FbF Book Club: Louise Perry's 'The Case Against The Sexual Revolution'
Introductory Post
I think it’d be considered a bit unexpected for me to offer up this book as a candidate for the next entry in the FbF Book Club, but I floated a trial balloon in FbF Chat (come join us) and the response was overwhelmingly in favour, and rather quick too.
Louise Perry’s ‘The Case Against the Sexual Revolution’ is getting a lot of action, and I have myself already read the book (and have taken a lot of notes while doing so). It’s a great read and offers quite a lot to think about it, going against the current trend of Gender Theory and happily wallowing in what we once called “common sense”. Louise views the Sexual Revolution as having damaged women more than benefitting them. Hers is a feminist take, so hopefully more women will partake in the discussions as we progress through the book (my readership slants male, naturally).
For those interested, order the book now as I am seeing that Amazon’s delivery schedule is a bit slower than usual. I will aim for a January 15th launch of this book club, but will check with you guys to see how your orders are progressing and adjust forward/backward accordingly.
Being lazy, I will cut and paste some review descriptions straight from the Amazon page:
"This clear-sighted, compassionate book challenges the reigning sexual orthodoxy of “anything goes”, showing the many uncounted costs it imposes on women. A must-read for conservatives and feminists alike."
Mary Harrington, Contributing Editor, UnHerd"In this thoughtful, timely and witty book, Louise Perry exposes the travesty of “sex positive” feminism as neither positive nor sexy and argues for new thinking which puts women’s true interests, desires and happiness at its heart."
Janice Turner, Times columnist and feature writer
"books such as Perry’s matter […] many of her arguments — that consent is an inadequate measure of what is and is not abuse, that the valuing of sexual freedom over mutual dependency benefits the most privileged at the expense of the least, that physical strength differences between men and women matter enormously — seem to me hugely important, yet completely absent from so much of the feminism I have known."
The Critic"tackles the costs of the sexual revolution head-on… a brave and unflinching book"
Nina Power, author of What Do Men Want?"This is a marvellously essential book, brilliantly argued. Perry has written the most radical feminist challenge to a failed liberal feminism."
Phyllis Chesler, writer, feminist and psychologist, author of Women and Madness"Brilliantly conceived and written, this highly original book is an urgent call for a sexual counter-revolution. A book as stimulating as the splash of icy water that wakes someone from a nightmare."
Helen Joyce, author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality"Those feminists who assume this book is not for them – give it a go. Brilliantly written, cleverly argued, packed with fascinating ideas and information: agree or disagree with the central premise, it is fresh and exciting."
Julie Bindel, feminist and writer, author of Feminism for Women
As already mentioned, I read the book and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is engaging and accessible to all. I will use my privilege to try and insert parallels or asides or whatever, wherever I think they fit best.
The book is not long and is a breeze to read. It does not require a tremendous amount of reading to absorb because the subject is one that we are all intimately familiar with (pun wholly intended). Subscribe now as it will be for paying subscribers only.
This will be the 5th entry in the FbF Book Club. Here are the previous ones for those who have not been here from day one of this Substack:
The Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the Looting of Russia - Paul Klebnikov (2000)
The Collapse of the Spanish Republic 1933-36 - Stanley Payne (2006)
Gabriele D’Annunzio: Poet, Seducer, and Preacher of War - Lucy Hughes Hallett (2013)
The Final Pagan Generation: Rome’s Unexpected Path to Christianity - Edward J. Watts (2020)
The most recent entry (The Final Pagan Generation) has received the best response out of all of the books that have been covered by the FbF Book Club, including from N.S. Lyons over at The Upheaval:
(Niccolo has a great series of posts reviewing Edward Watts marvelous The Final Pagan Generation, so he knows what’s up).
Let’s build on the success of The Final Pagan Generation and make this upcoming book club just as engaging and enjoyable. Order your copy of Louise Perry’s ‘The Case Against the Sexual Revolution’ now.
Women: please participate as this place is male-heavy and we're gonna need some balance.
Order your copy now and we'll get going in roughly 3 to 4 weeks. Hit the like button above to like this entry and consider subscribing if you haven't done so already.