Well, hello there, my beautiful, bodacious bi-bliophiles! How’s everyone doing out there? Got your three (minimum) beverages nearby? (My “fun” drink is usually Coke, but during the winter, I switch to hot chocolate.) Got your emotional support stack of to-be-read books on your nightstand? (Not to brag, but I have a whole TBR bookshelf.) Then we’re ready to burrow like the bookworms we are into this column’s entry! Have you ever wondered about what was left out of your sex education growing up? Ever muse what the oldest — ahem — marital aid is, or what your favorite historical figure was into in the bedroom? Enter Esmé Louise James, sex historian and TikTok phenom.
Here at Bi.org, we’re massive fans of James. You may have come across her discussing her work in one of our interviews (one of the most fun interviews I’ve ever conducted). Well, now the Australian author, TEDTalk speaker, and cheeky historical guide has woven years of work and study into her wild and wildly readable book on the history of sex, Kinky History (2024), which we’ll be exploring here.
But before we dive right in, a few disclaimers. First and foremost, there will be minor SPOILERS for the content of this book (just enough to discuss salient points and highlights). Second — and this should be obvious, but let’s be crystal clear — there will be frank discussions about human sexuality. Finally, unlike our Unicorn Scale series, which gives books a numerical score, this is more of a traditional book review.
James (whose PhD dissertation was on the history of porn and erotica) has made quite a name for herself on one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. One night during the heart of the pandemic, after her friends got tired of hearing fun facts about her research, James took to TikTok with an educational video about the world’s oldest dildo — a 28,000-year-old stone artifact. Lo and behold, an internet star was born. Since then, James and her Kinky History series have gained over three million fans on TikTok alone, garnered multiple public speaking engagements, and inked her book deal, resulting in the tome we are covering today.
James writes about a variety of racy subjects — such as the actual demythologized history of the vibrator, the history of leather and fishnets, and the surprising (but deeply humanizing) kinks of noted historical and literary figures. And with everything she covers, she does so with enthusiasm, cheeky aplomb, and accessible verbiage. She cleverly frames the entire book as a sort of lively dinner party with the greatest glitterati in human history. James makes every subject (taboo or otherwise) approachable, fun and backs up every declaration with exhaustive research. (Seriously, check out her lists of stats, notes, and sources in her appendix.) All the while, the text never loses the feel of a good party atmosphere.
James isn’t above creating a few deeply nerdy imagined scenarios between favorite literary figures to make a point (the exchange between Gertrude Stein and Virginia Woolf particularly made me chuckle). But throughout all of these interactions, James keeps the prose grounded and personal, occasionally interjecting her own hilarious, personal stories about bisexuality or working in an adult toy store. These joyous turns keep the book’s tone down to earth.
One of the standout features of Kinky History is its statistical receipts, including historical data as well as James’s discoveries in an Australian national survey she conducted alongside her mother, noted statistician Susan James. Translating all of this data into digestible tidbits throughout the book makes the read all the more steeped in fact, while also illustrating changing sexual attitudes (or rather, with the shift in sexual attitudes, people being more honest in surveys). For the math-heads out there, the stats really give the book a solid backbone.
Okay, okay, I hear you — but what about bisexuality? Yes, bisexuality is featured — and heavily so — throughout the pages of Kinky History! James is a proud bi author herself, and the book contains multiple discussions of historical figures who were bi, the advent of the term “bisexual” itself, and a celebration of our queer history. This is more than just a one-off chapter acknowledging and discussing bisexuality — it’s a clear thread throughout the book, including acknowledging the bi erasure common in histories of this sort.
In conclusion: Whether you’re a longtime fan of James’s work (hi, I’m the fanatic, it’s me) or totally new to the world of sex history, there’s a wealth of stories, facts, and fun interludes to satisfy even the most learned about this lurid subject. From cover to cover, there is so much to discover, laugh over, and simply enjoy. Kinky History reads like the most delightful, dishiest brunch session with your favorite, super-informed sexpert friend who’s got the hot goss on all things sex — past and present. Pass the mimosas, pore over every detail, and then share this fantastic book with every friend you can. Not one of them will regret cracking it open.