Discover the hidden culture, history, and science of bisexuality.
Dr Julia Shaw and Ben Hunte discuss her new book “Bi” at the British Library.
“well-researched, cogent, and compelling… Shaw is always an engaging guide”
The independent
A provocative and eye-opening book, which challenges us to think deeper about who we are and how we love. Dr. Julia Shaw dug deep and found a colorful and fascinating world that she is bringing out of the shadows. A Waterstones “best book” of 2022.
Buy the book
Spanish Edition coming soon at Malpaso y cia
BBC Bi podcast
Based on the book, and to celebrate pride month, listen to the four episodes of the BBC Sounds podcast “Bi People” featuring hosts Dr Julia Shaw and queer comedian Sofie Hagen. An episode drops every Thursday in June.
If you have recently read (or heard) Bi, you might want to fill out the Klein Grid for yourself by clicking the button below.
summary Of Book
In Bi: The Hidden Culture, History, and Science of Bisexuality, Shaw explores all that we know about the world’s largest sexual minority.
Shaw explores how people have defined and measured bisexuality, uncovers its surprisingly long and important history, and learns about some famous bisexual, pansexual, and plurisexual activists and scholars whom everyone should know.
She goes on safari, figuratively, to look at behaviorally bisexual animals, and to try to understand whether there is a bi gene. She examines why it still feels inappropriate in many places to talk about bisexuality, including at work, and the mental and physical consequences of staying in the big bi closet.
Dr Shaw also comes to understand the devastating reality of criminalization and human rights abuses that so many bisexual people around the world face, and how we can use our anger to fuel a bisexual revolution. Following this, she tries to figure out what a bisexual person looks like (and whether that’s even a thing), tries to find bi-visibility on screen, and explores the colorful world of bisexual communities.
In the last chapter she jumps into perhaps the sexiest topic in the book, threesomes, and looks at research into the fun and thorny topic of consensual non-monogamy.
The topics discussed in this book transcend bisexuality and teach us about the core constructs of sex, love, and relationships.
Book Reviews & Comments
“well-researched, cogent, and compelling…The book offers a serious discussion of important subjects…Shaw is always an engaging guide.” - book review in The Independent
“Provocative and lens-widening. I was blown away… Bi is undoubtedly a landmark book for the bisexual community” - Charlie Todd, author for Bi.org.
“The largely informal and always lively style of Shaw’s writing helps make her case. She is persuasive in her insistence that bisexuality is an important and overlooked dimension of the human story. An accessible, often insightful consideration of a misunderstood sexual identity.” - Kirkus
“Even as she delves into science and statistics… her writing remains colloquial and engaging. Forthright and empowering, this is a call for understanding and supporting bisexuality” - Booklist
“It's fabulous, brilliantly done, and so important. Julia Shaw has written the Bi bible. The hidden history and public face of millions of people. Fun, moving and skillful all at once” - Professor Andrew Reynolds, founder of Queer Politics at Princeton University.
“I LOVE it. Bi is a lively rollercoaster ride through all things bisexual. Full of fascinating facts, up-to-date stats, pop culture references and thoughtful analysis, the book covers everything from bi animals to political scandals, from exclusions in queer spaces to threesomes. Julia writes eloquently and engagingly, sharing moments from her own journey along the way. A must-have for every queer bookcase.” - Meg-John Barker, author of Queer: A Graphic History
“This book beautifully illustrates the common and quiet struggles that many bisexuals experience… Julia draws on her own experiences to deliver an honest look at the hidden culture of bisexuality in this extremely important book.” - She Reads, Best Nonfiction Books and Memoirs Coming in 2022
“Julia Shaw's book is an incredible resource for anyone wishing to learn more about bisexuality. Whether you're a beginner or expert, this book is certain to teach you something new. Shaw takes her readers on a tour through bisexual history, studies, and data in diverse fields and areas, all presented in an informative and accessible style. This is a fascinating read." - Shiri Eisner, author of “Bi: Notes for a bisexual revolution”.
"Endlessly illuminating, challenging and compelling. Bi is a vivid and vital read.” - Musa Okwonga, author and co-host of the Stadio Podcast
“This book is needed! Even after decades of activism, there remains a dramatic shortage of good writing about bisexual people. I’m grateful for this book” - Robyn Ochs, bisexual scholar and activist