From intimacy to sexuality to spirituality, publishers are talking S-E-X in upcoming releases. There’s advice on living with differing sex drives, new understandings of what intimacy means, the latest research, trends and treatments and one academic look at three millennia of sex and Christian history.
Knowing and Being Known: Hope for All Our Intimate Relationships (IVP, May) by Erin F. Moniz explores the role of technology in our interpersonal relationships and offers help to those searching for intimacy in a tech- and stress-driven world. “This book exposes the trend of categorizing all important intimate relationships solely as romance or sex,” Moniz told PW. “It argues that everyone is created for intimacy, regardless of whether they have or can have healthy romantic or sexual relationships. We would benefit from recalibrating how we value ourselves and others, thereby bringing balance to the health and importance of all intimate relationships.”
Al Hsu, associate editorial director, trade, for IVP pointed to Moniz’s experience as a university chaplain and her doctoral thesis that focused on the realities of how emerging adults understand and experience intimacy. “Her expertise comes from not just lived experience but also is validated by research,” he said.
Turned On: A Creative’s Guide to Awakening Presence, Pleasure, and Possibility (Broadleaf, Jan.) by recording artist and podcast host Brie Stoner reclaims the erotic and offers new understanding of it in relation to creativity and art, according to acquiring editor Jarrod Harrison. “Stoner connects creative energy to the erotic and human desire, resulting in a book about creativity and sexuality that is also deeply spiritual,” said Harrison. “Her use of the erotic in connection with creativity brings art back down to earth and gives it flesh. She is passionate about balancing these daring ideas with popular sensibility.”
Baker Books rattles assumptions with The Higher Desire Wife: Understanding and Help for Christian Women Navigating Mismatched Sex Drives (Mar.) by J. Parker. The blogger and author of five books on sexual intimacy uses extensive research and personal stories to help these women nurture intimacy in marriage, understand potential causes for lower sex drive in their husbands, and find solutions and compromises. She posits that up to 25 percent of marriages have a higher desire wife. Most of all, she lets women know they are not alone and that things can get better.
According to the acquiring editor Rachel Welcher, “Many Christian marriage resources make the assumption that every husband wants more sex than his wife. In this frank, compassionate, and helpful corrective to that misconception, J. Parker helps the higher desire wife nurture healthy and holy intimacy in her marriage.”
For therapists, psychologists and medical practitioners comes the revised, second edition of the 2014 book Sexuality and Sex Therapy: A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal (IVP Academic, Feb.) by Mark A. Yarhouse and Erica S.N. Tan. The new edition integrates the latest research, updates key research findings and addresses recent societal trends related to gender identity, digital and social media, and more. According to the publisher, it's intended to become a standard resource for Christian therapists and counselors, and a challenge to the church to talk more openly about human sexuality.
Historian Diarmaid MacCulloch takes an open-minded look at Christian sexuality in his encyclopedic look at three millennia of religious history in Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity (Viking, April). Among his provocative findings, debunking the idea of "traditional marriage" and pointing out that the Bible doesn't have all the answers about sex and gender.
Finally, Sex Magic: Take Your Body, Mind, and Relationship to the Next Level with Spectacular Intimacy (BenBella, Jun.) by Dr. Laura Berman challenges readers’ beliefs about their sexuality, self-worth and potential for healing, meaningful intimacy. She combines metaphysical wisdom and practical tips—such as connecting to your energetic body and removing trauma blocks—to help readers build a dazzling sex life.
