Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships, by Tristan Taormino. The Obama Generations contribution to the Polyamory Movement. Ms. Taormino offers a bold new strategy for creating loving, lasting relationships by this relationship expert and bestselling author. Drawing on in-depth interviews with over a hundred women and men, Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships explores the real-life benefits and challenges of all styles of open relationships--from partnered nonmonogamy to solo polyamory. With her refreshingly down-to-earth style and sharp wit, Ms. Taormino offers solutions for making an open relationship work, including tips on dealing with jealousy, negotiating boundaries, finding community, parenting, and time management. Throughout the book are the diverse voices of real people--from a woman with two husbands and a suburban swinger couple to polyamorous parents and a gay male triad--who candidly share their struggles, fears, hopes, and the secrets of their success in open relationships. Opening Up will change the way you think about intimacy--and will help you decide if an open relationship is right for you.
The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities, by Dossie Easton and Catherine Liszt. The book provides the reader with advice and helps for anyone navigating the waters of relationship, and there are very few of us who do not find a storm now and then. The title may have come from some editor who wanted the book to get attention, because the core of the book is good advice on how to work through the problems of any kind of relationship, but particularly "polyamorous" ones. A "Slut" is defined as "a person of any gender who has the courage to lead life according to the radical proposition that sex is nice and pleasure is good for you." If you view sex like this, and particularly if you are open to the idea that you might have a sexual/loving relationship with more than one person at a time, you should read this book. If you are, or think you might be, a polyamorous person, start here. The book is divided into four parts, plus an excellent bibliography and resource list. Part I focuses on our own relationship with our sexuality, and deals with ethics, values, language, slut skills and slutstyles. It helps us to understand the culture we are in and how that limits our view of sexuality, and provides historical and practical ideas to expand our vision. It serves the proposition that "Great sluts are made, not born".
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures, by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy. For anyone who has ever dreamed of love, sex, and companionship beyond the limits of traditional monogamy, this groundbreaking guide navigates the infinite possibilities that open relationships can offer. Experienced ethical sluts Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy dispel myths and cover all the skills necessary to maintain a successful and responsible polyamorous lifestyle--from self-reflection and honest communication to practicing safe sex and raising a family. Individuals and their partners will learn how to discuss and honor boundaries, resolve conflicts, and to define relationships on their own terms.
Pagan Polyamory: Becoming a Tribe of Hearts, by Raven Kaldera. "The element of air is usually the first element that we call upon in Pagan ritual, because so many cultures mark the beginning of human. Relating polyamory to astrology and the elements (air, fire, water, earth, and spirit), the author addresses all aspects of the polyamorous life, including family life, sexual ethics, emotional issues, proper etiquette, relationship boundaries, and the pros of cons of this lifestyle. Presenting a fascinating peek inside the polyamorous lifestyle from a Pagan perspective, Raven Kaldera offers practical insight and spiritual depth into a vastly misunderstood way of life.
The Polyamory Handbook: A User's Guide, by Peter J. Benson. Pete Benson has decades of experience with polyamory in a variety of forms. He has lived in a quad as well as poly dyads with various polyamorous configurations. He is co-founder of 3 local polyamory groups and has been active at the core of each of these. He has experience leading workshops, polyamory peer support groups, and similar polyamory-related events in local poly groups as well as poly conferences. In this book you'll find guidance about; what polyamory is and is not; communication; conflict resolution and emotional growth; ethical considerations; sexual hygiene; children; wills, discrimination and legal hassles; and more. Whether you are well experienced with polyamory, or new at polyamory or curious about polyamory.
Polyamory: Roadmaps for the Clueless & Hopeful, by Anthony Ravenscroft. Mr. Ravenscroft leaves behind the speculation, the guesswork, and the Utopianism that only confuse the discussion. Polyamory: Roadmaps for the Clueless & Hopeful begins from the absolute basics of intimate relationships, and clearly lays out the pitfalls and problems that await everyone who embarks upon this difficult and highly rewarding way of life. This book is for everyone with any interest in the subject. Whether you're merely curious, or already embroiled in a complex responsibly nonmonogamous life, you will find a greater understanding of what is going on. Even if you are happily married for the rest of your life, you will improve your relationships with the other people in your life.
Polyamory Many Loves: The Poly-Tantric Lovestyle: A Personal Account, by Janet Kira Lessin. Ms. Lessin challenges, delight, satisfy, amuse and entertain you. Join Janet in her juicy journey of sacred sexuality in Polyamory, Many Loves. She explores pair dating, a woman/man/woman threesome, man/woman/man triads, quatrads, networks, and finally, a polyamorous pod. Janet shares her innermost thoughts, feelings, spiritual epiphanies and erotic experiences as she learns the ways of many-lover loving with increasing skill and grace. Her trials and triumphs teach all who would tread the path of polyamory. Janet's amorous experiments lead her to blend All-Chakra Tantra--her variety of sacred loving--with polyamory--relating to contemporaneous multiple lovers. The synthesis Janet creates is the PolyTantric Lovestyle. The polytantric lovestyle heals emotional pain and social separation for individuals, pairs, and groups and will, Janet believes, be therapeutic for the world as well. Janet Kira Lessin, Director & CEO of the World Polyamory Association, the School of Tantra and the World Peace Association leads seminars and conferences on the fields tantra, psychology, relationships and polyamory. Janet and husband Sasha are healers, teachers, relationship counselors and psychotherapists.
Loving More: The Polyfidelity Primer, by Ryam Nearing. The premier how to book in the field of Polyamory. Not only theory and stories but the nuts and bolts of the Polyamory lifestyle. Written by the undeniable leader of the Polyamory movement and Co-Editor of Loving More Magazine. She is the leading authority in the Polyfideltous lovestyle.
Polyamory The New Love without Limits, by Dr. Deborah Anapol. The latest 1997 revised edition of one of the classics in Polyamory literature. Updated and includes new writing. Dr. Anapol is one of the pioneer and leading authorities in the Polyamory lovestyle.
Lesbian Polyfidelity, by Celeste West. This book contains information that can be universally applied to any sexual orientation Polyamorous relationship. Polyamory belongs to all genders and preferences. Enter the world of Polyfidelity allurement, engagement and creativity. A fascinating book for all Polyamorists to read.
Breaking The Barriers to Desire, edited by Kevin Lano & Claire Parry. This British import is a concise blend of personal accounts, advice, theory and history with continental flavor. Glossary, bibliography and resources.
Radical Honesty, by Dr. Brad Blanton. No bullshit advice on how to have lives that work, relationships that are alive and passionate and how to create intimacy where none exists. Brace yourself for a triple espresso to head and heart.
A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples, by Attorneys Curry, Clifford and Leonard. This book contains information that can be applied Polyamorous relationships. How to obtain domestic partner benefits, plan for medical emergencies, by property together, provide for each other at death, having and raising children, etc.
The Loving Together Kit, by Attorneys Toni Ihara & Ralph Warner. This book contains information that can be applied Polyamorous relationships. Unmarried and loving together? This book helps protect you legally on matters of property, parenthood, inheritance and other concerns. Tearout agreements and sample forms.
Open Marriage, by Nena and George O'Neill. An earlier book from the 1970's. Check in your local used book store.
Stranger in a Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein. A classic science fiction novel which has inspired many Polyamorists. Preferably the version copyright 1961.Check in your local used book store.
Group Marriage, by Joan M. Constantine and Larry L. Constantine, 1973. The Book that launched the modern Polyamory Movement. Out of Print - Collector item, great reference if you can find a copy, check in your local graduate school library. Information is just as timely today as it was in the 70's.
