There are thousands of books published each year on the subject of sexuality. Included here are only those that I find myself recommending to clients again and again or are those that I feel everyone should know about.
The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
When I first heard this in the early noughties it shook my world. Opened my mind and helped me realise the wide range of experiences people (not just women) had.
You can see a film The Vagina Monologues
And a recent article from the Economist: The Vagina Monoglues 20 Years On.
Laura Dodsworth
- Manhood: The Bare Reality
- Womanhood: The Bare Reality.
- Bare Reality: 100 women their breasts, their stories
These 3 books evolve what the Vagina Monolgues started. Each book contains beautiful photographs and moving stories of individuals talking about their relationships with their vulvas, penises and breasts.
Anal Pleasure and Health by Jack Morin
“Needless to say, the primary function of the anus and the rectum is to complete the essential process of elimination. But why are muscles and nerves that make the anus and rectum work properly the same ones that can bring us so much pleasure? Its simple really. Healthy functioning of the digestive system is supposed to feel good. Conversely, when something goes wrong, the anus starts to hurt signalling that it needs our attention. “
Jack Morin’s detailed book explores the psychology and physiology of an area of our bodies that is still shrouded in fear and taboo. Simply summed up he explains how by creating a positive relationship to your anus you can support not just your erotic life but also have profound effects on your health.
Sex for One: The Joy of Self Loving by Betty Dodson.
If you are a client of mine I will have spoken to you about Self pleasure or as Betty calls it Self-loving. We tend to have a mind set that touching yourself is second best. But here Betty Dodson a world pioneer sex educator shows you how is an essential and healthy part of any erotic life.
Come as you Are: The Surprising New Science that will Transform your sex life by Emily Nagoski
Written primarily for women but actually relevant for us all Emily challenges the idea that some people have a stronger sex drive than others and instead talks about brakes and accelerators (like in a car).
- Brakes are the things that actively turn us off.
- Accelerators the things that actively turn us on.
We all have both but recognising our personal brakes and accelerators, as well as recognising how sensitive they are, has a huge effect on whether we are feeling aroused or not.
A great and thought-provoking book.
Anatomy Books
Learning to understand our anatomy supports us in having a positive relationship with our bodies and helps us to understand feelings and sensations that may arise in them.
Out in the open: The Complete Male Pelvis by R Louis Shultz.
A great book to learn about male anatomy and how so much emotion can be held in the pelvis.
Women’s Anatomy of Arousal: Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure by Sheri Winston
Did you know, women have as much erectile tissue as men? If not, this is the book for you.
Fiction/Novels:
The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak.
A beautiful and inspiring novel set in both the present date and 13th-century wandering Persian Sufi Dervish, Shams of Tabriz.
Sensation – adventures in love sex and laughter by Isobel Losada.
A personal autobiographical story of a year exploring sexuality and pleasure including her time with Shakti Tantra women’s programme.
The Tryst by Monique Roffey
A great story of female desire and sexuality. Listen to Monique talk about her novel.
