Pure

In 'Pure,' Linda Kay Klein delves into the world of evangelical purity culture, which emerged in the 1990s within white American Evangelical Christian communities.

The book exposes the harmful messages and practices of this movement, such as the use of purity rings, pledges, and balls, which portrayed girls as potential sexual 'stumbling blocks' for boys and men.

Klein shares her own experiences and those of many others, highlighting the trauma, sexual anxiety, and PTSD-like symptoms that resulted from these teachings.

The book is a powerful critique of shame-based sexual ethics and their broader societal implications, including the suppression of women's rights and LGBTQIA people's rights.

It has been praised for its insightful combination of journalism, cultural commentary, and memoir.