Quan Lee - 2017
    Pollard, PhD, Professor of English at West Chester University extols: “HOW DARE WE! WRITE offers a much needed corrective to creative writing pedagogy. The collection asks us to consider the following questions: what does it mean for an indigenous, or black, or Latinx, or Asian, or Middle Eastern, or LGBTQIA+ (or a combination of these identities) American to become a writer? ...What does it mean to work through resistance from supposed mentors, to face rejection from publishers and classmates, to stand against traditions that silence you, to stand in your truth about your identity so that you can claim, fearlessly, your history, your trauma, your joy...” Contributors include: Gabriella Anais Deal-Marquez, Marcie Rendon, Marlina Gonzalez, Michael Kleber-Diggs, Lori Young-Williams, Jessica Lopez Lyman, Luis M Lopez, Sagirah Shahid, Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, Tou SaiKo Lee, Anya Achtenberg, Ginny Allery, Wesley Brown, Kandace Creel Falcón, Olive Lefferson, Christine Stark, Isela Gomez R., Bell Brown, Brenda, "William S. Yellow Robe, Jr, Ching-In Chen, Sweta Vikram, Hei Kyong Kim, Sherrie Fernandez-Williams, and Taiyon Coleman.

Merchants of Sin


Benjamin Garland - 2017
    What is found inside is the fully updated and expanded version of a series of articles that were originally published on The Daily Stormer. It documents the extensive role that the Jews have played in the legalization of pornography in America, showing that they have accomplished this by influencing cultural attitudes and spearheading all of the various obscenity trials that resulted in landmark liberalizing Supreme Court decisions.

Bi-Sensual


Nikki Michelle - 2017
    Even though she knows that loving Elliot Louis-Jacques is wrong, she has no desire to be right. There's just one problem: Elliot is in a long-term relationship with Demitri Alexander. As an openly bisexual man, Elliot has no problem with having his cake and eating it too. When he tells Mona and Demitri that he wants both of them at the same time, all hell breaks loose. And then, just when you think you have it all figured out, Elliot's ex steps into the picture and throws a monkey wrench that Mona never saw coming. Sparks fly, attitudes clash, secrets are revealed, and sensuality knows no bounds in Nikki-Michelle's new novel, Bi-Sensual.

Cruising the Library: Perversities in the Organization of Knowledge


Melissa Adler - 2017
    Taking the publication of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's Epistemologies of the Closet as emblematic of the Library's inability to account for sexual difference, Melissa Adler embarks upon a detailed critique of how cataloging systems have delimited and proscribed expressions of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and race in a manner that mirrors psychiatric and sociological attempts to pathologize non-normative sexual practices and civil subjects.Taking up a parallel analysis, Adler utilizes Roderick A. Ferguson's Aberrations in Black as another example of how the Library of Congress fails to account for, and thereby "buries," difference. She examines the physical space of the Library as one that encourages forms of governmentality as theorized by Michel Foucault while also allowing for its utopian possibilities. Finally, she offers a brief but highly illuminating history of the Delta Collection. Likely established before the turn of the twentieth century and active until its gradual dissolution in the 1960s, the Delta Collection was a secret archive within the Library of Congress that housed materials confiscated by the United States Post Office and other federal agencies. These were materials deemed too obscene for public dissemination or general access. Adler reveals how the Delta Collection was used to regulate difference and squelch dissent in the McCarthy era while also linking it to evolving understandings of so-called perversion in the scientific study of sexual difference.Sophisticated, engrossing, and highly readable, Cruising the Library provides us with a critical understanding of library science, an alternative view of discourses around the history of sexuality, and an analysis of the relationship between governmentality and the cataloging of research and information--as well as categories of difference--in American culture.

Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure


Lynn Comella - 2017
    Boldly reimagining who sex shops were for and the kinds of spaces they could be, these entrepreneurs opened sex-toy stores like Eve’s Garden, Good Vibrations, and Babeland not just as commercial enterprises, but to provide educational and community resources as well. In Vibrator Nation Lynn Comella tells the fascinating history of how these stores raised sexual consciousness, redefined the adult industry, and changed women's lives. Comella describes a world where sex-positive retailers double as social activists, where products are framed as tools of liberation, and where consumers are willing to pay for the promise of better living—one conversation, vibrator, and orgasm at a time.

Prostitution Narratives: Stories of Survival in the Sex Trade


Caroline Norma - 2017
    In large sections of the media, academia, public policy, Government and the law, the sex industry has had its way. Little is said of the damage, violation, suffering, and torment of prostitution on the body and the mind, nor of the deaths, suicides and murders that are routine in the sex industry.Prostitution Narratives: Stories of Survival in the Sex Trade refutes the lies and debunks the myths spread by the industry through the lived experiences of women who have survived prostitution. These disturbing stories give voice to formerly prostituted women who explain why they entered the sex trade. They bravely and courageously recount their intimate experiences of harm and humiliation at the hands of sex buyers, pimps and traffickers and reveal their escape and emergence as survivors.Edited by Caroline Norma and Melinda Tankard Reist, Prostitution Narratives documents the reality of prostitution revealing the cost to the lives of women and girls.Prostitution Narratives: Stories of Survival in the Sex Trade will strengthen and support the global campaign to abolish prostitution, provide solidarity and solace to those who bear its scars and hopefully help women and girls exit this dehumanising industry.

Beauty, Order, and Mystery: A Christian Vision of Human Sexuality


Gerald L. HiestandJoel Willitts - 2017
    But it can also become distorted and sinful.Perhaps no issue is as urgent for the church today, or confronts it with as many questions, as human sexuality: What does it mean to fulfill God’s will through our sexuality? To what extent should our sexuality define who we are? How can we navigate cultural trends around sexuality while being faithful to Scripture?The Center for Pastor Theologians (CPT) seeks to assist pastors in the study and production of biblical and theological scholarship for the theological renewal of the church and the ecclesial renewal of theology. Based on the 2016 annual CPT conference, this volume brings together the reflections of church leaders and academic theologians who seek to answer the urgent questions concerning human sexuality. Contributors engage with Scripture, draw on examples from church history, and delve into current issues in contemporary culture, including embodiment, marriage, homosexuality, pornography, transgenderism, and gender dysphoria.Beauty, Order, and Mystery tackles difficult questions with discernment in order to offer a theological vision of faithful human sexuality for the church.REVIEWS"Pastors minister; theologians seek—and minister—understanding. Ministering understanding of how the Bible addresses real-world issues is the great privilege and responsibility of the pastor theologian. Gerald Hiestand and Todd Wilson have put together a whole ministry team that ministers understanding worth its weight in gold on one of the most socially complicated, politically fraught, yet existentially unavoidable issues of our day or any: human sexuality. In an age where the male/female duality is in danger of becoming extinct, these essays serve as salient reminders of the beauty and mystery of God's created order: 'Male and female he created them' (Gen 1:27)."- Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL"For Gerald Hiestand and Todd Wilson, the ideal of the pastor-scholar is not merely theoretical but intensely practical. The example they set through their Center for Pastor Theologians is an invitation to practice ecclesial theology. So is their new volume of thoughtful essays on God's beautiful, well-ordered, and yet mysterious purposes for human sexuality—a book that demonstrates the value and relevance of having a community of wise scholars 'do' theology in the service of the church."- Philip Ryken, president, Wheaton College"There's a public conversation about human sexuality happening nearly everywhere today, but this book helpfully locates it right at the intersection of the pastoral and the theological. Beauty, Order, and Mystery provides a remarkably easy introduction to a vexed set of issues because the chapters are approachable and accessible even as they display deep reflection and up-to-date learning. In this particular multitude of counselors there is much wisdom."- Fred Sanders, Torrey Honors Institute, Biola University

Girls Gone Old


Fiona Helmsley - 2017
    Trump was elected president; the '80s, the decade Fiona had grown up in, had ascended to the Oval Office, big time. In Girls Gone Old Fiona Helmsley doesn't answer her friend's question so much as she subverts it. With new essays about the confluence of '80s television, art, and sexual fantasy; addiction and illness; school shootings and serial killers; family; Andy Warhol; and the sleazy (yet sexy) misogyny of Axl Rose, Girls Gone Old rebukes the notion of the self as a lesser muse."Girls Gone Old is timely, not only in regard to its unabashed third and fourth wave feminism. The essays collected here cover pop culture icons, class and wealth, addiction, rape culture, even the popularity of Donald Trump. On this last, she writes, "I think this is the real divide in this country: the social principles of empathy, vs the social principles of greed." It is this kind of insight, discovered through the laying bare of her own actions and decisions, that makes Girls Gone Old so admirable."—Sara Rauch, BUST"Much of the action in Girls Gone Old, the provocative essay collection by Fiona Helmsley, goes down in New York City in the 1990s -- when St. Mark's Place was still the epicenter of cool, before the internet ruined everything. Helmsley lived the gritty East Village life most of us were too scared to live, and the triumph of her collection lies in her ability to convey both the horrors of that time and place, as well as the singular appeal. We might yearn for a lost Gotham we never really experienced; Helmsley's nostalgia, or rather nostalgie de la boue, is all too real."— Greg Olear

Tantric Jesus: The Erotic Heart of Early Christianity


James Hughes Reho - 2017
    In the West, Tantra often evokes images of arcane rituals or acrobatic sexual positions, while in reality Tantra is a holistic transformative path of life, love, and being--grounded in practice. Offering a new understanding of Jesus as guru and master of left-handed Tantra, James Reho, an Episcopal priest and tantric initiate, reframes the Christian story and restores to modern Christianity the tantric wisdom practices that were edited out of church tradition and forgotten over the centuries. He explains how tantric Christianity views the human body as the primary “temple” of the Holy, with erotic energy as the signature of Divine Presence within. Rev. Reho reveals the similarities of the earliest Christian practices to the tantric yogas of India and Tibet and explores the role of Kundalini and the chakras. He details how to work with mantras, icons, and pranayama breathing exercises, as well as with gazing as a spiritual practice. Informed by the insights of ancient texts and early masters of Christian spirituality, the author provides step-by-step instructions on how to practice Christian tantric sex with a life-partner of the opposite or same sex. Rev. Reho reveals how these heart-opening practices are rooted in eros, the life of deep desire, expressive of God’s grace within us, and are still alive in monastic practices in the Christian East. Integrating his personal spiritual experiences, years of study of ancient Christian mysticism, and an expertise in yoga and tantra, the author shows how we can re-engage the original truths of the early church to affirm the body as a holy vehicle and to utilize the energy of the erotic to achieve ecstatic union with the Divine.

Relationship Agreements: A Simple and Effective Guide for Strengthening Communication, Reducing Conflict, and Increasing Intimacy to Design Your Ideal Relationship


Eri Kardos - 2017
    With her unique ability to create a space that is warm, inviting, and fun, Eri effortlessly breaks down this highly effective tool into simple and sensible sections while sharing advice, activities, self-reflections, and exercises that provide partners with step-by-step methods to successfully navigate potentially challenging topics while building more intimacy and connection through the process. With years of experience and expertise in this area, Eri boldly takes readers beyond the traditional constructs of what relationships have been and brilliantly paints a new perspective of what relationships can become: a living and breathing experience that grows as you grow! Eri Kardos is one of the most highly referred relationship coaches in the Pacific Northwest and worldwide. Eri works globally with her clients: from the U.S. to Japan, from Argentina to India, from South Africa to Germany - Eri has delivered hundreds of self-development presentations, workshops, unconferences, and private coaching sessions. She regularly partners with corporations, universities, business groups, and community organizations to bring light to how communication and connection is inherently tied to success. She is passionate about applying her years of experience and understanding to help people in all stages of their relationship - whether intimately dating, newly married, at the brink of divorce, or partnered for over 40 years. Eri inspires people to fall in love more deeply with their partners, themselves, and their relationship!

It's Called "Polyamory": Coming Out About Your Nonmonogamous Relationships


Tamara Pincus - 2017
    Facing this requires its own coming out and education process. In this guide, Tamara Pincus and Rebecca Hiles provide a roadmap for explaining the expansive intricacies of the consensual nonmonogamy spectrum. By fusing personal experience and community research, they break down the various incarnations of polyamorous relationship structures, polyamory's intersections with race and gender, and the seemingly esoteric jargon of the lifestyle.Topics include everything from how to explain what a "unicorn hunter" is to answering questions like, "Can poly people raise children?" and "Can they live normal, healthy lives?" Such conversations are eloquently explained and the real dangers of being out as poly in a monogamy-centered society are laid bare.

Love, Sex, and Awakening: An Erotic Journey from Tantra to Spiritual Ecstasy


Margot Anand - 2017
    This book recounts her fascinating adventures and provides techniques and exercises to help you connect to the spiritual potential of sex and cultivate a deeper, more fulfilling love life.One of the first teachers to bring Tantra to the West, Margot has explored the connection between sex, body, mind, and spirit with gurus around the world, including Timothy Leary, Alan Watts, Osho, and many more. Love, Sex, and Awakening shares her amazing stories and explores the answers to profound questions: What is Tantra? What does a woman need to realize her multi-orgasmic nature? What does it mean for a man to be a Tantric lover? What is awakening?

Messy Journey: How Grace & Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home


Lori Wildenberg - 2017
    Whether they are rejecting faith, dabbling in sin, or wholeheartedly embracing sinful behavior, there is hope. After all, their struggle isn't really with you--it's with God.

Furry Nation: The True Story of America's Most Misunderstood Subculture


Joe Strike - 2017
    It's existed since the beginning of time in prehistoric cave paintings, ancient gods, and tribal rituals. It lives on today--not just in the sports mascots and cartoon characters we see everywhere, but in stage plays, art galleries, serious literature, performance art--and among furry fans who bring their make-believe characters to life digitally, on paper, or in the carefully crafted fursuits they wear to become the animals of their imagination.In Furry Nation, author Joe Strike shares the very human story of the people who created furry fandom, the many forms it takes--from the joyfully public to the deeply personal-- and how Furry transformed his own life.

Not Guilty: Queer Stories from a Century of Discrimination


Sue Elliot - 2017
    The Sexual Offences Act 1967 changed that in part, sparking a chain of social reforms that altered the face of British society for ever. But it was only the beginning of the long fight for equality in the eyes of the law, in society and in millions of private lives.This vital new oral history – to accompany a Channel 4 documentary of the same name – tells that story through the lives of gay men who lived through those years. Built around the intimate testimonies of some exceptional but largely unknown characters, it gives voice to previously untold stories of denial, deceit and subterfuge, public pain and secret pleasure through the ten tumultuous decades before and since that watershed Act.The human variety of gay experience is all here: lives lived in joyous defiance of the law and a repressive society; others always in fear of a prurient tabloid press. Those committed to love and others to licence: lifelong affairs alongside casual sex.Young gay men may now take for granted the equal treatment denied those who went before. This vibrant celebration of past achievements and hardwon freedoms offers a powerful reminder of how much has changed in the past fifty years, and a warning that hard-won freedoms can so easily be eroded in uncertain times.

Preparing Children for Marriage: How to Teach God's Good Design for Marriage, Sex, Purity, and Dating


Josh Mulvihill - 2017
    But our choice is no longer between teaching them now or later -- if we do not reach them first, our culture is happy to step in with messages of its own. Someone is going to shape our children's beliefs -- so the time to start biblical conversations is now!In this foundation-laying book, Josh Mulvihill offers theological training for a critical area of parenting. He walks parents through how to begin conversations, then teaches them God's purpose for dating, marriage, and sex so they can pass this teaching on to their children.The Bible says children are never too young to learn God's plan for this area of their lives... so prepare yourself to prepare them for one of the most important decisions they will ever make.

Redeemed Sexuality: 12 Sessions for Healing and Transformation in Community


Andrew A. Boa - 2017
    Even though Christians are called to value and celebrate sexuality as sacred and good, it is often a source of fear, shame, or secret sin. But it doesn t have to be that way. Healthy sexuality concerns what we pursue, not just what we avoid, so Redeemed Sexuality invites emerging adults to seek sexual maturity and discipleship in the context of community. As we experience love, joy, and intimacy with God and others, sexual shame and sin lose their power. Integrating theology, psychology, and spiritual formation, participants engage the process of transformation bypracticing vulnerabilityembracing their identity in Christlearning healthy intimacyIncorporating peer-to-peer leadership, this field-tested small group curriculum is suitable for use in both men s or women's groups. The process is neither linear nor easy, but change is possible because Christ is able. The only question is, Do you want to be healed?

Nourishing Intimacy: Cultivating Trust, Understanding, and Love in All Our Relationships


Tara Brach - 2017
    With Nourishing Intimacy, this renowned teacher offers a treasury of tools and insights for cultivating self-compassion, overcoming inner obstacles, and fostering authentic communication. Recorded at a live two-day event, this training brings you Tara’s special blend of storytelling, tender guidance, and potent meditations for applying mindfulness and loving-kindness to our relationships, including: • Dissolving the illusion of separation that keeps us isolated • Awakening from the belief that we are unworthy of love • How to address the true needs underneath our surface conflicts • Practicing forgiveness, healing from past relationship trauma, breaking stuck patterns in conflict, and much more. "When we are grounded in compassionate awareness," teaches Tara, "we can stay heart to heart with another, even when we don’t see eye to eye." Here she offers a gentle and practical guide for building healthy, openhearted relationships with Nourishing Intimacy.

Welcome to Fairyland: Queer Miami Before 1940


Julio Capó, Jr. - 2017
    As Julio Capo Jr. shows in this fascinating history, Miami's transnational connections reveal that the city has been a queer borderland for over a century. In chronicling Miami's queer past from its 1896 founding through World War II, Capo shows the multifaceted ways gender and sexual renegades made the city their own.Drawing from a multilingual archive, Capo unearths the forgotten history of "fairyland," a marketing term crafted by boosters that held multiple meanings for different groups of people. In viewing Miami as a contested colonial space, he turns our attention to migrants and immigrants, tourism, and trade to and from the Caribbean--particularly the Bahamas, Cuba, and Haiti--to expand the geographic and methodological parameters of urban and queer history. Recovering the world of Miami's old saloons, brothels, immigration checkpoints, borders, nightclubs, bars, and cruising sites, Capo makes clear how critical gender and sexual transgression is to understanding the city and the broader region in all its fullness.

The Explorer's Guide to Planet Orgasm: For Every Body


Annie Sprinkle - 2017
    We call it Planet Orgasm. On Planet Orgasm, there are dozens of kinds of orgasms, just waiting for us all to have them. You can take Orgasmanaut Training, learn the fascinating history of orgasm research, expand your definition of orgasm, and voyage into undiscovered orgasmic lands. You'll discover orgasms for people of every gender and orientation: big world-shaking orgasms and gentle mini-gasms; orgasms in every part of your body; orgasms by yourself, orgasms with toys, orgasms with others... and orgasms only you can discover for yourself. World-famous performer/author/educator Annie Sprinkle is your guide, together with artist/educator Beth Stephens and illustrator YuDori. Under the leadership of this fearless crew, you'll discover, through words and pictures, just what Planet Orgasm has in store for you!

Parrots of Desire: 3,000 Years of Indian Erotica


Amrita Narayanan - 2017
    In The Parrots of Desire, the modern reader, to whom the anthology is dedicated, will find a wealth of Indian erotic writing—beyond the famously unbridled passages of the Kama Sutra and Koka Shastra. There is, for instance, the extract ‘Why does sex exist?’ recreated from the 3,000-year-old Rig Veda; the work of the Tamil Sangam poets, whose contemporary finesse belies their antiquity; Bhakti poets Antal and Mahadeviyakka, who describe women’s fantasies of men (whether human or godly); short stories by Kamala Das that have been out of print for decades; excerpts from the work of contemporary writers like Mridula Garg and Ginu Kamani and much more.Whether it is the trepidation of the first time or the delirium and delicious rapture of subsequent ones, the anguish of being abandoned or the ennui of steadfast fidelity; passion, jealousy, suspicion, bitterness or even regret— every aspect of the experience of erotic love, timeless and universal, is manifest in these pages. What emerges from the dozens of pieces in this volume can be called the ‘core’ of Indian erotica: the notion that the erotic, like the human imagination itself, is powerful, unquenchable, passionate and essential to the best life we should seek to make for ourselves.

The Art of the Erotic


Phaidon - 2017
    With its chronological organization, The Art of the Erotic provides insights into human sexuality throughout the ages.

The FemDom Relationship Guide: How Submissive Men and Strong Women Can Have Successful Long-Term Relationships


Caroline Peel - 2017
    You should not read this book, if you're interested in any 'hot' FemDom sex stories - you won't find them there. You will find a complete manual for a FemDom relationship, however. So much of the websites out there are focusing on the sexual elements of FemDom, and almost no one talks about FemDom as a relationship model. Needless to say that it seems all of the writings are from men, and they really don't understand women [and especially not Dominant women]. I have been in a FemDom relationship for almost 10 years now, and yes, it works - it's the best lifestyle ever, I love it! But getting there wasn't easy. The stuff on the internet, for instance, was worthless. I received lots of help, but I have to admit that much of this was sheer luck. The first step was understanding my submissive husband and his desire to be dominated. It was by accident that I discovered my husband's visits to a Dominatrix close by. How was I supposed to understand that? If I would have had access to a book like this one, I would've understood him much better. But back then this book didn't exist.... Instead, I invested lots of time to understand submissive men and went on a journey. After some time, we introduced FemDom. I learned to Dominate. I learned to command. I learned to own him. He's mine now. And both of us love it. But even today, 10 years later, there still is no adequate book or guide out there which teaches the two most basic things: - Accepting and understanding submissive men as a woman - Dominanten a man and living a FemDom relationship in the long run. That's why I decided to write this book. It's not only a collection of thoughts - it's a through handbook guiding you on your journey towards total FemDom. Here is an overview of what you will find inside: Chapter 1: Why I Became A Mistress (Understanding Submissive Men, On Femdom And Relationships: Femdom Is Love) Chapter 2: The Benefits Of Female Domination Chapter 3: The Mistress – And How To Become One Chapter 4: Finding A Submissive Male Or Creating One Chapter 5: Train A Submissive Male To Be A Slave Chapter 6: Establishing Your Authority: Ways To Make Him Obey Chapter 7: Managing A Femdom Relationship Chapter 8: How To Make Him Obey With Rituals And Things Chapter 9: The Art Of Discipline: Advice, Technique And Implements Chapter 10: Femdom Examples Chapter 11 Frequently Asked Questions Chapter 12: Last Steps It's a 170 page book and contains years of experience. What do you need more? Here are the two FemDom rules: 1. Mistress is always right. 2. When Mistress is wrong, Rule #1 applies.

ABO Comix: A Queer Prisoners Anthology (issue #1)


ABO ComixSirbrian Spease - 2017
    All of the profits go back to the contributors/prison abolition organizations.

Everyone I Know Wants to be Castrated and Kill Their Family


Porpentine Charity Heartscape - 2017
    its kind of like a word bezoar, of things i set aside because they didn't fit anywhere else, too personal or short or radioactive. they believe a bezoar can neutralize poison poured upon it...but no promises!"

Contested Bodies: Pregnancy, Childrearing, and Slavery in Jamaica


Sasha Turner - 2017
    However, as Sasha Turner shows in this illuminating study, for almost thirty years before the slave trade ended, Jamaican slaveholders and doctors adjusted slave women's labor, discipline, and health care to increase birth rates and ensure that infants lived to become adult workers. Although slaves' interests in healthy pregnancies and babies aligned with those of their masters, enslaved mothers, healers, family, and community members distrusted their owners' medicine and benevolence. Turner contends that the social bonds and cultural practices created around reproductive health care and childbirth challenged the economic purposes slaveholders gave to birthing and raising children.Through powerful stories that place the reader on the ground in plantation-era Jamaica, Contested Bodies reveals enslaved women's contrasting ideas about maternity and raising children, which put them at odds not only with their owners but sometimes with abolitionists and enslaved men. Turner argues that, as the source of new labor, these women created rituals, customs, and relationships around pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing that enabled them at times to dictate the nature and pace of their work as well as their value. Drawing on a wide range of sources--including plantation records, abolitionist treatises, legislative documents, slave narratives, runaway advertisements, proslavery literature, and planter correspondence--Contested Bodies yields a fresh account of how the end of the slave trade changed the bodily experiences of those still enslaved in Jamaica.

Thriving in Sex Work: Heartfelt Advice for Staying Sane in the Sex Industry: A Self-Help Book for Sex Workers


Lola Davina - 2017
    The adult industry is riddled with pitfalls and dangers. Erotic labor is often emotionally demanding, draining, and complex. It can be hard to know who to turn to for advice on keeping yourself safe and sane. Lola Davina, former stripper, dominatrix, porn actress and escort, provides the life skills you need to prosper, including: -Cultivating friendships, community, and romance -Mastering money-Debunking sex industry myths such as you have to be flawless, or clients hate to hear "no"-Avoiding trigger states, like loneliness, fatigue, boredom, anxiety and depression, that lead to bad decision-making and burnout-Surviving bad calls, shifts, and shoots - and so much more...Thriving in sex work means having a healthy body, mind, heart, and bank account. No matter your job title or gender, whether you're independent or work for someone else, if you want to succeed in sex work, this book is for you.

All But Invisible: Exploring Identity Questions at the Intersection of Faith, Gender, and Sexuality


Nate Collins - 2017
    In All But Invisible, author Nate Collins explores the cultural background of this claim and outlines a vision for Christian community in which straight and nonstraight people might be reconciled so they can flourish together in full awareness of their shared humanity.Along the way, Collins addresses several questions clustered around the topic of LGBT and Christian experience, such as:What is the relationship between biblical concepts like desire, lust, and temptation and modern constructs like sexual attraction and orientation?How do you reconcile aspects of identity that are important to gender and sexual minorities with Christian faith identity?How might new forms of kinship, such as intentional community or celibate partnership, make the blessings of family life more accessible to gay people in traditional faith communities?Speaking from his own experience as a gay man in a mixed orientation marriage, Collins is committed to helping faith communities include LGBT people in the family life of the church. He writes for believers who have a traditional sexual ethic and provides a renewed vision of gospel flourishing for gay, lesbian, and other same-sex-attracted individuals.

The Naked Truth about Sex and Marriage


Dave Willis - 2017
    "The Naked Truth about Sex and Marriage" reveals: *How to develop more intimacy inside and outside the bedroom. *Candid answers to the most common questions about sex. *The Master Plan for passionate sex from the One who actually created sex. *A guide to overcoming some of the most common forms of relationship hurdles and causes of sexual frustration. *How to build and sustain a passionate partnership with your spouse through every season of your life together. *Practical tools to bring more intimacy and fulfillment to your marriage. This book will have an instant impact in your relationship! Here's what others are saying about "The Naked Truth about Sex and Marriage"

The Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance


Linda Tatro Herzer - 2017
    This motivated her to learn about gender variant people and put her in situations where her previous understanding of the Bible was greatly expanded. In this scholarly, yet easy-to-read book, Herzer gives clear, insightful accounts of what she has learned. A must read for all pastors, chaplains, counselors, and congregants, and for family and friends of transgender people, as well as for gender variant individuals seeking to find their stories in the biblical narrative, and desiring to know how scripture supports them. A refreshing and much-needed contribution to the public debates about the rights of transgender people. The Bible and the Transgender Experience includes the following resources: "How to make your congregation or group trans friendly”: Practical suggestions from the author Discussion guide: Thought-provoking questions that can be used with a book group or as part of a four- to five-week Bible study

The Gang's All Queer: The Lives of Gay Gang Members


Vanessa R. Panfil - 2017
    In The Gang's All Queer, Vanessa Panfil introduces us to a different world. Meet gay gang members - sometimes referred to in popular culture as "homo thugs" - whose gay identity complicates criminology's portrayal and representation of gangs, gang members, and gang life. In vivid detail, Panfil provides an in-depth understanding of how gay gang members construct and negotiate both masculine and gay identities through crime and gang membership.The Gang's All Queer draws from interviews with over 50 gay gang- and crime-involved young men in Columbus, Ohio, the majority of whom are men of color in their late teens and early twenties, as well as on-the-ground ethnographic fieldwork with men who are in gay, hybrid, and straight gangs. Panfil provides an eye-opening portrait of how even members of straight gangs are connected to a same-sex oriented underground world.Most of these young men still present a traditionally masculine persona and voice deeply-held affection for their fellow gang members. They also fight with their enemies, many of whom are in rival gay gangs. Most come from impoverished, 'rough' neighborhoods, and seek to defy negative stereotypes of gay and Black men as deadbeats, though sometimes through illegal activity. Some are still closeted to their fellow gang members and families, yet others fight to defend members of the gay community, even those who they deem to be "fags," despite distaste for these flamboyant members of the community. And some perform in drag shows or sell sex to survive.The Gang's All Queer poignantly illustrates how these men both respond to and resist societal marginalization. Timely, powerful, and engaging, this book will challenge us to think differently about gangs, gay men, and urban life.

Tantric Intimacy: Discover the Magic of True Connection


Katrina Bos - 2017
    It is trust and kindness. It is power. It is everything that a human being is capable of and more... so much more. Living a tantric life is a life filled with unlimited happiness. It is unfathomable in its greatness. It is a way of intimately connecting with the people around you that will change how you exist in this world.

Trans Homo.GASP!: Gay FTM and Cis Men on Sex and Love


Editors only - 2017
    Authors share hot, vulnerable and intimate moments from steamy explorations on gay male hook up apps to profound and transformative insights about identity, partnership and belongingness in gay male communities. This collection, much like its authors, is deliciously diverse, with a resoundingly inspiring message: Love transcends labels and happiness comes when we overcome our fears of the unknown and embrace diversity.

Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People


Misty M. Ginicola - 2017
    Twenty-five chapters written by experts in the field provide direction for working with clients in an authentic, ethical, and affirmative manner that is tailored to their individual strengths, needs, and identity. The book is divided into four sections, which explore the science behind gender and affectional orientation; developmental issues across the life span and treatment issues; the specialized needs of nine distinct populations; and the intersectionality of ethnicity and overlapping identities, the role of religion, and counselor advocacy. To further a deeper understanding of the content, each chapter contains an "Awareness of Attitudes and Beliefs Self-Check," a case narrative relating to the material covered, questions for discussion, and a list of online resources. The book concludes with an extensive glossary of terms, both preferred and problematic, which counselors working with these communities should understand and use appropriately.   *Requests for digital versions from the ACA can be found on wiley.com.  *To request print copies, please visit the ACA website here. *Reproduction requests for material from books published by ACA should be directed to permissions@counseling.org

What Does God Think? Transgender People and The Bible


Cheryl B. Evans - 2017
    From the best selling author of I Promised Not to Tell comes this thought provoking new book, What Does God Think? Presented with the idea that her transgender child was "not of God", Cheryl B. Evans set out to see what God really thinks about transgender people. What does the Bible say? Why is there such a big divide among Christians? Why do some Christians insist there is no such thing as a transgender person while other Christians accept and affirm transgender people? And most importantly, what does God think? This is an invitation to examine the scriptures and give consideration to the social, cultural, and scientific facts that impact what we believe, and the way we internally feel about transgender people. Cheryl B. Evans handles this controversial topic with grace and compassion for people on both sides of this debate. If you have been struggling to understand how someone can be Christian and still accept and affirm transgender people then this book is for you. If you know someone who is struggling to accept a loved one who has come out as trans, this would be the perfect book to recommend.What Does God Think? received an honorable mention book award in the 2018 Readers Favorite International Book Award Contest in the Christian - General genre/category.

Prerequisites to Ecstasy: A No-Nonsense Guide to What It Really Takes to Create the Love and Sex We Say We Want


Om Rupani - 2017
    Couples are stuck in the same bad patterns. Individuals are stuck in the same bad habits that keep sabotaging their joy and expression. The obstacles that people are facing in creating a rich erotic life are the same bunch of obstacles. Just as the foundational information around what causes a bridge to stand or to collapse does not change from bridge to bridge, the foundational information about what makes partnerships thrive or fail does not vary wildly from partnership to partnership. Human nature has structure. Human eros has structure. And the glitches and the weaknesses and the misperceptions that keep tripping us up are the same ones across the population. This book is my attempt to articulate and organize these universal conversations regarding our emotional, relational and erotic lives. --- Om Rupani

Uniquely Rika


Ms.Rika - 2017
    Uniquely Rika provides a practical, intelligent, common-sense approach to adding D/s to your relationship; with long-termed success. You’ll see how fulfilling the inner desire to serve or be served is within your reach - without having to mask yourself in artificial roles and games.Ms. Rika explains why several popular approaches fail to last. She then details her approach to creating successful D/s relationships; one which has proven as effective with seasoned D/s players as with those who never thought themselves to be a ‘dominant’ or ‘submissive’. Regardless of your experience level, Uniquely Rika will provide a new insight, a heightened awareness, and a fresh perspective on D/s that will enhance your relationships, forever. Though written from the ‘female-led’ perspective, the concepts are applicable to any loving partners.If you’re serious about a lasting and meaningful D/s-based relationship, you’ll want to read “Uniquely Rika”.

HOW TO BE A FAGGOT: a book of illustrated queer erotica


Jamison Karon - 2017
    It was created to inspire critical thinking, to provoke emotion, and, at times, to arouse the reader. How to Be a Faggot is a time capsule of my queer experience in the years leading up to Trump’s presidency. My sexuality is the crux of my being, the muse of my artistry, and my raison d’être. Sex is a part of my culture. It’s not some fleeting rebellious moment; it’s just the way it is. I am queer, and my life is erotic. I write it down.

Sex, Lies & Statistics


Brooke Magnanti - 2017
    exactly the kind of level-headed analysis that could help to dispel some of the hysteria surrounding the sex industry" THE TIMES "As entertaining as it is erudite" THE OBSERVER As Belle de Jour she enthralled and outraged the nation in equal measure. Now her real identity is out in the open, Brooke's background as a scientist and a researcher can come to bear in her fascinating investigation into the truth behind the headlines, scandals and moral outrage that fill the media (and our minds) when it comes to sex. Using her entertaining and informed voice, Brooke strips away the hype and looks at the science behind sex and the panic behind public policy. Unlike so many media column inches, Brooke uses verifiable academic research. This is fact, not fiction; science not supposition. So sit back, open your mind and prepare to be shocked... (review excerpts refer to the 2012 UK edition)

Better Than the Hand: How Masturbation is the Key to Better Sex and Healthier Living


Magnus Sullivan - 2017
    The endless media stream of physical violence and rape cast a long shadow on our cultural landscape. We live in a time where a presidential candidate can brag about non consensual advances and slut shaming, and still be voted into office. This isn’t confined to less enlightened segments of the population; even in the most progressive communities there are incidents of rape, dosing and sexual violence. Is this the last gasp of a cultural relic crumbling in the light of transparency? Or is it the beginning of a long process of cultural realignment as puritans respond to decades of lost ground in the culture wars? Either way, as dialog, education and action explore the connection between sexuality and violence, between self-love and empathy, and between the need for explicit verbal consent and the lack of emotional intelligence, we arrive together at this critical point: What happens next? Do we react and respond to control and contain male sexuality? Or work together to explore and expand it? In this unique, timely and revealing book, Magnus Sullivan discusses how a better understanding of self-pleasure is not only the key to better sex, but is also a path to self discovery and empathy for others.

All That We Are: Asexuality, and the misconceptions surrounding it (Living Diversity Book 2)


Natasja Rose - 2017
    We live in a very sexualised society, where sex without love is common, but love without sex seems to shock people. In this book, we will discuss the spectrum of Asexuality, as viewed by the people who live it. This is a collection of anecdotes, ranging from discovering your sexuality, to common misconceptions and prejudice, and basic definitions of the different terms Being diverse might come with its problems, but what's the point if you can't be yourself?

How to Be Knotty: The Essential Guide to Modern Rope Bondage


Morpheous - 2017
    Whether you’ve been tying for years or have already read one bondage book and want to know more, Morpheous’s easy-to-understand teaching style and phenomenal full-color photos will show you exactly how to achieve over 20 ties in full step-by-step detail.Additional chapters cover safety, equipment, different schools of rope bondage and how to safely and sexily bring rope bondage into your sex life. As always with Morpheous’ books, communication, fun, and safety are at the forefront of this fantastic rope guide that provides everything you need to advance in rope bondage. You’ll never be bored on a Friday night again.

Healers on the Edge: Somatic Sex Education


Caffyn Jesse - 2017
    Coming together from a variety of backgrounds, the authors present an array of examples and applications: from scar tissue remediation to gender identity explorations, from sexual problems and dysfunctions to the treatment of chronic trauma and neglect.

Gaming Representation: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Video Games


Jennifer Malkowski - 2017
    Video game developers are responding to these critiques, but scholarly discussion of representation in games has lagged far behind. Gaming Representation examines portrayals of race, gender, and sexuality in a range of games, from casuals like Diner Dash, to indies like Journey and The Binding of Isaac, to mainstream games from the Grand Theft Auto, BioShock, Spec Ops, The Last of Us, and Max Payne franchises. Arguing that representation and identity function as systems in games that share a stronger connection to code and platforms than it may first appear, the contributors to this volume push gaming scholarship to new levels of inquiry, theorizing, and imagination.

Drama Free Dating: Learn From Others So You Can Stop Wasting Your Time


Camie L. Vincent - 2017
    Most importantly, this book will support you by leading you to the best version of yourself! Someone who is open, ready to meet someone amazing and—DRAMA FREE.

The Joy of Denial


Rika - 2017
    Rika uses her extensive experience in the world of D/s to create five reality-based stories of desperation, lust, and love in a world of female dominance. If you've ever enjoyed the thrill of control, you'll love reading Ms. Rika's evil, creative, and somewhat sadistic accounts of women taking control of a man's desire. As with Rika's non-fiction books on D/s, her approach to power dynamics is centered around the dominant - what they want, what they need. In ""The Joy of Denial"" she explores how Tease and Denial (T&D) can be used as a tool to that end.

A Return to Eros: The Radical Experience of Being Fully Alive


Marc Gafni - 2017
    None of the four old philosophies about sex are sufficient to inspire us or even hold us in our sexuality. Sex is not merely negative or positive. Sex is not just neutral, nor is it merely sacred because it creates babies. Erotic Mystics from the hidden tradition of Solomon’s temple taught a secret doctrine. Sex is the source of all wisdom. Sex is an expression of the erotic impulse of existence itself alive in us–the yearning for contact, pleasure, and aliveness. The Sexual however is not the sum total of the erotic. Rather, the sexual models the Erotic. The sexual teaches us how to live an Erotic life in all dimension of our existence.It is these secret doctrines that were later taught by Mary Magdalene and that sparked excitement around bestselling novels such as The Da Vinci Code.Deep understanding of the sexual becomes the portal to accessing aliveness in every dimension of our reality. This realization demands that you live sexually without shame and shows you how to re-eroticize all areas of your life.A Return to Eros: On Sex, Love, and Eroticism in Every Dimension of Life, from Drs. Marc Gafni and Kristina Kincaid, reveals the radical secret tenets of relationship between the sexual, the erotic, and the holy. They reveal what Eros actually means and share the ten core qualities of the Erotic, which are modeled by the sexual. These include being on the inside, fullness of presence, yearning, allurement, fantasy, surrender, creativity, pleasure, and more.A Return to Eros shows why these qualities of the erotic modeled by the sexual are actually the same core qualities of the sacred. The relationship between the sexual and the erotic becomes clear, teaching you how to live an erotically suffused existence charged with purpose, potency and power.To be a outrageous Lover—not just in sex but also in all facets of your life—you must listen deeply to the simple yet elegant whisperings of the sexual. This book will forever transform your understanding and experience of love, sex, and Eros.

Playing Fair: A Guide to Nonmonogamy for Men into Women


Pepper Mint - 2017
    By understanding and practicing polyamory, you can be empowered to live the limit of your romantic appetites and build networks of love that nourish and challenge you. But this new frontier of love will test you. Can you navigate discussions of jealousy with responsibility and care? Are you prepared to overthrow self-sabotaging patterns of neglect and deception? Can you employ your strength and confidence to shoulder the emotional duties of multiple relationships? If yes, then this is the book for you. Within, you'll learn the skills and tools you'll need to navigate the waters of conscientious nonmonogamy. This is a manual for those in it for more than the love of the game.