As the sex and relationship advice columnist at Menās Health Magazine, Iām obviously pretty damn obsessed with sex. I find it fascinating on so many levels, which is why I not only have a ton of it but also made it my career. For so long, I struggled with sexual shame, and one thing I realized as a writer is that Iām not special. Sure, Iāve probably been to more sex parties than you, but if Iām struggling with shame, being bisexual, and embracing my kinks, then other folks are, too. And just like Iām obsessed with sex, Iāve become obsessed with helping others remove sexual shame.
This is THE book for neurotic hypersexuals. It set the genre. I think itās wild, brilliant, horny, thoughtful, introspective, delusional, and absurd at the same time. I mean, for the love of God, thereās no plot! Itās the protagonist (Alex Portnoy) rambling to a psychologist about his clear Oedipal Complex. The man is torn, trying to be a good Jewish boy who betters the world, but he has some nasty sexual desires (and messed-up feelings about his sexual partners) that are holding him back.
This book is one of my obsessions. (Itās fitting, given the obsessive nature of the book.) Ironically, I felt really seen and sane while reading it. No, Iām not as neurotic and horny as Alex, but boy, do I struggle with some of the same obsessive thought patterns as that man!
'The most outrageously funny book about sex written' Guardian
Portnoy's Complaint n. [after Alexander Portnoy (1933-)]:A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature.
Portnoy's Complaint tells the tale of young Jewish lawyer Alexander Portnoy and his scandalous sexual confessions to his psychiatrist.
As narrated by Portnoy, he takes the reader on a journey through his childhood to adolescence to present day while articulating his sexual desire, frustration and neurosis in shockingly candid ways.
Hysterically funny and daringly intimate, Portnoy's Complaint was an immediate bestseller upon its publicationā¦
While some aspects of our sexuality are innate, many are born through pivotal sexual experiences in our lives. This book breaks this down and encourages readers to unpack where their sexual desires came from so they can remove shame and have healthy sexual relationships.
It encouraged me to be introspective about the root of my desires. For so long, I had steered clear of this. I believed that feeling the need to understand the origin of our desires was coming from a place of sex-negativity, an attempt to ājustifyā our current sexual behavior, which I donāt think requires justification.
But after reading Morinās book, I felt I understood my sexual desires better than ever before, and it led to me having more meaningful, passionate, and wild sex.
Challenging accepted theories about what makes for terrific sex, The Erotic Mind is a breakthrough exploration of the least understood dimensions of human sexualityāthe psychology of desire, arousal, and fulfillment. Nationally known sex therapist Dr. Jack Morin offers a bold new perspective that celebrates the joys of Eros without denying its risks.
Based on an in-depth analysis of over 1,000 provocative stories of peak sexual experiences, The Erotic Mind offers clear, accessible guidance on how anyone can utilize his or her own peak encounters and fantasies as powerful tools of self-discovery.
The Erotic Mind explains the many paradoxes of eroticā¦
An inspiring, hilarious, and much-needed approach to addiction and self-acceptance,
Youāre Doing Great! debunks the myth that alcohol washes away the pain; explains the toll alcohol takes on our emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being; illustrates the steps to deal with our problems head-on; exposes the practices usedā¦
I loved this collection of fictional essays. Each story wasnāt just āhotā and āsmutty;ā they had a larger message. One story spoke to power dynamics, while another addressed shame or the desire to be loved, etc.
Sexuality, desire, and arousal are so complex and individual, and I feel like this book explored so much. It really āwent there.ā Through reading these fictional stories, I felt empowered to do more sexually and push the boundaries of what sex can mean to me.
Kink is a groundbreaking anthology of literary short fiction exploring love and desire, BDSM, and interests across the sexual spectrum, edited by lauded writers R.O. Kwon and Garth Greenwell, and featuring a roster of all-star contributors including Alexander Chee, Roxane Gay, Carmen Maria Machado, and more.
A Most-Anticipated book of 2021 as selected by * Marie Claire * O, The Oprah Magazine * Cosmopolitan * Time * The Millions * The Advocate * Autostraddle * Refinery29 * Shape * Town & Country * Book Riot * Literary Hub *
I lost my fucking mind reading this bookāand I mean this in the best way imaginable. Yamas briefly became the largest meth and GHB dealer for the gay community in San Francisco. It looks at the underground Chemsex (chemical sex) scene in the gay community and details how meth destroys lives.
I found the book heartbreaking because these gay men are so hurt and so desperate for love and validation, and the only way they can find it is through doing drugs and having sex with strangers. Donāt get me wrong, it can be hot, empowering, and even therapeutic to do drugs and have anonymous sex, but it was not for these men. As someone whoās struggled with drug use and, at times, relied on drugs and alcohol to have sex and intimacy, this book really spoke to me.
Meet Jason: a college educated documentary film producer, cat parent of two, and one of San Franciscoās top drug dealers.
After Jasonās world falls apart in LA, he moves to Berkeley for a fresh start with his kid brother. Just one problem: his long-closeted Adderall addiction has exploded into an out-of-control crystal meth binge. Within weeks, Jason plunges into the sprawling ParTy nā āPlay subculture of the Bay Areaās gay community. It is a wildly decadent scene of drugs, group sex, and criminals, and yet it is also filled with surprising characters, people who are continually subverting Jasonās own presumptionsā¦
A mysterious stranger traps teen siblings in a precarious game where each must overcome their embittered past for the other to survive.
This suspenseful, yet winsome novel explores the power of family and forgiveness. But take heed. The truth can cut like shards of glass, especially for those whoād ratherā¦
This is my favorite book about non-monogamy and polyamory; it uses attachment theory to explain our relationship dynamics. I particularly loved how detailed the book was. She described some of the self-destructive and less-than-ideal behaviors and thoughts Iāve had in past non-monogamous relationships and explained, āOkay, hereās why youāre likely doing this, and hereās how you become secure enough to do this stupid shit, no longer.ā
I remember feeling very motivated after reading Fernās book, as if I had an action plan for future relationships. Nowāand hopefully, Iām not jinxing it hereāIām in the healthiest non-monogamous relationship Iāve ever been in.
A practical guide to nurturing healthy, loving non-monogamous relationships using attachment theory.
Attachment theory has entered the mainstream, but most discussions focus on how we can cultivate secure monogamous relationships. What if, like many people, you're striving for secure, happy attachments with more than one partner?
Polyamorous psychotherapist Jessica Fern breaks new ground by extending attachment theory into the realm of consensual non-monogamy. Using her nested model of attachment and trauma, she expands our understanding of how emotional experiences can influence our relationships. Then, she sets out six specific strategies to help you move toward secure attachments in your multipleā¦
At its core, my book is about how to overcome sexual shame. If you were born on planet Earth, you have sexual shameāplain and simple. Thereās simply no way to reach adulthood without internalizing all of the overt and more insidious sex-negative messages society rams down our throats (and not in the hot way).
In my book, I share how I went from being someone debilitated by the mere thought of imagining a person nakedāchapter one details when I imagined my therapist nude, shared this with him and cried in his officeāto being someone who throws buck-wild, bisexual sex parties, which I detail in my final chapter.
Rusty Allen is an Iraqi War veteran with PTSD. He moves to his grandfather's cabin in the mountains to find some peace and go back to wilderness training.
He gets wrapped up in a kidnapping first, as a suspect and then as a guide. He tolerates the sheriff's deputy withā¦
The Birthright of Sons is a collection of stories centered around the experiences of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Although the stories borrow elements from various genres (horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they are linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is shaped throughā¦