Sex, Health and Consciousness: How to Reclaim Your Pleasure Potential

The Sex Ed podcaster Goldwyn (Sporting Guide) offers a practical guide for navigating the complexities of sexual intimacy. Lamenting that American culture “doesn’t provide access to real information about sex, relationship negotiations, communication, or desire,” Goldwyn provides a “radical imagining of Sex Ed 101.” She draws guidance from her interviews with such figures as filmmaker Justin Simien, comedian Ramy Youssef, and victims’ rights attorney Carrie Goldberg, who emphasizes the importance of respecting privacy when sharing and receiving nude photos. Goldwyn’s advice considers a variety of sexual practices; she shares, for example, that she sometimes practices celibacy to gain clarity about her relationship with sex and suggests that those trying “high-risk sexual activities for the first time” (e.g., bondage) negotiate boundaries beforehand. Exercises include masturbating to a “different kind of stimuli than your usual go-to” to become more intentional about porn consumption and making a list of one’s needs to understand one’s boundaries. Readers will appreciate Goldwyn’s inclusive recommendations that account for a spectrum of sexual preferences and practices, though some readers may be disappointed by the dearth of research and sources to back up the advice. Still, this wide-ranging primer has a lot to offer. [em](Oct.) [/em]