A review by yourbookishbff
Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs by Ina Park

funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is a fantastic, sex-positive exploration of the most common STIs, including herpes, HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and bacterial vaginosis (BV). I was initially reticent about the use of STDs in the book's title, and was relieved and encouraged when Park explains this choice right at the outset (an effort to use terminology that is more broadly understood/recognized) before transitioning to using STIs throughout the book. Park is a professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, Medical Consultant at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of STD Prevention, and Medical Director of the California Prevention Training Center, and brings a wealth of professional and personal experience to each chapter. Her tone is mostly lighthearted - though appropriately serious for particularly dark historical reflections, such as the early HIV years and the Tuskegee Experiment - and she is direct and sincere. I appreciated how destigmatizing and accessible this read was, and would recommend to anyone with an interest in learning more about sexual health.
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