Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure and an Unfinished Revolution by Nona Willis Aronowitz – Hardcover

Bad Sex: Truth, Pleasure and an Unfinished Revolution is a hardcover book by Nona Willis Aronowitz exploring sexuality, feminism, and desire across personal and historical perspectives. The 336-page narrative weaves together the author’s own experiences during a period of personal upheaval with stories spanning nearly two centuries—from early radical feminists and free lovers to contemporary figures navigating sex and relationships within systems of patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy. The book examines what sexual freedom and authentic intimacy can mean in practice, drawing on the legacy of sexual revolutionaries including the author’s late mother, feminist Ellen Willis. Through accounts of diverse experiences—ambivalent marriages, radical lesbian relationships, and varied approaches to desire—the work addresses fundamental questions about what people want sexually and romantically, and whether those desires are achievable. The result is a personal and cultural exploration of feminism’s triumphs and contradictions as they relate to sex and freedom.