Best Sex Writing of 2013 Blog Tour

“I read about sex all day!”  I thought to myself.   I was curious to read Rachel Kramer Bussel’s compilation, Best Sex Writing of 2013 but I wasn’t sure how much I’d get out of it.  I devour writing about sex at an alarming rate, mostly on the internet but I usually also have my nose in a book or two at any given point.  I was uncertain how much more new insight I could get out of reading this collection of works.  Some of these pieces had already been published on the internet in places like Salon.com which I read regularly.

Luckily, my curiosity usually outweighs my blanket assumptions. I’m glad in this instance I picked up this book and agreed to participate in the Best Sex Writing of 2013 blog tour.

Best Sex Writing of 2013 wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.  I wasn’t exactly sure what I thought it was going to be but I can say for certain I found it greatly exceeded my expectations.

This is a collection of 20 stories about sex and sexuality– some happy, some sad, some bittersweet and some thoughtful.  With a forward written by Carol Queen, it includes stories about sex work, the dating and pick up culture in retirement communities, sex in the AIDS age, reckless exploration of non-monogamy, the corporate side of the sex industry, reconciling religion and sexuality, the politics of the leather community, and so much more.

I intended to pick out a few favorite stories and talk about them here but after reading it from cover to cover I realized I can’t.  They were all favorites in their own unique way.  I found each and every story in the book amazing relatable.  They allowed me to put on other’s shoes and gain insight into their unique motivations, struggles, desires and delights.

Sex education is my life’s work.  Sex ed goes way beyond mechanics or understanding our own unique challenges, however.  Logically we know this.  We also attempt to think outside of our own personal boxes when it comes to trying to understand others life experiences. Sometimes no matter how thoughtful we try to be, it’s difficult to see things from a perspective other than our own.  Throughout each and every story in Best Sex Writing of 2013 at one point or another I mumbled “Huh, I never thought about it that way.”

Self identified sex geek or not, odds are you’ll devour this book. Self identified sex geek or not, odds are you’ll find something within its pages that resonates with you.  You’ll find something liberating, inspiring, and something make makes you think, “Huh, I never thought about it that way.”

Hands down, this compilation contains some of the best writings of sex and sexuality I have ever read.

To find out more about the book or Rachel Kramer Bussel, or to get your hands on a copy, follow these links:

Best Sex Writing 2013 page on CLEiS Press Website

Best Sex Writing 2013 on GoodReads

Best Sex Writing 2013 on Amazon

Best Sex Writing 2013 direct website 

Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Personal Website