Representation: All about bisexuality, and the author is bisexual

Written by a bisexual psychologist and bestselling author, Shaw studies the science of sexuality. This book looks at the science and culture of attraction beyond the binary, including the Kinsey scale, asylum seekers fighting for recognition of their identity, and so much more. There’s research, but there’s also some drawn from her personal experiences.

I enjoyed reading this, and far, far more than the one written by Savin-Williams. This one actually comes from a place of personal understanding, and looks at the complexities that come from cultural influences alongside science and research. It’s also very readable, for me it didn’t get too bogged down in technical terms. Is it the best book ever written? No, but it’s certainly one of the better ones that I’ve read on bisexuality.

This book was a fascinating look into the history of bisexuality. The author managed to get a very nice mix of informative but also entertaining in their writing style. I, personally, did skim on the chapter surrounding threesomes but mostly because that just wasn't for me.

I’m so glad this book was published! I’ve recommended it to friend as in my life already. I think it’s a great primer on the subject.

This is the type of book that can help people of any sexuality find themselves

Author Julia Shaw walks us through a history of bisexuality, including different ways that queerness has been tested amoung people over the years. Discovering how far back research into what feels like modern day sexuality terminology has existed was really mind opening for me and I've been bothering people about it for months since reading this book.

There are also interactive segments of the book that allow the reader a chance to reflect on their own thoughts and sexuality. There is one chart toward the beginning that really stuck out to me - you fill one side out with a scale for a few different topics from your past (ie, "having a relationship with, sexually preferring, or romantically pursing) vs your present, vs who you want to be.

Sexuality is fluid and everchanging, and this book is a friendly and refreshing reminder of that. I highly recommend regardless of your sexuality, it's a good experience into making you think about yourself, without feeling like you're "putting yourself in a box", so to speak.

Absolutely loved this book! Thank you for the opportunity to read it. As a bisexual, I learned a lot from this book and I would recommend it to any other bi person who wants to learn more about themselves.

Psychologist and bisexual advocate Julia Shaw digs into the history and science behind bisexuality. From the Kinsey scale to better scientific understanding, to the part bisexuals have played both as part and apart in queer history and today, this is an important book in understanding bisexuality.

The increase in good and personal literature written by LGBT+ individuals includes this overview of a highly controversial sexuality. Bisexuality is represented by the third letter in the most common queer acronym, but criticism remains inside and outside of the community. The inclusion of the history of bisexuality and analysis of the scientific research behind it creates a fresh look at the sexuality shared by many.

I really liked this one, it was researched well and organized in an intersting manner. As a fellow bi, I love that there is book just with bi rep. It makes me feel seen. I recommended it to a fellow bi group, and they will hopefully be reading as well.

I've read some bad books about bisexuality. I've read a lot of poorly researched, uninformed nonsense about my community that still got published because the author was a tenured professor somewhere. Bi by Julia Shaw was none of that.

This book isn't fully comprehensive, but it does its best to be an introduction to bisexual issues that will be useful to newly out bi people as well as family members and allies.

I consider myself fairly well-informed about bisexual issues, so I already knew most of the information in this book, but I did still learn some interesting things, especially in the history section. I also think that the bibliography at the end of each chapter is a really useful starting point for independent research on any of the topics that Shaw discusses.

This book is definitely coming from a white lens and aimed at an American and Western European audience, which means that there are some holes, but I think that Shaw did a better job at discussing intersectionality than the authors of most books like this do. I wish there were more discussion of the way that colonialism caused homophobia and transphobia in much of the world, but I did appreciate the critiques of homonationalism and of western approaches to immigration and people seeking asylum.

Overall, while it had its holes, I highly recommend this book as a great starting point for nonfiction about bisexuality.

Please note that it contains discussions of homophobia, biphobia, racism, misogyny, and various other bigotries and oppressions.

This was such an informative, educational, fantastic read. I was not familiar with Shaw or any of her previous work and I requested this book because as a bisexual woman I realized I did not know much of the history behind bisexuality. This book did not disappoint, Shaw went into a deep dive into the history, the science, and even the politics of bisexuality. A Great read.

4.5

Julia Shaw is a criminal psychologist, who is herself bisexual. In this self-proclaimed passion project, she wove together studies, statistics, and anecdotes both personal and historical to create what is in essence a Bisexual 101 book.

She talks about the etymology of bisexual (vs related terms such as pansexual or omnisexual), the Kinsey Scale and the Klein Grid and goes into use of the term in history and in nature, media portrayal, laws and censorship, using queer identities to seek asylum, and so much more, all with the recurring theme of bi erasure. She doesn't shy away from discussion about intersectionality either, noting for example that in media while there is an increase in bisexual characters they are predominantly women and even more predominantly white.

She also goes into the stigma/stereotype that "bi people being more likely to cheat". I personally have mixed feelings on how she approached that as she veered pretty far into ethical/consensual non monogamy is fine but cheating isn't. While I agree with the majority of what she said, "straight people cheat too" and "lots of people have and/or fantasize about threesomes" didn't seem conducive to fighting against that stigma.

Overall, I think this is written in a very accessible manner and while most of the information wasn't new or groundbreaking for me, I would definitely recommend this as a starting point for those who want to learn more.

As a bisexual -well pansexual-, woman, I thought this book very interesting.
I sure will add this book to my physical bookshelf. I think it is a must have book for any queer or ally.

This was fantastic!

<I>Bi</I> really tears down the heteronormative in a way that is refreshing and compassionate. Shaw brings light to a sexual orientation that is either invisible or fetishized, explaining the science behind bisexuality in nature, the definition of bisexuality and pansexuality, illustrates the history of bisexuality, and truly destroys the binary. She celebrates the spectrum and it is both enlightening and validating.

If you are someone who is queer, questioning, or simply an ally, this is really an important read.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pasted from my blog - link included below

Review - Bi by Julia Shaw
Title: Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality


Author: Julia Shaw


Rating: 4.5 stars / 5 stars


*This post contains affiliate links. If you make purchases after using these links, I will earn a percentage of your purchase without any further cost to you.


Favorite Quote: “It is only when we identify, understand, and acknowledge the role of bisexuality that we can really begin to understand the beautiful complexity of human sexuality across time.” Shaw, Julia. Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality. E-book ed., Abrams Press, 2022.


Review: Thank you to the publisher, Abrams Press, and the NetGalley platform for the free e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review of this book.


This book - I’m a little late writing my review of this book, simply because I’ve needed time to process my thoughts and emotions. This book is good. I say that as someone interested in the history of sexuality and the science of sexuality, and whose own identity is tied up in how sexuality is defined (just as the author’s is).


So, let’s talk about what’s working best. The author does an incredible job weaving a personal narrative into a book that largely is based in science, history, and culture. For instance, in one chapter, the author discusses, in-depth, the history and science behind the Kinsey Scale and Klein Grid, provides statistics about contemporary sexuality self-identification, before shifting the narrative to the reader - “I urge you to allow yourself to continue to ask questions about your sexuality, and to embrace those who fall within the sexual middle ground.” Shaw, Julia. Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality. E-book ed., Abrams Press, 2022.


Similarly, Shaw also often turns the narrative on herself and her own identity, history, and experiences. The second chapter, aptly entitled “Our History” opens with the author’s own first pride after making the statement, “I bet most people remember their first Pride.” Shaw, Julia. Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality. E-book ed., Abrams Press, 2022. This chapter quickly (and smoothly and effectively) shifts to how queerness is depicted historically and what a “history of sexuality” is and might look like.


Chapters throughout the book do this just as effectively - weaving a narrative of science, history, and memoir into a book that explores what it means to be bisexual.


Overall, my only criticism of this book was that there were a few typos (which may be fixed by the final printing) and a few organizational issues.


About that Quote: This quote effectively and succinctly sums up the primary theme of the book - that exploring human sexuality outside a rigid binary is the best, and truly the only, way to fully explore the human experience as it encompasses sexuality in all its layers.


Have you read Bi? Share your thoughts below!

This was a very interesting exploration of the history of bisexuality! I usually have to be in the mood to read nonfiction, but I gobbled this up really quickly. The book was extremely well research and the writing was very digestible and easy to understand. I always love a good queer nonfiction book. I identify as biromantic so a lot of this book felt very personal to me. Excellent!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bi by Julia Shaw is a great 101-style book that pulls together a lot of disparate threads.

It consolidates a lot of different ideas so you don't have to read 20 different articles.

This book reminds me a lot of the book "The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality."

Shaw writes in a very accessible way--even though she is often referencing complex academic ideas.

It's the kind of book that I wished existed when I was coming to terms with being Bi.

Thank you so much to ABRAMS for the opportunity to read a free e-copy of Bi by Julia Shaw in exchange for my honest review.

In my opinion, Shaw largely accomplishes what she sets out to do. You can tell that this book was a passion project for her, and it is incredibly well-researched. I did feel that some of the organization was a little confusing in ways that distracted from some important points that she was making. However, she covers a LOT of ground, from queer history to pop culture to asylum. All in all, this book made me feel seen as a semi-out bi/queer person, and it made me want to embark on my own research and analysis of bi history and the current state of bisexuality in culture.

Bi was very insightful and informative, and was presented in such an engaging and easy format. I have a great appreciation for the perspectives and different angles that Shaw provides in Bi. It proved that the journey to understand one's sexuality is not straight (lol) or linear. Was also exciting to see that she does not shy away from the heavier topics and misconceptions that are typically associated with bisexual folks. The book overall was extremely validating to experience. I hope all folks, queer or not, get the opportunity to read Bi.

(5.0*)

“Bisexuality is a beautiful thing. It should be showcased as one.”

Bi by Julia Shaw is a great piece that I truly would recommend to anyone (maybe not everyone), but that’s what has me thinking. Because, the people you or I typically would not see picking up this book and wanting to educate themselves, are the ones I feel like who NEED to read something like this to truly understand bisexuality better.

Myself, first coming out as bisexual in 2012, and now pansexual in 2019, really believes this book is valuable. It tackles some of the most difficult topics that bisexual people have gone through, are currently going through, and will continue to go through if we don’t stand together and fight. This is done very accurately, and with tons of knowledgeable detail.

Of course, some of the topics talked upon and visited within this book can truly be hard to read, but as sad as it is, that is the reality of it all. Like Julia states, “to sugarcoat these realities would be to do them a disservice and to remove them from their potential to help ignite revolutionary forces within us.” So, some topics are harder than others.

Most of the topics covered by Shaw in this book such as oppression, erasure, and violence, are to show how bisexuality has been excluded from discussions in history, culture, or science in order to push us into the shadows, but we’re still here as a group and we will continue to fight.

Being under the bisexual umbrella, and identifying as pansexual as a non-binary individual, this book truly helped me see myself and my experiences in a different light. A different perspective. I came to the realization that I have been fighting for who I want to be and who I want to love for 10 years already now and this is just the beginning, some people of the LGBTQIA have been experiencing these hardships for 50 years+.

Overall, I think Julia Shaw’s extensive research and wealth of knowledge on this topic is truly impressive. The time and effort it took for her to find all of this information, as well as, display it in her own writing is very beautiful. Despite some of the hardships talked about, it really is beautifully written and shows how passionate she (as a bisexual woman herself) is for this community and for her own self.
There wasn’t a book about bisexuality out there, so she did the damn thing! Thank you babe! It was truly needed!

Thank you NetGalley and Abrams Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the kind of book I struggle to rate, because as a work of nonfiction that is purely meant to inform, I want to assess it on a technical level and remove any emotional bias here. This is clearly a passion project of the author, who is a criminal psychologist by trade. A deep dive into the history of bisexuality and discrimination this demographic of individuals faces is quite obviously a major pivot from her typical works. And Julia Shaw has clearly done the research, and has the numbers - but I’m not totally sure the narrative around these numbers was as effective as it could have been. She throws a lot of statistics around without expanding on these in a way that felt totally productive to the conversation I felt like she was trying to start.

The most effective use of this was in the chapter focusing on the specific brand of disregard bisexuals face when attempting to immigrate to a nation that does not endanger them based on their sexual identity. I never once considered this would be would more difficult for bisexual individuals on the basis of falsely assuming they are claiming to be LGBT to necessitate the successful immigration. These brief, insightful moments are striking when Shaw highlights the and I wish more of the book shared this kind of information.

Instead, there’s a lot of focus on how bisexuals are either oversexualized by popular media or excluded from the LGBT community - two problems that I don’t think are insignificant but pale in comparison to the life-threatening discrimination that was previously discussed. The chapter on immigration in my mind should have been the finisher, and take prevalence on the full chapter dedicated to the value of threesomes. It’s hard to sell a cohesive narrative when we’re jumping back and forth between such disparate aspects of bisexuality.

I’ll settle on a 3.5 rating for this one, rounded up, on the basis of some great factoids that just could have been expanded on a little further. I do like to see bisexuality or pansexuality explored more in this type of nonfiction, and hope the highlights of this work eventually see a greater focus in future books in this space.

Thank you to the publisher Abrams Press for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.