Superfreaks: Kink, Pleasure, and the Pursuit of Happiness

A deliciously subversive and endlessly informative celebration of "kinky f*ckery," as told by a lifelong student of kink and fetishism

Neither a how-to guide to getting it on nor a collection of sensational erotica, Superfreaks is instead an empathetic journey into the widely misunderstood world of kink. Lifelong practitioner and student of "kinky f*ckery" Arielle Greenberg draws on her study and teaching of BDSM and fetishism to

• introduce kink's history and trailblazing kinksters like Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Mollena Williams-Haas, and Tom of Finland
• explain the science behind sexual fetishes
• delve into the psychology behind power exchange
• parse the politics of sexual deviance

Superfreaks is an accessible, interactive. and raunchy experience that invites the reader to engage their kinky curiosity. Written with folks of all genders and sexual orientations in mind, the book features resources like

• quizzes readers can take with their partners to help assess sexual compatibility
• sidebars with lists of kinky representation in literature, film, music, and more
• an A-to-Z glossary of kinky gear, from collars and floggers to zentai suits and beyond

Superfreaks challenges and dismantles longstanding myths about kink perpetuated by pop culture phenomena like Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days. In doing so, Greenberg names the systemic marginalization kinky people experience and argues that we must build a society that accepts and celebrates sexual diversity of all kinds. The book also affirms the importance of consent and not "yucking someone's yum"--key concepts inherent to the practice of kink that are essential building blocks for safer, more inclusive sex.

Author: Arielle Greenberg
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 08/01/2023
Pages: 280
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.00w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780807020210

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 09/08/2023

About the Author
Arielle Greenberg speaks about kink and ethical nonmonogamy at universities and on such podcasts as Dear Sugar, Why Are People into That?!, and Sex Out Loud. She is the author of several books of poetry and creative nonfiction. A former tenured professor in English at Columbia College Chicago, she has spent over twenty years as a scholar and academic, writing about cultural studies and literature and teaching undergraduate and graduate students, as well as in the community. She identifies as a lifelong sexual fetishist. Keep up with Arielle on Instagram @arielle_greenberg and on her website, ariellegreenberg.net.