Suggested Resources
Books by Brown Symposium Speakers
Debby Herbenick
Because it feels good: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction
Grounded in sex research, this warm, funny book is full of advice that helps women understand and feel better about themselves en route to enhancing their sexual experiences—a great and helpful read for women and their partners.
Sex Made Easy: Your Awkward Questions Answered—for Better, Smarter, More Amazing Sex
In her most recent book, sex researcher and educator Herbenick provides smart, frank, helpful answers to 100 questions about sex (on topics ranging from orgasm to fantasy to sex toys to balancing sex with work/pets/kids) that most of us are too embarrassed to ask.
Dan Savage
[*Note that all of Dan’s books contain very explicit/harsh language]
The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant
Dan Savage’s poignant, heartwarming, and hilarious story of the journey he and partner Terry went through during their open adoption of son D.J. from a homeless Seattle teenager.
The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family
Despite concerns about marriage (including that it would “jinx” his relationship) and in response to persistent pressure from his mom, Dan Savage’s bawdy, witty memoir describes the process of deciding to get married on he and Terry’s 10th anniversary.
Savage Love: Straight Answers from America’s Most Popular Sex Columnist
This collection of answers to 300 questions hand-picked from his no-holds-barred sex advice column shows Dan at his best—a hysterically funny entertainer who is surprisingly wise and moral.
It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living (with Terry Miller)
A companion to the “It Gets Better” web project (which contains over 50,000 user-created videos that have been viewed more than 50 million times), the book contains original essays written by celebrities, political leaders, and others to show gay youth that life does indeed get better after the teen years.
Debra Haffner
From Diapers to Dating: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children
This award-winning book provides practical, step-by-step guidance for parents struggling to decide which values and messages their children should receive about sex—a must-read for all parents and prospective parents.
