Real Sex: the naked truth about chastity by Lauren F. Winner

Non-Fiction: Christianity. Hardback from Brazos Press (Division of Baker Books). Published in 2005. 161 pages. On loan from the Plainfield Branch of the Kent District Library.

This title came to my attention through a post on Mike Cope's Blog where he talks a bit about the book. I'm always thrilled to find book recommendations, and though this is not a subject I tend to look for when I'm browsing for books, I thought I'd give it a read. Wow. I'm glad I did. What an insightful author. At a "ladies dinner" with some church friends this week, I broached the subject of this book, and shared some of the things Winner has to say. There was much interest in the subject, and particularly on how to talk about chastity with our kids and not sound like idiots. This book offered many starting ideas -- and good advise for those who are older and wanting to be chaste as well. I might have wished for more detailed examples of how her ideas would play out in real life -- but perhaps she wants us to think these things through to their logical conclusions on our own. Excellent book!

Publisher's summary:
SEX. Splashed across magazine covers, billboards, and computer screens -- sex is thrilling, necessary, unavoidable. And everybody's doing it, right?

In Real Sex, Lauren Winner speaks candidly about the difficulty -- and the importance -- of sexual chastity. With nuance and wit, she talks about her own sexual journey. Never dodging tough terms like "confession" and "sin", she grounds her discussion of chastity first and foremost in scripture. She confronts cultural lies about sex and challenges how we talk about sex in church (news-flash: however wrong it is, premarital sex can feel liberating and enjoyable!). Building on the thought of Wendell Berry, she argues that sex is communal rather than private, personal rather than public.

Refusing to slink away from thorny topics, Winner deftly addresses pornography, masturbation, and the perennial question of "how far is too far?" Winner also digs deeper: What does chastity have to do with loving my neighbor? How does my sexual behavior form habits and expectations? With compassion and grit, she calls us, whether married or single, to pursue chastity as conversion and amendment of life.

Real Sex is an essential read for single Christians grappling with chastity, for married Christians committed to monogamy, and for those who counsel them.

To view on amazon.co.uk, click here: Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity
on amazon.com, click here: Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity
and on Audible.com, here: (not available on audio at present)