Sex: An Oral History

Sex: An Oral History – Harry Maurer

What do ordinary people really think and feel about sex? In Sex: An Oral History, author Harry Maurer lets them answer in their own words.

First published by Viking in 1994, the book presents a portrait of sexuality in the United States through candid, first-hand interviews with people of all ages, professions, social classes and backgrounds. Rather than statistics or expert opinion, it offers real voices describing real experiences, from first relationships and long-term partnerships to turning points in people’s sex lives and the search for fulfilment.

The interviews are grouped into thematic chapters, such as long-term relationships, turning points and sexual fulfilment, so that the different stories comment on and contrast with one another. The result is a varied, honest and often surprising picture of how people experience intimacy, desire and relationships.

To protect the privacy of the people interviewed, Maurer changed all names and identifying details, while keeping them true in spirit to the originals. As he notes in the introduction, “street sweepers have not been turned into lawyers.”

Frank but thoughtful, the book belongs to the oral history tradition of authors such as Studs Terkel, using personal testimony to illuminate a subject that is usually discussed in private.

This substantial hardcover is ideal for adult readers interested in oral history, sociology, psychology and relationships, and for anyone curious about how real people talk about one of life’s most personal subjects.