The Sex Myth: Why Everything We're Told is Wrong [Kindle Edition]

As a qualified sex therapist and a scientist it is satisfying to see such a book written. However, I fear that it will do little to change biased opinions. Those people that believe these sex myths are so unlikley to buy this book. It is safer to hang on to their misconceptions, their version of the 'truth'. Sadly,the general population seems to find it difficult to embrace a scientific methodology. As Paul Simon said 'we hear what we want to hear and disregard the rest'.
Clearly Dr Magnanti has a point to prove. High intelligence and perhaps a sex drive at the higher end of the scale is a potent combination, and perhaps threatening to some. And wasn't it Anais Nin who observed that 'we dont see things as they are, we see things as we are'.

The difficulty with this area is that there is so much variation amongst individuals. Which makes if difficult when it comes down to something being true or not true. An individual is different from a population. The popular press has difficulty in coping with all the different shades of sexual feeling, sexual expression, sexual attitudes- even in these days of fity shades.... Black or white is easier to deal with. And what goes on in the emotional part of the brain- where faith and belief reside- might be a universe away from what goes on in the cerebral cortex.

Pleased I bought the book though. I remain a fan of Dr Magnanti!

This is a refreshing and incisive scientific view of a subject of primary interest to humankind,(i.e., sex, in case you hadn't worked it out), lightly written with a dry sense of humour. Sexual issues properly concern politics and society, and Dr M. completely demolishes various myths that permeate popular debate.
You can tell a book by the quality of its references, and as you would expect from a doctor in epidemiology, the argument is grounded in robust evidence.
She convincingly destroys, for example, the myths that rapes rise in districts with strip clubs, and that there is a huge "trafficking sex trade." The myths are not only wrong but the mis-information positively damages effective efforts to reduce rape and trafficking.
So it is good reading and if you are interested in social issues, essential, to consider evidence before arguing for policy.

This is a very interesting and well written book with lots of basic facts and plenty of humour. The author became known for her anonymous blog and subsequent book - " The secret diary of a call-girl. " It's no surprise to me that this is the work of a scientific mind and not a journalistic one. Only original sources are used and not the usual 'hearsay' stuff which you find in the Press and in Parliament. This is a must-read for anyone with a serious and unbiased view of the subject. It might even remove some bias from uninformed people if they take the trouble to read its excellent contents.
Graham Lewis.

This is a book that made me shout "Yes! At last somebody with sense and method!" at nearly every page.
Dr Magnanti explores the most unfairly propagated myths about sex and do so by carefully and scientifically debunking all the so-called studies that are relentlessly used or misused to push either sensationalist and/or incompetent news on one hand, or the dubious agenda of sexophobic and/or technophobic crusaders.
The author's scientific methods are impeccable and her counter arguments are very well explained even to the non-expert.
Contrarily to what another review claim, I can attest that references are made for every citation she presents or paper she refers. Also, her style is sometime colloquial but it is in no way at the detriment of the book contents nor of the rigour of the scientific approach used.
I initially feared that being a former sex-worker could be a hindrance for her objectivity but it was not the case: She uses no preconceptions to influence her reasoning while being open-minded and candid, two very useful qualities when dealing with such a loaded domain as sex studies.
This book was a breath of fresh air that confirmed my suspicions after reading wobbly 'studies' after another, and also taught me a great deal about statistical methodologies that can be used for other domains that also fall prey of sensationalist journalism or scaremongering politics. Excellent book !

This is the first book written by a feminist in which I agreed with every page. Why? Because it's all based on science and research rather than her opinions and judgements. I'm tired of reading books by feminists who are transphobic, sexphobic, homophobic, racist and heterosexist. This book is seriously overdue. It's a book for feminists who actually give a toss about women.

From time to time moral crusaders of all colours, from the loony Left to the religious Right, and not forgetting modern radical feminists, stir up moral panics around the issue of human sexual behaviour. Claims that pornography objectifies women, that our children are being sexualised or that thousands of women in prostitution are forced to work against their will are carefully analysed by Dr Magnanti and found to be untrue. Don't be put off by Dr Magnanti's past (she worked as a call girl under the pseudonym "Belle de Jour"). She is a well-educated, qualified scientist and an accomplished author. I like the calm, scientifically objective approach she has taken in dismantling nine modern myths about sex and sexuality. Even readers who are not particularly bothered either way about subjects such as pornography, prostitution, sex addiction and the like, may find the book interesting because of Dr Magnanti's descriptions of the shocking extent to which moral crusaders will go to twist the evidence, make up data, ignore the truth and lie to the public in order to gain political influence.