Community Through Promiscuity

Dean Spade's "Love in a F*cked Up World" offers a unique perspective on navigating relationships within the context of social injustice and systemic oppression. The book explores the challenges of building and maintaining relationships while engaging in activism and social change work. Spade emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness in fostering healthy relationships. The book provides practical tools and strategies for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and building resilient communities. "Love in a F*cked Up World" ultimately offers a hopeful vision of connection and solidarity in the face of adversity.

Polysecure by Jessica Fern is a comprehensive guide that integrates attachment theory with consensual nonmonogamy. Fern, a polyamorous psychotherapist, introduces a nested model of attachment and trauma, explaining how emotional experiences influence relationships. The book is divided into three parts: the first part explains attachment theory, the second part applies this theory to polyamorous relationships, and the third part offers practical strategies (using the HEARTS model) to foster secure attachments. Fern emphasizes that secure attachment is not limited to monogamous relationships and can be learned and developed in adulthood, regardless of one's childhood experiences.

Peter Kropotkin's Mutual Aid explores the role of cooperation in evolution and society, challenging the prevailing notion of a solely competitive struggle for survival. Kropotkin argues that mutual aid, or cooperation, is a fundamental aspect of life, evident across various species and human societies. He uses numerous examples from natural history and human societies to illustrate how cooperation enhances survival and adaptation. The book's central thesis is that cooperation is not merely a secondary phenomenon but a primary driving force in evolution and social development. Kropotkin's work has had a lasting impact on anarchist thought and continues to inspire contemporary discussions on cooperation, social organization, and the potential for a more just and equitable society.