I have decided to publish only the names of selected books which seem
to me to be the best for teachers, parents, and young people. In making
the selection, I have considered several hundred books which bear on
the sex problems in an educational way, and have decided to reject the
majority of them. While there might be some value in a long list with
critical notes on books that I cannot recommend, it would be a worse
than thankless task to compile such an annotated bibliography; for the
compiler would surely add to his collection of enemies many authors
whose books deserve severe criticism. The sudden and sensational
publicity concerning matters of sex and the possibility of commercial
exploitation has produced an avalanche of sex books, some good, many
bad, and the majority ordinary. Evidently, most of the authors,
including numerous physicians, have written to order and without
special preparation.
The books of the following lists are not all deserving of unqualified
recommendation. In fact, some of them are included because they are the
least objectionable of their much-needed kind, and others because they
have some good grains that the reader will find worth picking from a
mass of non-nutritious but, fortunately, non-poisonous chaff.
I have not included many books which I recognize as important for
readers thoroughly trained in science, but which are dangerous for the
average reader of literature on sex.
It is possible that I may have overlooked some very good books that I
have not intended to ignore; and I shall be glad to have my attention
called to books which deserve recognition.
Special bibliographies have been published in Wile's "Sex-Education,"
March's "Towards Racial Health," Geddes and Thomson's "Sex," and
Foster's "Social Emergency."
Publishers.--In most cases the first part of the names of well-known
publishers has been given. Unless otherwise mentioned, they have
offices in New York City. In addition, the following abbreviations have
been used:
A.M.A. = American Medical Association, Chicago.
A.S.H.A. = American Social Hygiene Association, 105 West 40th St., New
York City.
S.S.M.P. = Society of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis, 105 West 40th
Street, New York City.
Association Press = press of the National Board of the Y.M.C.A., New
York City.