I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Bi by Julia Shaw Published by Abrams Press on June 28, 2022
Genres: Biography & Autobiography / LGBTQ, Social Science / LGBTQ+ Studies / Gay Studies, Social Science / LGBTQ+ Studies / Lesbian Studies
Pages: 240
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
A provocative, eye-opening, and original book on the science of sexuality beyond gender from an internationally bestselling pop-psychologist
Despite all the welcome changes that have happened in our culture and laws over the past few decades in regards to sexuality, the subject remains one of the most influential but least understood aspects of our lives. For psychologist and bestselling author Julia Shaw, this is both professional and personal--Shaw studies the science of sexuality and she herself is proudly and vocally bisexual.
It's an admission, she writes, that usually causes people's pupils to dilate, their cheeks to flush, and their questions to start flowing. Ask people to name famous bisexual actors, politicians, writers, or scientists, and they draw a blank. Despite statistics that show bisexuality is more common than homosexuality, bisexuality is often invisible.
In BI: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality, Shaw probes the science and culture of attraction beyond the binary. From the invention of heterosexuality to the history of the Kinsey scale, as well as asylum seekers trying to defend their bisexuality in a court of law, there is so much more to explore than most have ever realized. Drawing on her own original research--and her own experiences--this is a personal and scientific manifesto; it's an exploration of the complexities of the human sexual experience and a declaration of love and respect for the nonconformists among us.
This is a great nonfiction book about the history and culture of bisexuality! It was informative and easy to read. I’m not bisexual but I am constantly jealous of the bisexual flag, which is clearly the best flag. I really really liked the cover of this book for those reasons; it kind of makes a visual pun as well as look very appealing. This book is chock-full of research, but it never comes off as overly academic; the tone stays conversational throughout. I recommend it if you’re as envious of the bisexual flag as I am. Four stars.
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