My book list:

Whether you are a professional or a person wanting to learn and unlearn information about sex, below is a list of books I have personally read. I also try to disclose where I might put them on a spectrum of progressive to more conservative thought, but please know that is hard to do and a sweeping generalization. My sharing does not mean I agree with every word written by the author, nor that I endorse all of their frameworks for sexual health. Instead, I'm hoping to provide a comprehensive list to readers so that you can learn HOW to think about sexual wellness from a myriad of angles, not just what to think about it.

(left leaning)

Anderson, D. (2015). Damaged goods: New perspectives on Christian Purity. Jericho Books.

McClintock, K. (2001). Sexual shame. Fortress Press.

Joy Allison, E. (2021). #ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing. United Kingdom: 1517 Media.

Schaeffer, F. (2011). Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway. Canada: ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited.

Sellers, T. S. (2017). Sex, god, and the Conservative Church: Balancing faith and sexual shame. Routledge.

Klein, L. (2018). Pure: Inside the evangelical movement that shamed a generation of young women. Broadleaf Books.

(right leaning)

Stringer, J. (2018). Unwanted: How sexual brokenness reveals our way to healing. NavPress.

Stringer, J. (2026). Desire: The longings inside us and the new science of how we love, heal, and grow. Random House Publishing Group.

Welcher, R. J. (2021). Talking back to purity culture: Rediscovering faithfulness in the wake of a evangelical sexual ethic. Moody Publishers.

Recovering from Purity Culture by Dr. Camden Morgante

Non-Toxic Masculinity by Zachary Wagner

(not Christian focused but relevant)

Carnes, P. J. (2009). Sexual Anorexia: Overcoming Sexual Self-Hatred. United States: Hazelden Publishing.

Perel, E. (2006). Mating in captivity: Unlocking erotic intelligence. HarperCollins.

The Courage to Heal by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis (a resource for incest survivors)

The Sexual Healing Journey by Wendy Maltz (a resource for sexual abuse survivors)

Come Together by Emily Nagoski

She Comes First by Ian Kerner