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A Curious History of Sex Hardcover – April 14, 2020

by Kate Lister (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,013 ratings
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This is not a comprehensive study of every sexual quirk, kink and ritual across all cultures throughout time, as that would entail writing an encyclopaedia. Rather, this is a drop in the ocean, a paddle in the shallow end of sex history, but I hope you will get pleasantly wet nonetheless.

The act of sex has not changed since people first worked out what went where, but the ways in which society dictates how sex is culturally understood and performed have varied significantly through the ages. Humans are the only creatures that stigmatise particular sexual practices, and sex remains a deeply divisive issue around the world. Attitudes will change and grow – hopefully for the better – but sex will never be free of stigma or shame unless we acknowledge where it has come from.

Drawing upon extensive research from Dr Kate Lister’s Whores of Yore website and written with her distinctive humour and wit, A Curious History of Sex covers topics ranging from twentieth- century testicle thefts to Victorian doctors massaging the pelvises of their female patients, from smutty bread innuendos dating back to AD 79, to the new and controversial sex doll brothels. It is peppered with surprising and informative historical slang and illustrated by eye-opening, toe- curling and hilarious images.

In this fascinating book, Lister deftly debunks myths and stereotypes and gives unusual sexual practices an historical framework, as she provides valuable context for issues facing people today, including gender, sexual shame, beauty and language.

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  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Unbound
  4. Publication date
    April 14, 2020
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1783528052
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1783528059
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Lister] distills her encyclopedic knowledge and years of research into a gloriously raunchy yet informative read. From masturbating medieval gargoyles, to Victorian bicycle porn, to the etymology of the ‘c-word,’ the book shows us all of the ways in which there is nothing new when it comes to sex." — New York Magazine

"Buckle your trousers, fasten your seatbelts, here comes Kate Lister. Her curious history of sex is a wild ride, made all the more enjoyable by a wonderfully irreverent approach . . . I’ve never had so much fun learning stuff." — The Times

"A wonderful cornucopia of deviance and desire." — The Times books of the year

"Had Victoria Wood decided to write a scholarly book about sex, it would be like this. Lister has a saucy wit . . . I laughed out loud." — Daily Mail

"Lister romps her way through masturbation, menstruation and prostitution, the invention of condoms, the use of vibrators to cure hysteria and much more . . . Glorious." — Evening Standard

"An anecdote-rich chronicle that uncovers layer on layer of oppression . . . vivid and playful." — Guardian

"A riot to read." — New Statesman

About the Author

Dr Kate Lister is a lecturer at Leeds Trinity University, where she researches the history of sexuality and curates the online research project Whores of Yore. Kate is also a columnist for iNews, Vice and the Wellcome Trust where she writes about the history of sex. Kate won a Sexual Freedom Award for Publicist of the Year in 2017.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Unbound (April 14, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1783528052
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1783528059
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.6 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,013 ratings

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Kate Lister

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,013 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and entertaining. They appreciate the well-researched overview and extensive footnotes. The writing is witty and clear, providing a vibrant voice of sanity. The book is described as an easy read with candid writing style. Readers consider it fantastic and worth their time.

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Information qualityHumorEase of readingValue for moneyEntertainment value
15 customers mention "Information quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and engaging. They appreciate the well-researched overview of a broad subject with extensive footnotes. The book covers many aspects of history that are often not covered in school.

"...and care while discussing a wide variety of acts and extensively footnotes her research." Read more

"...It's fun and it it serves to keep us from taking sex too seriously. She delivers the material with humor rather than prurience...." Read more

"Rarely have I read a book about sex with this much positivity, deeply researched data and excellent, easy to follow writing that doesn't veer into "..." Read more

"...researched book, there are another 350 pages with hundreds of astonishing facts on many subjects sexual, hilarious editorial comments, and copious,..." Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book witty and well-written. They say it delivers the material with humor rather than prurience. The book is described as a clear and vibrant voice of sanity.

"Well written and well researched overview of a very broad subject...." Read more

"...She delivers the material with humor rather than prurience...." Read more

"...manner, with a nudge and a wink, this book is a clear and vibrant voice of sanity, an example to all how true scientific research should be done,..." Read more

"...with hundreds of astonishing facts on many subjects sexual, hilarious editorial comments, and copious, remarkable illustrations and photos...." Read more

5 customers mention "Ease of reading"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with candid writing and a clear voice of sanity.

"This book delivers for the reader who seeks to be diverted...." Read more

"...this much positivity, deeply researched data and excellent, easy to follow writing that doesn't veer into "dumbing it down for the masses" territory..." Read more

"An easy read with so many interesting parts of history you just generally don’t learn about...." Read more

"...and the author includes a lot of sly jokes which make it much easier to read." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good value for money. It's worth reading.

"...only because the author does not ship to the US but omg this book is fantastic! Funny and informative. I 100% recommend" Read more

"Really good. Very informative and the author includes a lot of sly jokes which make it much easier to read." Read more

"This book was fantastic. Had so many interesting facts and tidbits and was honestly the best book I’ve read in a long time" Read more

"Love this book!" Read more

4 customers mention "Entertainment value"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value.

"...It's fun and it it serves to keep us from taking sex too seriously. She delivers the material with humor rather than prurience...." Read more

"...to all how true scientific research should be done, and just a ton of fun!" Read more

"...Kate Lister 's book is fascinating and entertaining, both scholarly and sassy." Read more

"Enjoyable and informative..." Read more

Kate Lister did a great job
5 out of 5 stars
Kate Lister did a great job
Every feminist should own a copy. Scratch that, everybody should.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • "stuartbake"
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the time
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Well written and well researched overview of a very broad subject. She handles it with dignity and care while discussing a wide variety of acts and extensively footnotes her research.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Rob Dreyfus
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but not a how-to book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book delivers for the reader who seeks to be diverted. Lister has done exhaustive research ferreting out exotic and unusual facts about nearly every conceivable aspect of sexuality. It's fun and it it serves to keep us from taking sex too seriously. She delivers the material with humor rather than prurience. (I find it difficult to imagine anyone reading it as erotica in order to get stimulated, when porn is free and easily fills that need.)
    As a psychiatrist, I can see it being helpful for seeing our attitudes and judgments set in a historical context and she covers a vast amount of territory without going deeply into any one culture or era. If one is particularly interested in how Christianity has dealt with sex over the millenia, a specialized book like Elaine Pagel's " Adam, Eve and the Serpent" would be more helpful.
    And if one is conflicted about sex and wants direction, just be aware that this book is for entertainment, and does a good job with that limited goal.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • AmmonArt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, clever, funny, solidly researched & informative
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Rarely have I read a book about sex with this much positivity, deeply researched data and excellent, easy to follow writing that doesn't veer into "dumbing it down for the masses" territory nevertheless.

    Kate doesn't shy from taboo and difficult subjects, and her wonderful humor comes just in time to puncture the anger you might feel at some of the idiotic, unfair and dangerous practices and mores surrounding a subject that seems to cause most societies throughout the history - including ours - to lose their collective minds.

    I happened to follow Kate on Twitter, entirely by accident of running into her widely and wildly popular titbits (teehee) on the same subject. When I heard her book has come out, I jumped on the chance to buy it, hoping she'll be as good and astute a writer in long form. I was not disappointed. What I love the most about her writing (with her personality and writing style a very close second), is that she always does her research and includes all her sources, so you, the reader, can fact check and learn more if you're so inclined.

    In a field that's mostly handled in a sensationalist manner, with a nudge and a wink, this book is a clear and vibrant voice of sanity, an example to all how true scientific research should be done, and just a ton of fun!
    25 people found this helpful
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  • Native Noo Yawkah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very smart and very funny
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    DIscussing the attempts (universally, it seems, unreliable) to determine virginity, author Lister quotes an ancient expert writing that "the signs of chastity are as follows: shame, modesty, fear, a faultless gait and speech, casting eyes down before men and the acts of men." Then she adds, "[FYI, these are also signs she ordered and ate the Pizza Hut family feast on her own and is praying you don't find the evidence in the bin..]" Along with the nearly 100 pages of footnotes in this thoroughly researched book, there are another 350 pages with hundreds of astonishing facts on many subjects sexual, hilarious editorial comments, and copious, remarkable illustrations and photos. You won't want to read it aloud at Sunday dinner, but you'll surely want to share bits with pals. Kate Lister 's book is fascinating and entertaining, both scholarly and sassy.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Richard M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2022
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    The author wrote with just enough humor to keep the topics light but well researched. This read much faster than I expected but she admitted that this book isn’t comprehensive. I would highly recommend this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Jolisa S. Collier-Lee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Love how she explains sex through a historical lens. A lot of things that are happening today havent change, everything is repeated but now we have a chance to really change it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and informative. Must buy!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this here only because the author does not ship to the US but omg this book is fantastic! Funny and informative. I 100% recommend
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Bayard B.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Full of interesting tidbits, mostly of British Victorian era customs and supposed knowledge.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It’s full of interesting little tidbits of information and history of sexual customs. Most of it discusses the customs of Britain, especially the Victorian Age of the mid- to late 19th century and its preceding times. There are also discussions of the medical knowledge of reproduction of the eras. Some of what was thought at the time seems downright foolish today. Most of the medical treatises of the times were written by men; as might be expected, they were based mainly on preconceived (pardon the pun) notions.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Donald Danby
    5.0 out of 5 stars So good
    Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Could not put this book down. Well written and so interesting.
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  • andrea m de bertoldi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quite serious historical reconstruction
    Reviewed in Italy on December 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Quite serious historical reconstruction
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  • paddington bear
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting and informative historical thesis. Well researched and clearly presented with, make readable by lighter comments, some even personal. A good read.
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  • Peter Silie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr interessant und gut geschrieben...
    Reviewed in Germany on July 24, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ich musste öfters mal schmunzeln...
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  • Elianne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in Spain on November 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a great time. Humans are weird, sex is weird, and this book encapsulates that while giving us thoughtful critique of sexual mores AND maintaining that sex can be/is fun and hot. It's fun and informative and about sex, what more do you need. 10/10
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