(11/4/13) It’s almost that time of year. The holidays are a’comin and while we’d love to recommend a shiny new toy or two as a stocking stuffer from Fallen Angel’s new toy boutique (hint, nudge, wink, kiss), we feel that as sex-positive educators and activists, it’s equally important to promote knowledge and literacy. Besides, bookworms are sexy too, right? Accordingly, we’ve scoured our own library for titles that mean something special to us and asked for additional suggestions from some of the nation’s most respected sexologists, therapists and counselors. The result: The highly concentrated list below that we hope has at least something useful for everyone.
We would like to note that some of these suggestions are classics which may be hard to find or are no longer in print. As such–and to provide third-party reviews for your consideration as well–we’ve linked each title to its product page at Amazon.com, which may have a limited amount of used editions for certain books that may interest you. Additionally, some of these suggestions may be available in electronic form.
General Sexuality/Relationships:
The New Male Sexuality by Bernie Zilbergeld
My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday
Nina Hartley’s Guide to Total Sex by Nina Hartley with I.S. Levine
She Comes First: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Pleasuring a Woman by Ian Kerner
How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It by Dr. Patricia Love and Steven Stosney
The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex: The Most Complete Sex Manual Ever by Cathy Winks and Anne Semans
Loving and Lasting: How to Stay Tuned In and Turned On in Your Marriage by Ande Lyons and Michelle Preast
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex by Dr. David Reuben
The Goddess Orgasm by Eve Marx
Partners in Passion by Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson (available to the general public in early 2014)
How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do by Candida Royale
Political/Historical:
How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale by Jenna Jameson and Neil Strauss
The Rape of the A*P*E* by Allan Sherman
One Nation Under Sex: How the Private Lives of Presidents, First Ladies and Their Lovers Changed the Course of American History by Larry Flynt and David Eisenbach
The Government Vs. Erotica: The Siege of Adam & Eve by Philip D. Harvey
Leatherfolk by Mark Thompson
The Red Queen by Matt Ridley
Inside Seka by Seka with Jim Norton and Kerry Zukus
Plays Well in Groups by Dr. Katherine Frank
Alternative Sexuality/Kink Oriented:
SM 101 by Jay Wiseman
Screw the Roses, Give Me the Thorns by Phillip Miller and Molly Devon
The Loving Dominant by Dr. John Warren (out of print, but copies still available on Amazon in short supply)
The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy
The ABCs of BDSM by Dama deNoche
The Gospel of Kink by Dr. Richard Wagner
Erotica:
Ultimate Sex by Miranda Forbes
The Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by Anne Rice (A.N. Roquelaure)
Candy by Terry Southern and Mason Hoffenberg
X: The Erotic Treasury by Susie Bright
If you have comments about any of these recommendations or specific suggestions of your own to share with our readers, please leave a reply to this posting. Your thoughts about this–and all of our topics–are not only important to us, but potentially beneficial to other readers as well, so sound off and join the conversation.
As we move into this year’s holiday season, all of us at SexAcrossAmerica.com want to take a moment to thank everyone who’s supported our efforts and promoted us within their own social and professional circles. We hope you’re enjoying our direct, if somewhat off-beat-on-occasion coverage of various sex trends around the country and look forward to hearing suggestions regarding topics you would like to see covered in the future. Just shoot us a quick email and we’ll be sure to get it on our upcoming schedule.
Thanks for including Partners in Passion, our forthcoming book, and for your input and support. It was a labor of love that we think it will benefit people in any kind of relationship.
People with an interest in Tantra can check out our other titles: The Essence of Tantric Sexuality, Tantra for Erotic Empowerment, and Great Sex Made Simple. The last of title is very accessible and a good place for beginners to start.
We’d also suggest adding Tristan Taormino’s Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships and Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá’s Sex at Dawn.
You’ve put together a fantastic reading list.
Keep up the great work!
Much love,
Mark and Patricia
Mark and Patricia,
Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment and suggestions. We couldn’t agree more that both are wonderful additions.
Good luck with the new book!
What a great book list. There are even a few I haven’t read… so, now I know what I’m getting for myself for Xmas.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Vena. We’re glad that we sparked a couple of ideas and hope that many others feel the same.
Have a wonderful and safe holiday!