Sex, Sin, and Zen, by Brad Warner ★★★★½

[mithriltabby]

Sex, Sin, and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between is the fourth book from Brad Warner, dubbed both the “Porno Buddhist” (for blogging about Buddhism at the alt-porn site Suicide Girls) and “Buddhism’s enfant terrible”. Warner notes that no one has yet produced a book on the Buddhist perspective on modern issues in sex and relationships, and sets out to give his Hardcore Zen perspective on the matter. It includes a long and interesting interview with pornographic actress Nina Hartley, who shows a much stronger claim on the title “Porno Buddhist”. The writing varies from earnestly serious to hilariously irreverent, and he shows what I see as a sensible approach to everything from masturbation to BDSM. Like his other books, it stands on its own without requiring material from the others; this could serve as a (possibly shocking) introduction to Buddhist thought by showing how it reflects on familiar issues.