A Libertine Booklist

Today, I thought I'd post a list of books relevant to libertinism. This is by no means a complete list.

The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People by David Barash and Judith Lipton

This book shows how people are not naturally monogamous, but I think it cops out by stopping short of recommending that people explore nontraditional relationship options. Still very useful, however.

The Sexual Life of Catherine M by Catherine Millet

Detailed adventures from the life of a female libertine. It’s a little slow in some spots, as this book was translated from the original French, but there are quite a few juicy bits as well!

The Trouble With Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life by Michael Warner

This book explains why gays are going after the wrong goal by pursuing the right to legal marriage. Mostly aimed toward gay/lesbian readers, it nevertheless has much useful information for heterosexuals who prefer nontraditional relationships as well, as it defends the right to choose casual sex relationships instead of monogamy.

Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation by Nancy Cott

A history of marriage in the USA from colonial times and how the government has increasingly interfered in the private lives of our citizens and how marriage laws and customs have evolved over the years.

Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray by Helen Fisher

A books about how and why humans are not naturally monogamous from a anthropological perspective.

Against Love: A Polemic by Laura Kipnis

This one blasts the sacred cows of marriage and monogamy.

Nymphomania: A History by Carol Groneman

A history of female libertines, both real and imagined, and how they’ve been dealt with by society over the years.

What’s Love Got to Do With It: The Evolution of Human Mating by Meredith Small

Another anthropological book explaining why humans are not naturally monogamous.

Sex Without Guilt in the 21^st Century by Dr. Albert Ellis

^{A positive view of sexuality from a psychologist. An update of the 1958 original, with a dated, old fashioned writing style, but the opinions stated within are anything but dated. Along with several other forms of sexual expression, Ellis takes the view that "sexual adventuring", I.e. libertinism, is neither unhealthy nor necessarily unethical.}

^{Ain’t Nobody’s Business If You Do by Peter McWilliams}

^{Not strictly about libertinism, per se, but mainly about the government interference into people’s private lives about matters that do not harm or infringe upon the rights of others. The right to privacy in what forms people’s intimate relationships also are covered.}

The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities by Dossie Easton and Catherine Lizst

The title is self explanatory.

The Future of Love: The Power of the Soul in Intimate Relationships by Daphne Rose Kingma

Kingma writes that as more traditional marriages end in divorce, that nontraditional forms of relating, including casual sexual relationships, are valid alternative choices that may work better for many people. A lot of psychobabble in this book, but useful information at the core.

Casanova by Derek Parker

Biography of the famous libertine.

The Debt to Pleasure by John Wilmot

Subject of the upcoming Johnny Depp movie, "The Libertine"