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Real Sex: The Naked Truth About Chastity Audiobook
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(3.03) - 1,277 listener ratings
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SEX. Splashed across magazine covers, billboards, and computer screens - sex is thrilling, necessary, unavoidable. And everybody's doing it, right? // In Real Sex, Lauren Winner speaks candidly about the difficulty - and the importance - of sexual chastity. With nuance and wit, she talks about her own sexual journey. Never dodging tough terms like "confession" and "sin", she grounds her discussion of chastity first and foremost in scripture. She confronts cultural lies about sex and challenges how we talk about sex in church (newsflash: however wrong it is, premarital sex can feel liberating and enjoyable!) Building on the thought of Wendell Berry, she argues that sex is communal rather than private, personal rather than public. // Refusing to slink away from thorny topics, Winner deftly addresses pornography, masterbation and the perennial question of "how far is too far?" Winner also digs deeper; What does chastity have to do with loving my neighbor? How does sexual behavior form habits and expectations? With compassion and grit, she calls us, whether married or single, to pursue chastity as conversion and amendment of life. // Real Sex is an essential read for single Christians grappling with chastity, for married Christians committed to monogamy, and for those who councel them.
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"I appreciated this frank and truth-based discussion of sex within the context of church and, more importantly, community, and found Lauren Winner's criticisms of both popular culture and popular Christian culture to be extremely thought-provoking. I wish she had taken some of her points a bit further - for example, she talks about sex and marriage being things which instruct the entire community, which is essentially linked together as family, rather than individual couples completely separate from everyone else. I wish she had discussed this more in terms of what it would actually look like."
— Emily (4 out of 5 stars)
Real Sex Listener Reviews
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" Curious about sex? Great book to explore and get a good perspective. "
— Dawn, 2/11/2014 -
" not as sexy as i thought it would be...seriously, though, good subject matter but dry. i prefer passion and purity by e. elliot. "
— Rachel, 2/10/2014 -
" I just reread this almost five years after my first time through. Winner's prose weaves thorough scriptural and cultural research with her honest personal perspective for a very real (title was right on!) approach to sex (a contrast to so many "true love waits" ideas published in Christianese). Winner also talks about the three-letter word in the context of community and spiritual discipline in ways that were convicting in other arenas of life as well. "
— Madoline, 2/3/2014 -
" In all the Christian lit out there on the big struggle, it's refreshing to find one written from a female perspective from our generation. I feel like Winner has a genuine voice especially having converted as a sexually active adult and having wrestled through and ultimately admitted the value and purspose of chastity from the other side. She has some worthwhile advice for how the church should minister more to celebate singles who, based on cultural norms, are going to have a longer, harder wait than previous generations. I really appreciate her real, grounded take on a real struggle. "
— Shannon, 1/25/2014 -
" Pretty good, despite a few contradictions and unaddressed questions. It approaches the topic from a mainstream Christian perspective without being too heavy on the Bible. I'd recommend it for teenagers and twenty-somethings. "
— Michael, 1/14/2014 -
" A great contemporary look at the role of sexuality in the church. Focusing on Christian ethics, the author casts a new light on marriage and chastity. "
— Dean, 1/9/2014 -
" I highly recommend this excellent discourse on why chastity is important and how it connects to God's plan for us. Brilliantly written with much, much, much truth therein. "
— Alisoncaldwellandrews, 12/31/2013 -
" This book is not just another "don't have sex" book. It is fascinating and open. I was not sure what I was getting into, but the intellectual tone and honesty were refreshing and enlightening. "
— Ciara, 12/4/2013 -
" Honest and interesting read. I highly recommend it. "
— Megan, 11/8/2013 -
" Very raw and necessary read for women going to college "
— Trish, 10/19/2013 -
" Very, very intelligent. The church needs this book. "
— Julie, 9/1/2013 -
" Pretty good. Interesting material, the author is a very good writer, but I felt she brought up questions she did not answer. "
— Jordan, 8/14/2013 -
" Thanks goodness for Lauren Winner. Awesome book. "
— Krysta, 6/9/2013 -
" Author of "Girl Meets God." She's pretty awesome! And now married! "
— Kim, 3/25/2013 -
" The best book that I have every read regarding sex, marriage and chastity. Something I wish that I had read back when I was single / dating. I highly recommend this book to all pastors: we need to critically about sexuality, the answers that we're giving, and what its means for the Church. "
— Andrew, 3/19/2013 -
" I basically typed half the book up to keep on file for myself...everyone should read it - single or not, Christian or not. "
— Devon, 8/1/2012 -
" Excellent! I highly recommend! "
— James, 6/14/2012 -
" Add this to my list of top 50 books I've read. This book was a breath of fresh air! "
— Lisa, 6/7/2012 -
" So much wisdom for singles or married in this book about sex, sexual sin, disciplines, faithfulness to God, and God's love and grace! "
— Rachael, 2/15/2012 -
" A decently written theology addressing some of the false statements both Christians and non-Christians make about sex. "
— Coyle, 12/12/2011 -
" I can't say enough good things about this book! Definitely worth reading. "
— Joyce, 9/14/2011 -
" I'm married and I still found this book to be thought-provoking. Extremely well thought out and gave me insight into the deeper reasons for chastity. Didn't fully agree with all of her assessments of married sex/relationships, but that part is open to differing opinions. "
— Bebemiqui, 6/10/2011 -
" A decently written theology addressing some of the false statements both Christians and non-Christians make about sex. "
— Coyle, 4/9/2011 -
" This book isn't just for single folks! "
— Heidi, 1/10/2011 -
" This book is not just another "don't have sex" book. It is fascinating and open. I was not sure what I was getting into, but the intellectual tone and honesty were refreshing and enlightening. "
— Ciara, 10/15/2010 -
" A great book for all Christians, married or single. It provides an overview of a truly Biblical sexual ethic - one founded in God's created order rather than on a list of "thou shalt nots". It's also a useful resource for parents as they discuss sex and chastity with adolescents. "
— Jeremy, 8/26/2010 -
" Not great, but worthwhile in the sense that the author recovers some historic Christian teaching on the communal aspects of chastity. "
— Jason, 6/30/2010 -
" I loved this book. I wish someone had given it to me when I was sixteen. The thing I appreciate the most about Winner's writing is her honesty. "
— Lauren, 4/25/2010
About the Authors
Lauren F. Winner teaches Christian spirituality at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and other periodicals. Her favorite things include October weather, mystery novels, and doodling prayer.
About Bernadett Dunne
Bernadette Dunne is the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and has twice been nominated for the prestigious Audie Award. She studied at the Royal National Theatre in London and the Studio Theater in Washington, DC, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center and off Broadway.