Tina Horn's "Why Are People Into That" is an approachable and honest reflection on different desires. I appreciated how the author incorporated personal experience as well as psychological information while trying to dispel shame and judgement. I didn't read all of the chapters because I found some of the topics to be more than I wanted to read about, but I appreciated what I did read. Recommended for those who want to understand more about these topics. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book that looks at what excites and delights some people, the history and cultural changes that make it easier, or more accepting to try new things, and the importance of being true to who we are, no matter how others try to shame.

Space to some is the final frontier, others talk about the seas being last great mysteries left for humans to explore. To me, sex is the great undiscovered county. There is so much bad information, so much fear, so much stigma attached to an act that can be about procreation, recreation, and a sign of what one really is. With all the misery we find ourselves in, in life, politics, jobs we hate, imagine finding something that makes us feel good. Connected for the first time. Other might call what something finds exciting wrong, and that shame could stop a person from even thinking about it. However for a person to realize others think, feel and even more practice what was only a thought, that is the true gift of exploration. Discovery. And maybe even an acceptance, from oneself, and from others. That to me is the final frontier. Why Are People Into That?: A Cultural Investigation of Kink by podcaster, educator and sex worker Tina Horn is a look at a world many have only seen portrayed in movies, a world many might want to be a part of.

There are worlds out there that many of us will never know, experience, or even contemplate exist. Tina Horn, has spent much of her life exploring these worlds, learning much, changing for the better, and educating people on what she has discovered. The book begins with a meeting of old loves from high school, and the realization that people really fear that which they don't understand, or in some cases shame what they don't understand. Horn discusses life as a sex worker, and what that has taught her, as she involved herself in all sides of different scenes. This is a very sex positive book, with safety stressed, and making sure that one understands the limits one is willing to do, or have done. From there the book is broken into different chapters, with Horn sharing stories from people in the scenes, her own reflections of being there, and research an university studies when needed. The are the usual suspects, some really unusual ones, and I few I knew only from legend.

A book that peels back the curtain in many ways, getting past the shame, the naughtiness, and the public stance on some different extremes in sex. Shame is the biggest problem Horn shares, in that people are so used to admitting to pleasure that if one gains pleasure from something that seems odd to people, people react like humans do. Not well. Humans don't do acceptance well, and any nail that stands out has to be battered back into place, and the reasons why it was sticking out ignored. This might not be the book for everyone. And here I am using shame, but there are some extremes that people might feel uncomfortable with. So flip the pages until I feels safer. This is a good book, with a lot of positive stories, told by a person who cares about people, and even better is comfortable with the person she is. That is rare.

Recommended for people trying to figure out who or what they are. There is a whole world out there, some might be accepting and loving, some might be jerks. Life is too short to be miserable, and life is too short to not let a part of you, be the best part of you.

I'm the type of person who wants to know why people tick, and I was really interested in discovering why people have the kinks that they do. Everyone is different, and has their thing they're into, and sometimes it's wildly different than someone else. I enjoyed getting to learn about the history of certain kinks, such as feet, spanking, orgies, etc. However, I draw the line at the mention of - and an entire chapter dedicated to - cannibalism. That's NOT a kink. In fact, it's quite the opposite. It's just wrong and illegal and a long list of other reasons why this should NOT have been included in a book that's not only about exploring the history of kinks, but trying to garner acceptance. In what world would we be condoning or accepting cannibalism? I'm not sure how this author got away with a whole chapter on cannibalism and how it is a perfectly normal and acceptable kink, but it's in there. I wanted to vomit, reading her try to justify this horrid act, and she used Armie Hammer and his disgusting deeds to further prove her point. Newsflash... he hurt people with his "cannibalism kink" and this is so not okay and nor is her writing about it and trying to pass it off as something lots of people are into for funsies. Absolutely NOT. Also, her only "credentials" are that she herself was/is a sex worker and she hosts a podcast talking about kinks. She really has NO authority to be speaking on kinks, their history, or anything else in this realm.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tina Horn, and Hachette Books for an eARC of this book.

“You don’t owe anyone an explanation of why you’re into that”

This book dives into the world of kinks. It discusses various kinks from spanking, fisting, CNC to orgies. It explores people’s different tastes in a non judgmental way.

The author being a sex worker definitely gives a different perspective into the world of kinks. This is an insider’s view. Someone who has experienced so many different scenarios and situations in the BDSM/sex world.

I actually learned about some kinks I have never heard of. I also got more insight into kinks that I have heard of but didn’t know much about. Then I felt less embarrassed of ashamed of some of the kinks I do have or want to try. It’s completely non judgmental, a safe space and educational.

Also, I love how sex positive it is. Especially sex work. Because “sex work is REAL work”. There was still an air of feminism without straying away from the fact that women can also enjoy sex and all the kinky things without losing their feminist side.

My one and only “negative” (I wouldn’t even call it that) feedback is that I felt some parts were slightly redundant. Some things were repeated throughout the chapter that I didn’t think needed to be.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed reading this. I have a whole new insight and outlook into the world of sex, BDSM, kinks, etc.
The author has opened my eyes and allowed me to feel less ashamed of trying new things and talking to my partner about them.

I really liked this book. I love reading nonfiction books about things I don't know a lot about so I can learn about different things and I think this book was a great way to learn because the information was provided in a way that was easy to follow and understand but also was informative.

I’ve always been fascinated by kink and its history, and this book is a great dive into that. Written well and answering all my questions.

Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like, an exploration of why people are attracted to specific erotic tastes, from spanking to orgies. No judgment here. Really, none. The author is a sex worker and has seen/done nearly everything.

The book started as a podcast that is, sadly, on hiatus after advertisers pulled out in the wake of COVID and while the book is interesting, it can only cover a few topics, while a podcast, well, sky’s the limit, and one could have experts for each. I’m guessing it was really interesting. And sometimes the book got a little dry. Do you see what I did there?

Overall, a general theme is that people like what they are told or think is taboo, or they like things when there is some obstacle in the way of having them. And that’s very general, but there’s seems to be a bit of those things in each of the topics covered here. I was just disappointed there was nothing on Furries. What’s the deal with Furries? If you think you might like this book you probably will find you liked it OK.