Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality: Understanding Biology, Psychology, and Culture

Accurate information about sex and sexuality is always in demand; this two-volume encyclopedia edited by Armstrong (sexual health, Univ. of Southampton) will meet readers’ needs, with comprehensive information about all aspects of these fascinating and sometimes confusing topics. There are more than 40 thorough signed entries by academics and health professionals, which cover up-to-date research on a variety of subjects: sex in advertising, pioneers in the field (e.g., Alfred Kinsey), authors (e.g., Betty Dodson), contraception (e.g., birth control pills, cervical caps), sexual identity, gender identity, postmenopausal sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, books (The Joy of Sex; the Kama Sutra), and social and cultural issues (e.g., hookup culture, dating). Ranging in length from one to three pages, each entry offers works for further reading, but no illustrations—which would have been helpful for the articles about sex organs. Some topics are broken up into multiple entries; on abortion, for instance, readers will find entries for elective, late term, and medical abortion, as well as information on abortion legislation.