Books › The Ethical Slut
The Ethical Slut
A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures
349 pages
A warm, judgment-free roadmap to radical honesty, expansive intimacy, and dismantling relationship shame.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down with two incredibly wise, sex-positive aunties who want nothing more than for you to be happy, safe, and radically honest. The pace is steady and digestible, inviting you to pause and reflect on your own boundaries and desires. It wraps you in a mood of profound reassurance, actively dismantling decades of societal shame around sex and jealousy. The prose is conversational, empathetic, and refreshingly blunt, stripping away academic jargon in favor of lived experience and practical exercises. It is an empowering, expansive read that delights anyone looking to break free from conventional relationship scripts, offering a judgment-free sanctuary for exploring intimacy, communication, and the joyful messiness of human connection.
- Mood
- liberating
- warm
- reassuring
- expansive
- Tone
- sex-positive
- pragmatic
- conversational
- non-judgmental
- empowering
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- radical honesty · dismantling shame · conscious relationship building · sexual freedom · emotional intelligence
- The writing
- Accessible, conversational, and deeply empathetic, blending personal anecdotes with practical advice.
- The arc
- Moves from curiosity and potential apprehension to empowered self-acceptance and relational confidence.
- Who it's for
- Anyone curious about non-monogamy, or seeking better communication and intimacy skills in any relationship structure.
Content notes
- explicit sexual references
- discussions of sexual shame
- jealousy
About the book
> The guide of choice for people curious to move beyond conventional monogamy, and for anyone interested in learning better skills for love, sex, and intimacy, The Ethical Slut will open you up to the adventure and freedom that comes from redefining the way you relate to the adventure and freedom that comes from redefining the way you relate to friends and lovers. Janet W. Hardy and Dossie Easton offer the techniques, skills, and ideals they have developed for practicing successful and ethical polyamory through open communication, emotional honest, and managing jealousy. This updated and expanded edition includes more than fifteen practical exercises, new topics such as consent and overcoming sexual shame, tributes to poly pioneers, and interviews with contemporary sluts who are making this way of loving a reality. Whether you're a card-carrying slut or just testing the waters, you'll learn how to find your desires and discover romance and friendship beyond your dreams. — Back cover of the 3rd edition
Description from Open Library.
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