Jolman's approach to sexual purity is especially refreshing in a culture that seems to find no meaning in the act of sex or in sexual relationships. He frequently discusses and attempts to redefine the concept of beauty from a Christian perspective. If we are unable to experience beauty and awe in our lives, then we are unlikely to experience a fulfilling sex life with our spouse or view the opposite sex in a way that is appropriate and pure.

I thought this was a good synthesis of John Eldredge's view of masculinity and Sheila Wray Gregoire's view of healthy sexuality, two things which don't frequently overlap.

Awkward. Secretive. Hard to understand. These are ways that Christians, including myself might describe their conversations on important sexual topics. But author Sam Jolman is hoping to change the way we think about and interact with our sexuality in his new book "The Sex Talk You Never Got."

Written from the author's perspective as a therapist, Jolman unpacks some of the most sensitive sexual problems faced by Christians to provide us with the "sex talk" that we never received from our parents. Jolman is engaging and provides numerous examples to illustrate important concepts like beauty, awe, and purity. The book is written to be approachable rather than condemning, focusing on the root of sexual sins and how to receive forgiveness rather than simply providing a practical layer of advice that would serve to cover our problems.

Jolman's approach to sexual purity is especially refreshing in a culture that seems to find no meaning in the act of sex or in sexual relationships. He frequently discusses and attempts to redefine the concept of beauty from a Christian perspective. If we are unable to experience beauty and awe in our lives, then we are unlikely to experience a fulfilling sex life with our spouse or view the opposite sex in a way that is appropriate and pure.

While I do not have many criticisms of the book, the complex nature of the subject would be best served to have a richer diversity of sources, as a few authors tend to be quoted quite frequently as one gets deeper into the book. I also believe that profanity used by the author was unnecessary and distracting. In addition to these aforementioned academic criticisms, a more detailed section on how a struggling Christian could receive therapy or counseling might be helpful and relevant to laying the groundwork to sexual purity.

Reading this book provided me with a sense of hope that God truly could speak into my life and overcome areas of pain, guilt, and difficulty related to sexuality that have been hard for me to deal with. Approaching one's sexuality -- and life as a whole -- with a greater sense of awe and beauty is a worthwhile goal that brings us closer to God and enhances an authentic masculinity truly needed in men today.