Perv

The Sexual Deviant in All of Us

De: Jesse Bering

Narrado por: Jesse Bering

"As a sex writer, Jesse Bering is fearless—and peerless." —Dan Savage

"You are a sexual deviant. A pervert, through and through." We may not want to admit it, but as the award-winning columnist and psychologist Jesse Bering reveals in Perv, there is a spectrum of perversion along which we all sit. Whether it's voyeurism, exhibitionism, or your run-of-the-mill foot fetish, we all possess a suite of sexual tastes as unique as our fingerprints—and as secret as the rest of the skeletons we've hidden in our closets.

Combining cutting-edge studies and critiques of landmark research and conclusions drawn by Sigmund Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and the DSM-5, Bering pulls the curtain back on paraphilias, arguing that sexual deviance is commonplace. He explores the countless fetishists of the world, including people who wear a respectable suit during the day and handcuff a willing sexual partner at night. But he also takes us into the lives of "erotic outliers," such as a woman who falls madly in love with the Eiffel Tower; a pair of deeply affectionate identical twins; those with a particular penchant for statues; and others who are enamored of crevices not found on the human body.

Moving from science to politics, psychology, history, and his own reflections on growing up gay in America, Bering confronts hypocrisy, prejudice, and harm as they relate to sexuality on a global scale. Humanizing so-called deviants while at the same time asking serious questions about the differences between thought and action, he presents us with a challenge: to understand that our best hope of solving some of the most troubling problems of our age hinges entirely on the amoral study of sex.

As kinky as it is compassionate, illuminating, and engrossing, Perv is an irresistible and deeply personal book. "I can't promise you an orgasm at the end of our adventure," Bering writes, "but I can promise you a better understanding of why you get the ones you do."

For once, a self-reading author is good

What did you like best about Perv? What did you like least?

The author read the material in a way that added to the informational and entertainment value of the message itself. I had the feeling at the start that I just had to swallow the message whole, and lie back and enjoy the book.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There were many interesting facts and data. Often, they touched on sensitive areas that too few are willing to approach

Have you listened to any of Jesse Bering’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did Perv inspire you to do anything?

Being better informed will help me be less instantly judgmental, I hope, and to base things on facts and actual harms or benefits

Amazing!!

Although full of jargon and technical terms Jesse reads and forms the book in a way that is easily understood. A must read for anyone who is in charge of anyone else's sexual future i.e. parents!

Fun. But, the only tool is a hammer and every problem is a nail

Fun, witty, and a book worth listening to.

The only problem is with some of the science. He's a psychologist and he approaches every idea from that point of view exclusively. No multi-disciplinary approach.

He talks about the human body sexual adaptations. But, leaves out the anthropological differences between how an agrarian culture and a nomadic culture behaves.

He talks about the psychological theories of the nature of trans people. But, he completely leaves out the ton of anatomical medical imaging studies and genetic studies strongly pointing to a physiological/neurological/genetic cause of the condition.

You just can't approach these subjects without acknowledging and actively using other relevant fields of research.

Worth a read. Take with a grain of salt.

About time someone said this

Loved this book. Love the author and his delivery is exquisite. While the subject matter can have an 'eww' factor, it is something I have wanted to see both studied and then brought out of the crawl spaces since I read the Kinsey report a hundred years ago or so. Get off your judgement plank and consider what it must be like to be one of the 'new' pervs.
Well done, Mr. Bering; and thank you.

Makes you think

Would you consider the audio edition of Perv to be better than the print version?

Yes. I would not want to be seen carrying the book around work.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The passion the author/narrator has for the subject matter.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were a several, most involving scenarios that scared and/or scarred me... the twin brothers... wow.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Again, there were a several, most involving scenarios that scared and/or scarred me...

Any additional comments?

It really makes you think. If you've listened to Loveline as I have, not much will surprise you and you won't learn a whole lot, but this book will bring it all together for you.