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epellicci's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming and Violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Classism
frida12345's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Slavery
acemummerz's review
5.0
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Classism
tlholmes's review
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Abortion
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
bookishwondergoth's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very excellent overview of the history of sex which which covers off a wide-range of sex-related topics at a very high level (vaginas, clits, penises, orgasms, sex toys, reproduction, contraceptives, language, legislation, medicine, sex workers…). The history Kate delves into is pretty Western, cis, and hetero-centric, but she gives a little disclaimer/explanation at the beginning and also does try to discuss and bring in other cultures and sexualities where possible. Although I’d have personally loved a bit more in-depth intersectional analysis of certain topics, there is an extensive bibliography provided along with further reading suggestions, so I mostly just strapped myself in and enjoyed the ride.
And what a ride! Some of the things human have made up or surmised with regards to sex over the centuries are truly mind-boggling and laugh out loud hilarious. Of course, on the flip side of that, humans have done a lot of fucked up, batshit crazy stuff to do with sex as well. Kate Lister drags it all out in the open and presents it with its pants down for all of us to see. Despite her academic credentials, her writing style is very informal, littered with historical slang and sprinkled with her own wry observations that I personally found very easy and an absolute delight to read. For those who don’t know Kate Lister, she is a very sex-positive and outspoken feminist who is absolutely not afraid to give her (very informed) opinion on contentious issues such as abortion and prostitution. I personally love this about her writing, but if you’re seeking a drier, more academic and objective tone when it comes to your sex history, you probably won’t find it here.
My edition of this book is also packed full of beautiful colour images that really enhanced my reading experience. They’re not at all safe for work, obviously, but definitely made me smile or wince upon multiple occasions.
Speaking of wincing, this is an adult non-fiction book about the history of sex—which is often disgusting and brutal. Expect graphic scenes of sexual and medical content, accounts and instances of sexual violence, horrifying contemporary sources packed full of sexism, misogyny and more, and an entire chapter dedicated to FGM which still managed to trigger a vasovagal syncope episode from me, despite in-text warnings from Lister.
A very thought-provoking and compulsively readable popular science book that I cannot recommend highly enough. Loved it.
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Torture, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, Excrement, and Vomit
This is a book about the history of sex and human attitudes to sex, so naturally, all topics associated with that are included in this book, including: graphic sexual content; pornographic images; bizarre medical experimentation and eye-wateringly torturous-looking devices; classism; racism etc. plus contemporary quotes detailing explicit sexism, misogyny, homophobia and racism. Everything is carefully and factually presented. The author herself strongly condemns these attitudes and seeks to deconstruct them in her narrative. There is also an entire chapter dedicated to FGM. The author includes 'wince warnings' in context, and she is not kidding around. Heed her warnings!bookchatwithbeth's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Sexual harassment
lena04's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, and Pregnancy
unfiltered_fiction's review
4.0
I've docked a star as my academic background definitely made me quite strongly biased against elements of the book, in ways which probably won't matter much to the commercial audience of this book - I generally find commercialised academic writing a little bit of a struggle. With this book, sometimes the argument was a little incoherent, some of the content was presented in what felt like an inauthentic way to fit a social agenda or even for shock factor, which is not a great fit for academic writing. I was particularly irritated by how often the images printed in the book were never directly referred to or analysed in the main body of the text. Similarly, extended quotes from historical sources were not often properly unpacked appropriately with definitions of archaic language and a serious effort to otherwise open up their meanings to the modern reader.
However, overall, I think this is an excellent read that opens up a wealth of knowledge and presents it to readers in a funny, thoughtful, and very readable manner.
Graphic: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Forced institutionalization
sydneyj's review
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content and Abortion
Minor: Body shaming, Child death, Gore, Infertility, Rape, and Medical trauma