Skip to Content

Best Sex Books (Nonfiction): The 30 BEST Books About Sex

Blog > Book Recommendations >

Arthur Worsley
by Arthur Worsley
M.A. Psychology, Oxford. McKinsey Alum. Founder & Editor at TAoL.

Looking for the best sex books of all time?

You're in the right place!

Here's what you'll find on this page...

Contents
1. Sex Matters.
2. The 30 Best Sex Books Ever Written
3. Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Sex Books of All Time
4. Books 11-30: The Best Sex Books to Read Next
5. More Book Recommendations
6. More Best Books of All Time (by Type)
7. More Best Nonfiction Books (by Topic)
8. More Best Fiction Books (by Genre)
9. Wish There Was a Faster/Easier Way?

Sex Matters.

Sex matters. It’s why we’re here. It’s how we multiply. It permeates our thoughts and our actions and our cultures. It plays a main role in many of the highest and lowest emotions and experiences in our lives.

And yet it’s a topic we don’t really think, learn and talk about nearly enough.

So here are 30 of the best nonfiction sex books ever written.

They’ll surprise you. They’ll entertain you. But most of all, they’ll teach you new things about one of humanities most pervasive past-times that you may have never even thought about or guessed.

And THAT matters. Because whoever you are, whatever you believe and whatever you think (or refuse to think) about sex – that’s your decision. And the best way to make great decisions starts with gathering the best knowledge you can.

The 30 Best Sex Books Ever Written

Why these best sex books and not others? To stay objective, I rank all my book recommendations by what’s most loved (Goodreads rating), what’s most popular (Goodreads review count) and what’s proven timelessly relevant (first publication date).

This isn’t a whimsical list. It’s a data-driven, crowdsourced collection of the best sex books ever published as decided by book lovers just like you. (Note: To maximise diversity, I only include the top ranking book from any series in a list.)

And if you think something's missing? I LOVE book recommendations so if there are any other best sex books that you think deserve mentioning, email me and I’ll be sure to include them in the next round of updates.

Until then, enjoy this ultimate list of the 30 best sex books of all time...

Books 1-10: The Top 10 Best Sex Books of All Time

The top 10 best sex books of all time are...

best sex books: Come as You Are
1. Come as You Are - Emily Nagoski
The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life
Published 2015 // 400 pages // Rated 4.3 over 28,000 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Ace
2. Ace - Angela Chen
What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex
Published 2020 // 210 pages // Rated 4.4 over 4,600 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: More Than Two
3. More Than Two - Franklin Veaux
A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory
Published 2014 // 480 pages // Rated 4.3 over 3,200 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Yes Means Yes!
4. Yes Means Yes! - Jaclyn Friedman
Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape
Published 2008 // 361 pages // Rated 4.2 over 5,100 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Boys & Sex
5. Boys & Sex - Peggy Orenstein
Young Men on Hookups, Love, Porn, Consent, and Navigating the New Masculinity
Published 2020 // 293 pages // Rated 4.2 over 4,200 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Mating in Captivity
6. Mating in Captivity - Esther Perel
Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic
Published 2006 // 272 pages // Rated 4.1 over 25,600 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Guide to Getting It On!
7. Guide to Getting It On! - Paul Joannides
Published 1996 // 854 pages // Rated 4.3 over 2,500 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: The Right to Sex
8. The Right to Sex - Amia Srinivasan
Feminism in the Twenty-First Century
Published 2021 // 304 pages // Rated 4.3 over 1,200 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: Woman
9. Woman - Natalie Angier
An Intimate Geography
Published 1999 // 464 pages // Rated 4.1 over 4,300 reviews on Goodreads
best sex books: She Comes First
10. She Comes First - Ian Kerner
The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman
Published 2004 // 228 pages // Rated 4.1 over 6,700 reviews on Goodreads

Books 11-30: The Best Sex Books to Read Next

Here are the next best sex books from my database...

11. Girls & Sex - Peggy Orenstein
Navigating the Complicated New Landscape
Published 2016 // 303 pages // Rated 4.1 over 8,900 reviews on Goodreads
12. The Purity Myth - Jessica Valenti
How America's Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women
Published 2009 // 263 pages // Rated 4.1 over 7,900 reviews on Goodreads
13. Opening Up - Tristan Taormino
A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships
Published 2007 // 346 pages // Rated 4.1 over 3,300 reviews on Goodreads
14. Becoming Cliterate - Laurie Mintz
Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get It
Published 2017 // 288 pages // Rated 4.3 over 900 reviews on Goodreads
15. Doing It! - Hannah Witton
Let's Talk About Sex
Published 2017 // 320 pages // Rated 4.1 over 2,800 reviews on Goodreads
16. Sex at Dawn - Christopher Ryan
The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
Published 2010 // 400 pages // Rated 4.0 over 27,900 reviews on Goodreads
17. Girl Sex 101 - Allison Moon
Published 2015 // 388 pages // Rated 4.5 over 500 reviews on Goodreads
18. Women's Anatomy of Arousal - Sheri Winston
Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure
Published 2009 // 274 pages // Rated 4.3 over 600 reviews on Goodreads
19. The Erotic Mind - Jack Morin
Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment
Published 1995 // 400 pages // Rated 4.2 over 600 reviews on Goodreads
20. Sex with Shakespeare - Jillian Keenan
Here's Much to Do with Pain, but More with Love
Published 2016 // 334 pages // Rated 4.2 over 700 reviews on Goodreads
21. The Sexual Healing Journey - Wendy Maltz
A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
Published 1991 // 346 pages // Rated 4.2 over 600 reviews on Goodreads
22. The Whole Lesbian Sex Book - Felice Newman
A Passionate Guide for All of Us
Published 1999 // 400 pages // Rated 4.1 over 800 reviews on Goodreads
23. The Multi-Orgasmic Man - Mantak Chia
Sexual Secrets Every Man Should Know
Published 1996 // 236 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,200 reviews on Goodreads
24. The New Bottoming Book - Dossie Easton
Published 1994 // 200 pages // Rated 4.0 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads
25. Cunt - Inga Muscio
A Declaration of Independence
Published 1998 // 373 pages // Rated 3.9 over 10,100 reviews on Goodreads
26. The Ethical Slut - Dossie Easton
A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities
Published 1997 // 279 pages // Rated 3.9 over 17,000 reviews on Goodreads
27. Bonk - Mary Roach
The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Published 2008 // 319 pages // Rated 3.8 over 56,700 reviews on Goodreads
28. S.E.X. - Heather Corinna
The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College
Published 2007 // 352 pages // Rated 4.4 over 300 reviews on Goodreads
29. Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns - Philip Miller
The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism
Published 1988 // 277 pages // Rated 4.0 over 1,400 reviews on Goodreads
30. Sex for One - Betty Dodson
The Joy of Selfloving
Published 1987 // 208 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,000 reviews on Goodreads

More Book Recommendations

Enjoyed this list of the best sex books of all time?

You'll also like TAoL's other book recommendations...

More Best Books of All Time (by Type)

These are some lists of overall best books to read...

More Best Nonfiction Books (by Topic)

These are some lists of best nonfiction books to read...

More Best Fiction Books (by Genre)

These are some lists of best fiction books to read...

Or, you can read all my book recommendations.

Wish There Was a Faster/Easier Way?

Whenever you’re ready, here are four ways I can help you be more productive, find more balance and live life more on purpose…

  1. Curious? Discover how productive you really are… Take this free, 2-minute assessment to unlock your PQ and discover the top 25 habits you need to get big things done. Take the 2-minute quiz →
  2. Overwhelmed? Get a free chapter of my book… Let me show you how to beat procrastination, permanently, with this free sneak peek inside TAoL’s ultimate productivity primer. Download your free chapter →
  3. Stuck? Grab a 90-Day TRACKTION Planner… Get the tool thousands trust to help them take control of their time, master their habits and hit goals in every part of their lives. Order your 90-day planner →
  4. Burned out? Join the TRACKTION Community… Take the 6-week masterclass, get weekly group coaching, find accountability partners and connect with like-minded self-starters. Get started FREE →

    Want A FREE 10-Step Speed Reading Cheatsheet?

    How to Read a Book, Mortimer J Adler

    Get a FREE 10-step cheatsheet to help you read faster and remember more of what you read based on the classic guide, How to Read a Book.

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want A FREE Character Traits Cheatsheet?

    Character Traits List

    Send Yourself A FREE Printable Cheatsheet Of 800 Positive, Neutral & Negative Character Traits...

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want A FREE Printable Weekly Planner Template?

    Weekly Planner Template Preview

    Send yourself a FREE printable weekly planner template you can use to set every week up for success...

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want 6 FREE Interactive Memory Templates?

    Memory Templates

    Get 6 FREE templates & master the same tools used by Dominic O'Brien to become the 8-time World Memory Champion.

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want A FREE 10-Step Speed Reading Cheatsheet?

    How to Read a Book, Mortimer J Adler

    Get a FREE 10-step cheatsheet to help you read faster and remember more of what you read based on the classic guide, How to Read a Book.

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want 5 FREE Printable Productivity Templates?

    Productivity Templates

    Includes: Wheel of Life, Habit & Value Trackers, Goal Setting Worksheet, Daily Planner and Guided Reflection...

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.

    Want A FREE Language Learning Toolkit?

    Save thousands of dollars and hours with this FREE 8,000-word language learning guide and toolkit...

    The Art of Living will never share your email. Unsubscribe easily anytime.