• Sex and Lies

  • True Stories of Women's Intimate Lives in the Arab World
  • By: Sophie Lewis, Leïla Slimani
  • Narrated by: Sarah Agha
  • Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (33 ratings)

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Sex and Lies  By  cover art

Sex and Lies

By: Sophie Lewis, Leïla Slimani
Narrated by: Sarah Agha
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Publisher's summary

"Jaw-dropping.... Inspiring.... A haunting and beautifully composed book.... It blew my mind." (Lisa Taddeo, number one New York Times best-selling author of Three Women)

A fearless exposé of the secrets and lies of women's intimate lives, by the best-selling author of The Perfect Nanny, Adèle, and In the Country of Others

"All those in positions of authority—politicians, parents, teachers—maintain the same line: 'Do what you like, but do it in private.'"

Leila Slimani was in her native Morocco promoting her novel Adèle, about a woman addicted to sex, when she began meeting women who confided the dark secrets of their sexual lives. In Morocco, adultery, abortion, homosexuality, prostitution, and sex outside of marriage are all punishable by law, and women have only two choices: They can be wives or virgins. Sex and Lies combines vivid, often harrowing testimonies with Slimani's passionate and intelligent commentary to make a galvanizing case for a sexual revolution in the Arab world.

©2020 Leila Slimani (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"As revealing as Lisa Taddeo’s bestseller Three Women, but it has a more urgent political mission. . . . Like Adèle did before it, this slim book of impassioned pleas, and of human impulses that resonate, is one step to more women breaking free.”Evening Standard

“Slimani’s searing nonfiction debut unearths the deepest and most intimate secrets of a group of women in a culture where sexual autonomy is punished by law.”Newsweek

“Impassioned . . . a call-to-arms.”Elle

What listeners say about Sex and Lies

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slay

I also read the French version and I feel like the translator took some liberties, but nonetheless a very moving collection of stories.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful

Realistic and enjoyable describing personal lives, social and political challenges in Morocco. Also somewhat characteristic of the Arab world.

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Necessary book

While there are many feminist books in the West, outside this cultural area there is complete emptiness. I am from Romania and many of the things the author describes are true for Eastern Europe as well. Otherwise, indeed, the book could have been better, especially in the research area. But it is difficult to find fault with Ms. Slimani - she made a generous effort.

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