17 Best Human Sexuality Books

A provocative inquiry into how we teach our children about bodies, sex, relationships and equality — with revelatory, practical takeaways from the author’s research and eye-opening observations from the world-famous Dutch approach

Award-winning author Bonnie J. Rough never expected to write a book about sex, but life handed her a revelation too vital to ignore. As an American parent grappling with concerns about raising children in a society steeped in stereotypes and sexual shame, she couldn’t quite picture how to teach the facts of life with a fearless, easygoing, positive attitude. Then a job change relocated her family to Amsterdam, where she soon witnessed the relaxed and egalitarian sexual attitudes of the Dutch. There, she discovered, children learn from babyhood that bodies are normal, the world’s best sex ed begins in kindergarten, cooties are a foreign concept, puberty is no big surprise, and questions about sex are welcome at the dinner table.

In Beyond Birds and Bees, Rough reveals how although normalizing human sexuality may sound risky, doing so actually prevents unintended consequences, leads to better health and success for our children, and lays the foundation for a future of gender equality. Exploring how the Dutch example translates to American life, Rough highlights a growing wave of ambitious American parents, educators, and influencers poised to transform sex ed — and our society — for the better, and shows how families everywhere can give a modern lift to the birds and bees.

Down to earth and up to the minute with our profound new cultural conversations about gender, sex, power, autonomy, diversity, and consent, Rough’s careful research and engaging storytelling illuminate a forward path for a groundbreaking generation of Americans who want clear examples and actionable steps for how to support children’s sexual development — and overall wellbeing — from birth onward at home, in schools, and across our evolving culture.

The author of landmark manifesto Whipping Girl exposes the violent ways we are all sexualized-then offers a bold path for resistance

Feminists have long challenged the ways in which men tend to sexualize women. But pioneering activist, biologist, and trans woman Julia Serano argues that sexualization is a far more pervasive problem, as it’s something that we all do to other people, often without being aware of it.

Why do we perceive men as sexual predators and women as sexual objects? Why are LGBTQ+ people stereotyped as being sexually indiscriminate and deceptive? Why are people of color still being hypersexualized? These stereotypes push minorities farther into the margins, and even the privileged are policed from transgressing, lest they also become targets. Many view sexualization as a mere component of sexism, racism, or queerphobia, but Serano argues that liberation from sexual violence comes through collectively confronting sexualization itself.

Finally–a theology of love that will help you navigate the confusing waters of modern relationship.

In the beginning, God created Adam. Then he made Eve. And ever since we’ve been picking up the pieces.

With an autobiographical thread that turns a book into a story, pastor and speaker John Mark Comer shares about what is right in male/female relationships–what God intended in the Garden. And about what is wrong–the fallout in a post-Eden world.

Loveology starts with marriage and works backward. Comer deals with sexuality, romance, singleness, and what it means to be male and female; ending with a raw, uncut, anything goes Q and A dealing with the most asked questions about sexuality and relationships.

This is a book for singles, engaged couples, and the newly married–both inside¬†and outside¬†the church–who want to learn what the Scriptures have to say about sexuality and relationships. For those who are tired of Hollywood’s propaganda, and the church’s silence. And for people who want to ask the¬†why¬†questions and get intelligent, nuanced, grace-and-truth answers, rooted in the Scriptures.

We’ve been thinking about sex all wrong. 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 partner
• 64% of women vs 91% of men said they had an orgasm at their last sexual encounter
• 55% of men vs. 4% of women say they usually reach orgasm during first-time hookup sex

In 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.

“Every man’s must-read. Tell your guy to put down the remote and pick up She Comes First.”
—Cosmopolitan

Ian Kerner offers a radical new philosophy for pleasuring women in She Comes First–an essential guidebook to oral sex from the author of Be Honest–You’re Not That Into Him Either. The New York Times praises Kerner’s “cool sense of humor and an obsessive desire to inform,” as he “encourages men through an act that many find mystifying.” An indispensable aid to a healthier, more fulfilling sex life for her and him, She Comes First offers techniques and philosophy that have already earned raves from the likes of bestselling author and Loveline co-host Dr. Drew Pinsky as well as Playgirl magazine, which cheers, “Hallelujah!”

Comedians Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson started Guys We F*cked: The Anti Slut-Shaming Podcast in 2013, intending to interview guys they’d slept with to learn more about themselves and squash the stigma so often associated with sexual women. 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 it
• Sexual exploration and how it sometimes ends in a trip to the ER
• Stuff we should stop doing: Snooping, nitpicking our bodies, and faking orgasms
• Asking your sexual partner uncomfortable questions
• How to get yourself out of an unsafe situation
• Masturbation, threesomes, porn, sex toys, butt stuff
• And much, much more

Corinne 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 rose, and a Xanax. This audiobook will teach the listener, 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 audiobook Bridget Jones should’ve heard instead of writing that sh*tty diary in the first place.

What the latest science tells us about the brain’s reward systems, love, and sex — and how to prevent an affair from destroying your life

How can I prevent an affair from destroying my life? Whether I am the cheater or the betrayed partner, how can I survive, even thrive, in the wake of an affair? Infidelity provides key insights to find your true sexual and romantic potential and advocates honesty, trust, and integrity–the fundamentals of love.

People often cheat in a haze of delusion, believing that it will bring them real love, help them have better sex, lift their spirits, and boost their sagging self-esteem; however, very often, cheating wrecks relationships and erodes self-esteem. In Infidelity, one of America’s top doctors combines neuroscience, addiction theory, and common sense to explain the three types of cheating: emotional, virtual, and physical; why they’re so prevalent; and how to live in accordance with our values when we are drawn to stray.

Examining what the latest science tells us about the brain’s reward systems, love, and sex, Dr. Kenneth Paul Rosenberg reveals what drives men and women to cheat and what they can do about it. At a time when America’s pornography obsession rises to the level of a competing sexual interest, when is porn a problem, and when does it count as infidelity? And since it is not the act of infidelity alone that destroys a couple, how does any couple prevent growing apart? Through concrete rules addressing these and other vital questions, Dr. Rosenberg guides couples on how to prevent cheating, stop it from progressing, and repair the damage caused by an affair.

An empowering, sex-positive, behind-the-scenes look at both Hollywood and the porn industry in this celebrity memoir unlike any other. Perfect for fans of Pleasure Activism and How to Make Love Like a Porn Star.

Maitland Ward got her start in acting as a teenager when she was cast in The Bold and the Beautiful, but it wasn’t until she joined the later seasons of the sitcom Boy Meets World that she got her first taste of fame. As the loveable, sexy (but not too sexy) co-ed Rachel McGuire, Ward soon found herself being typecast as the good girl next door and was repeatedly denied darker, more intriguing roles. So she made a career change–one that required her to turn away from the Disney universe–and eventually established herself as one of the most-respected actresses in the porn industry today.

Now, Ward reveals the ups and downs of her fascinating career, including personal stories from her time on one of the most beloved shows of the 1990s, in this anything but a run-of-the-mill memoir. By showing Hollywood and triple-X stardom in a whole new light, she offers a fresh and stirring perspective on the sex industry. Ultimately a story of hope and triumph, Rated X is a sharp and provocative look at a former Disney princess who found her fairy tale in porn.

A revolutionary practice for couples to enhance sexuality and reach higher states of consciousness

* How to make sex a conscious decision, not an accidental encounter

* Discusses how slowness increases sensitivity and awakens the body’s innate mechanism for ecstasy

* Reveals how sexuality can be sustainable and enjoyable well into old age

While fast, hot, orgasm-driven sex can bring momentary satisfaction, in the long run it can become boring and mechanical, causing many couples to lose interest and stop making time for physical intimacy. The first step to revive a waning sex life or make a healthy one more fulfilling, says author Diana Richardson, is to make sex a conscious decision rather than an accidental encounter. Focusing on eye contact, subtle sensations, and deep breathing, Diana’s practice of slow sex awakens the body’s innate mechanism for ecstasy, unlocking the door to extraordinary realms of sensitivity, sensuality, and higher consciousness.

Exploring the healing, spiritual power of slow sex, this book offers a step-by-step guide for committed couples to transform sex into a meditative, loving union of complementary energies. It explains how slow sex increases sensitivity and sexual vitality and how, because it creates and restores love, slow sex is loving sex. With a focus on coolness rather than heat, this practice provides couples a way to reach a shared meditative state and use it as a vehicle to achieve higher consciousness. Illustrating different positions for eye contact, deep sustained penetration, and soft penetration, this book reveals that sex truly can be sustainable and enjoyable well into old age.

This captivating and deeply emotional memoir pulls back the curtain on the complex relationship women have between their bodies, love, and the way the two work together.

When it comes to sex, common wisdom holds that men roam while women crave closeness and commitment. But in this provocative, headline-making book, Daniel Bergner turns everything we thought we knew about women’s arousal and desire inside out. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with renowned behavioral scientists, sexologists, psychologists, and everyday women, he forces us to reconsider long-held notions about female sexuality.

This bold and captivating journey into the world of female desire explores answers to such thought-provoking questions as: Are women perhaps the less monogamous sex? What effect do intimacy and emotional connection really have on lust? What is the role of narcissism–the desire to be desired–in female sexuality? Are political gains for women (“No means no”) detrimental in the bedroom? And is the hunt for a “female Viagra” anything but a search for the cure for monogamy?

Bergner goes behind the scenes of some of the most groundbreaking experiments on sexuality today and confronts us with controversial, sometimes uncomfortable findings. Incendiary, profoundly insightful, and brilliantly illuminating, What Do Women Want? will change the conversation about women and sex, and is sure to spark dynamic discussion for years to come.

The bestselling author of The Secret Lives of Wives offers a refreshingly honest look at how to enjoy a long, satisfying sex life no matter what life throws at you.

Hooking up, marriage, childbirth, infidelity, divorce, menopause, widowhood–women’s lives have many stages, changes, and challenges. A prevailing question on women’s minds as they age is, “How do I handle the shifts in my sexuality caused by these transitions?”

In Sex After…, veteran journalist and New York Times bestselling author Iris Krasnow tackles this question head-on. Krasnow traveled the country, interviewing over 150 women, from waitresses to CEOs, ages twenty to eighty-eight. Here she shares their varied stories–raw, titillating, and, most importantly, real. Their confessions are bolstered by Krasnow’s in-depth research and reporting, as well as commentary from experts ranging from oncologists, gynecologists, and sex therapists to a Rabbi and the still-feisty Dr. Ruth Westheimer. This rich chorus of voices joins together in an unprecedented and all-encompassing exploration of each phase of intimacy and sexuality and of how life’s passages affect a woman’s mind, body, and soul.

We meet a young wife whose husband lost a leg in Afghanistan; women re-jiggering their relationships after pregnancy, mastectomies, and hysterectomies; and those dealing with husbands with prostate cancer or a penchant for Viagra. We are also thrust into the sagas of post-college random sex and dating after divorce and widowhood–in an era when STDs in older populations are on the rise. And there are testimonies from long-married grandmothers–a sunset period of life that can turn out to be very sexy, through adjusted expectations and the introduction of new toys and new routines.

In her trademark conversational style, Krasnow leaves no stone unturned when it comes to sex and intimacy, from hooking up in the twenties to hooking up in senior communities–and everything in between.

A well-crafted balance of inspirational (and juicy) anecdotes and prescriptive medical information, this is the book that offers every woman secrets and strategies that will help her feel sexy and fully alive throughout the female growth cycle.

Basado en el popular proyecto de investigacion Whores of Yore (Putas de antano) y escrito con su caracteristico humor e ingenio, ‘Una curiosa historia del sexo’ se basa en los amplios conocimientos de la Dra. Kate Lister sobre la historia del sexo. Desde las pruebas de impotencia medievales hasta los robos de testiculos del siglo XX, desde los frescos eroticos de Pompeya hasta los burdeles de munecas sexuales de hoy en dia, Lister se mete sin pudor en los pantalones de la historia, desmontando mitos, desafiando estereotipos y, en general, ensuciandose las manos. No se trata de un estudio exhaustivo de todas las peculiaridades sexuales, perversiones y rituales de todas las culturas a lo largo del tiempo, ya que eso supondria escribir una enciclopedia. Se trata mas bien de una gota de agua en el oceano, de un remo en la parte mas superficial de la historia del sexo, pero espero que se mojen de todos modos. El acto sexual no ha cambiado desde que la gente descubrio de que iba la cosa pero las formas en que la sociedad dicta como se entiende y se practica el sexo culturalmente han variado de forma significativa a lo largo de los anos. Los seres humanos son las unicas criaturas que estigmatizan determinadas practicas sexuales y el sexo sigue siendo un tema profundamente divisivo en todo el mundo. Las actitudes cambiaran y creceran -esperemos que para mejor- pero el sexo nunca estara libre de estigma o verguenza a menos que reconozcamos de donde viene. Este fascinante libro esta salpicado de una jerga historica sorprendente e informativa y esta ilustrado con imagenes del pasado que abren los ojos, hacen temblar los pies y estan meticulosamente documentadas. Te reiras, te estremeceras y te preguntaras cuanto ha cambiado en realidad.

?!Shhhh! Para hablar de sexualidad hay que bajar la voz….y mas si se trata de sexualidad infantil y adolescente…Fernando Alvarez y Maria Elena Balsa rompen esta consigna y nos regalan en este libro respuestas con informacion veraz a estas dudas y a muchas otras mas. Tambien se dan a la tarea de explicar paso a paso, con casos reales, herramientas para lidiar con situaciones cotidianas y problematicas relacionadas con la sexualidad de ninos, ninas y adolescentes. Ademas, los autores resumen en esta guia conceptos basicos, mitos, miedos, verdades, explicaciones y problemas, a partir de su vasta experiencia quitando piedritas y grandes rocas del camino de madres, padres y profesionales valientes que intentan educar en sexualidad a las generaciones futuras. Fernando y Maria Elena nos recuerdan que aunque no se quiera hablar sobre ello, los ninos y ninas son seres sexuales, y que al igual que los adultos, tienen un cuerpo que da placer, un corazon que los mueve y un cerebro que los hara elegir, con o sin nuestra orientacion.