This is my new favorite sex book. Seems like most of the “instruction and information” type sex books out there are boring, stuffy, condescending, or just plain scary. Those great people over at Nerve.com have created a gem here. There’s no high school sex ed class crap here; its funny, straightforward, and informative. While covering pretty much every topic from masturbation to fisting, anal sex to STD’s, it’s not a massive encyclopedia of sex. It even has pictures.

It begins, appropriately, with Sex for Beginners, covering the basics: orgasm, masturbation, foreplay, oral sex, intercourse and anal sex. Need a reason to masturbate? Check out the 15 Reasons Why Everyone Should Masturbate...then head over to techniques to try something new. The Sex for Advanced Swimmers section tackles the mysterious G-spot, fisting, sex toys and BDSM. Then, Sex for Winners, which covers STD’s, condoms and other contraceptives, genital health (for guys and gals), sexual fitness and the importance of lubrication. It finishes with a nice little anatomy section, plus the usual bibliography and index. The book delivers quite a lot of information, and even if you think you know everything there is to know about sex, there’s likely to be something here that’s new to you. Pretty much all your sex and sex-related questions will be answered here.

The best thing about the book, however, is the way the information is delivered. It’s like having one of those tell-me-your-secrets conversations with your very best friend. It’s funny and fresh, and presents the point of view that sex is healthy, natural in all its forms, and restorative to the soul. There’s no shying away from the fact that sex is sometimes embarrassing, ugly, messy, funny, and intimidating. The book gives up all these facts, hands over all this necessary information, while encouraging individual expression and interpretation. There’s no lecturing, no Hollywood-perfect depiction of sexuality, no shame-on-you condescension. Nerve’s writers have done a great job of making you feel good about being a sexual creature and encouraging sexual celebration.

I've read the book front to back by now, and am still referring to it for insight and occasional inspiration.