Book Club Meeting Guide

Introductions- pronouns, land acknowledgement, and name your favorite animal (and why) in one sentence!

Group Agreements are up to each group to decide for themselves, but as this is a book about sex, and the conversation might touch on our own relationships to sexuality, gender, and identity, I suggest getting clear on confidentiality at the top, and establishing early what kind of feedback members do or don't want to receive from each other at group level. Sharing space, listening, courageously changing our minds, and managing repair are all helpful things to consider when establishing group norms before you begin talking about SEX!

Reading Guide

These suggested questions can be applied to each section and/or can be used in one conversation about the book overall. Try to make sure every member has a chance to respond to the question(s) you select.

• Do you have a new animal hero? Which animal sex lives made you feel seen?

• What insights about animal sex challenge your thinking? What fact repelled you? Why do you think that is?

• What can animal sex teach us?

• What did you learn about the process of how science gets made?

• How do you think our norms and assumptions do or do not shape how we see animals?

• As you learned about how theorists and scientists study animal sex, what ideas, language and stories do you want to unlearn, or embrace?

• When is it useful to relate to animals in order to center humans less in planetary relationship, and when is it risky to "naturalize" behaviors in a "culture wars" context?

• How do you want to be of use to animal thriving? Are there examples of people or groups advocating for animals that excite you? Consider conserving kink lords!