Over the past few months I’ve whined a lot about inappropriate book titles. I won’t name specific names. Let’s just say I’ve had a bug up my ass about misleading or wrong-footing book titles and I’ve been vocal about it. This month, I can’t make that complaint. This month I’ve been reading Rachel Kramer Bussel’s Best Sex Writing 2010 and it does exactly what it says: it’s sex writing; it’s published in 2010; and it’s certainly the best thing I’ve read in a long time.

There are many reasons to adore Best Sex Writing 2010.

1. It’s smart and deals with themes of adult sexuality in a manner that is insightful, incisive and incredibly intelligent. There are few things sexier on the surface of this planet than someone extolling intelligently on the subject of sex. Best Sex Writing 2010 has more than 200 pages of intelligent sexual extolling.
2. It’s eclectic, covering subject matter on a diverse collection of sexual practices, applicable to a broad range of sexualities.
3. It’s bloody entertaining.

The collection comes from some of the most lauded sex writers currently publishing, including the marvellous Violet Blue, the wonderful John Devore and the incredible William Georgiades.

The wealth of fascinating material includes Johanna Gohmann’s riveting exploration of the current trend for labiaplasty: a horrific account that is handled with a sensitive blend of humour and horror as Gohmann ultimately contrasts the campaign to end female genital mutilation in Africa with the ‘designer vagina’ cult that are forming their own lip-snipping community.

There’s also Jesse Bering’s sophisticated analysis of penis shape: an article that explores the shape of things to come. Or, to be less glib, explains the current research and thinking behind the evolutionary process that has shaped the human penis – along with expository details on our anthropological heritage.

For anyone with an interest in sex that goes beyond the physical act, this book is a necessity for the beside bookshelf. Smart. Informative. Intelligent. Sexy.

Go out and buy it.

Best Sex Writing 2010
(Cleis Press, January, 2010; ISBN-10: 1573443786)
Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

© 2010 Ashley Lister. All rights reserved.