Sex and Sensibility: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Talking Sense About Sex

Rating:
Summary: Important if you're a parent
Review: I saw Deborah Roffman speak before I read this book. When she told us that her students (she teaches at a local private school) call her "the sex lady," I wasn't surprised. When she explained some of today's kids' (we're talking kids, not even teens) attitudes about sex, sexuality, and sexual activity, I was very surprised.

I've always considered myself enlightened and pretty progressive, but when it comes to what our kids are thinking and doing, I felt like a Puritan. According to Ms. Roffman, the roles that we as a society thrust on our kids put them under an incredible amount of pressure about themselves, their sexuality, and their values.

This book is written just the way Ms. Roffman speaks -- frankly, straightforwardly, and plainly, with no holds barred. If you're the parent of a pre-teen or teen, or know a pre-teen or teen, you should put this book near the top of your must-read list.

Rating:
Summary: Made a great gift for my parents
Review: My sister and my mom have been having "sex talks" for a while, so I decided to get my mom this for Valentine's Day. Witty, honest, and, of course, sensible, Sex and Sensibility: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Talking Sense About Sex was a great book.

Sex and Sensibility was insightful and direct. It started by defining exactly what 'sex' is, and led on to other discussions--from 'gender' to 'sexual orientation'. Famous poet e e cummings once said that the most natural thing in the world is "a cat with a ball of wool." Let me tell you: a cat with a ball of wool is a graceless lump compared to Deborah. She's not afraid to confront the issues that America's public school sex ed teachers aren't allowed to talk about.

Rating:
Summary: How to talk about sex - for teachers as well as parents!
Review: Teachers as well as parents will welcome this excellent book that explains children's sexuality education needs at each stage of development. Deborah Roffman is a powerful advocate for children, understanding that in a society that gives confusing and exploitative messages about sexuality, children are desperate for communication from the caring adults in their lives. The book is full of specific examples, often humorous, of difficult situations and questions from Roffman's life as a parent and teacher. Her responses are models of simplicity and good sense. Every adult commited to helping young people develop into sexually healthy adults will want a copy of this book. It provides remarkably clear guidelines for how to do it!

Rating:
Summary: a wonderful read
Review: This book was, in a word, brilliant. Roffman shines in her first published book. Witty and insightful, it should be on every parent's bookshelf.