Bonoboville

Celebrating five years of love, sex and conservation, The Bonobo Way: The Evolution of Peace Through Pleasure is the much needed breath of fresh air in a world set ablaze by the wildfires of misogyny, femicide, and war. Written by international sex expert, and Yale graduate, Dr. Susan Block, her book is a manifesto to female empowerment and inclusivity that is inspired by our other great ape cousins, the bonobos—also known as Pan Paniscus. According to Dr. Block, these endangered primates have a lot to teach humanity and what they can teach could save your sex life, if not the world.

At the book’s core, it is a call to action, a seductive moan from a lover’s ear to put down the toys of war, and instead, learn the ways of pleasure. From the jungle to the bedroom, this book is an arousing spotlight on sexuality as we know it and offers hope for the hapless, even if that hapless person is you. Block’s narrative is an (s)exploration into human nature that is complete with orgasmic anecdotes, tales of lust, love, trust, relationships goals, power exchanges and much more.

What is most appealing about this book is the inclusiveness of Dr. Block’s narratives, she provides practical relationship tools—for the monogamous, the bi-curious, the polyamorous, as well as full-fledged swingers and other non-monogamists—with a tone that is uplifting, affirming, and most of all, relatable. The steps she lays out are useful for solo and partnered relationships, covering matters of intimacy, tips for role-play, BDSM as well as sexual etiquette. The information is laid out as a twelve step guide dubbed, “How to Release Your Inner Bonobo,” which she discussed as the keynote speaker of the Ecosexuality Symposium at University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, and as a guest of Honor at Domcon Los Angeles. The step-work includes strategies for awakening the dormant inner bonobo that is in each of us.

The overarching appeal of The Bonobo Way is that the message intersects with the values of ecological advocates, politicians, animal rights activists, military veterans, porn stars, sex therapists, radio hosts, feminists, dommes, as well as people across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. On a textual level, the book is an exploration in eco-feminism, with Dr. Block’s own environment of expertise highlighted: Her Bonoboville Speakeasy in Downtown Los Angeles, complete with a broadcast bed, lights, cameras, and plenty of action—you may recognize it from LA Weekly’s coverage of Eros Day X + Orgy for Obama. 

Block’s bond to the bonobos is never far from the surface of the text; from a first introduction to the species while watching a PBS special in bed with her husband Max, to an inter-species meeting with Lana at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California (that’s them on the cover of the book!), Dr. Block’s advocacy to preserve the endangered bonobos who “empower the female” and “never kill each other” is reinforced as she cites their capacity for empathy, compassion, and sexual prowess. She reminds the reader that due to environmental encroachment, through poaching and war, this emotionally intelligent (EQ) species could face extinction. “Save the bonobos, Save the world” says she write in her 12th step.

As a piece of literature, The Bonobo Way is a multifaceted exploration into ecological advocacy and sexual self-help. The preservation of the bonobos and conservation of their bioregion is coupled with a call to action to repair our relationship with our “over-farmed and abused mother earth” (83). Block’s research and observations are comparable to that of Christopher Ryan Ph.D (Sex At Dawn / Tangentially Speaking) and Vanessa Woods (Bonobo Handshake), while the sexual anecdotes peppered throughout the text stimulate the senses without over-spicing the narrative for the reader. The fusion of both the ecological and the sexual is just one more reason why The Bonobo Way is an outstanding book.

Look, the book is not just an addition to your library or nightstand, it is an investment into your sex life. At 240 pages it is available in print and eBook– the latter includes full color photos. Other features of the book are Dr. Block’s notes, which vary from “hat tips” to writers and rock stars, to supplemental information on clinical and “scene” terms, as well as vital socio-historical references, all of which help the reader to better understand why humanity is in need of a new great ape paradigm. Lastly, for those inspired to take action, the appendix of The Bonobo Way provides a list of sites and organizations that are dedicated to helping the bonobos, and a list of zoos, reserves, sanctuaries where bonobos can be seen. #GoBonobos!