Action: A Book about Sex

In Action: A Book about Sex, 25-year-old former Rookie editor Amy Rose Spiegel writes candidly about the dos and donts of sex in a way that won’t make you cringe. Unbelievable, I know. The part memoir, part self-help book includes personal anecdotes about Spiegel’s sex life and explicit how-to sections that use a refreshingly casual and contemporary tone — neither overly sexualized nor prudishly cautious. With relatable examples and pop culture references, Spiegel lays out a guide to 21st century sexual politics in a way that acknowledges how useless guides can often be. That’s to say, she’s open about the fact that there’s no right way to do it — and she’s matter-of-factly inclusive to various sexualities and gender identities while she’s at it. Spiegel will be at Books Inc. in Berkeley (1491 Shattuck Ave.) on Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m. to talk about the book and sign copies.