Turned On: A Creative’s Guide to Awakening Presence, Pleasure, and Possibility

by Brie Stoner

The world is imbued with a life force, a thrumming relational energy of creativity. That life force is Eros, and connecting with the erotic opens up a world full of possibility, sensuality, and creativity.

For far too long we have relegated the erotic to the bedroom, when in reality it is a fundamental energy that helps us connect more deeply with ourselves, each other, the earth, and the creative potential within us. We also live in a world that equates our productivity with our worth, leaving us feeling overtaxed, exhausted, burned out, and completely disconnected from ourselves and others. In Turned On, artist and musician Brie Stoner redefines the erotic, stating that it is more than just human intimacy; it can be the antidote to feeling anxious, disconnected, and uninspired. By reframing Eros as the energy of life and creativity itself, Stoner invites us to reawaken presence, playfulness, and possibility as the gateways to transformation.

Just as physical relationships are contingent upon the right context, good communication, and embodied presence, Stoner offers a similar contextual shift and the tools needed for us to access creativity through the body and in the present moment. Fittingly, she explores how the erotic has been minimized and misunderstood in modern life. She then offers practical applications of how an erotically enlivened life is a creatively fulfilling one, in which our relationships, parenting, work, and creativity flourish. For those of us who yearn for life to be more inspired, adventurous, and sensual, Turned On is our guide to relighting the spark within us.

Genres: Nonfiction

188 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Araya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can appreciate the efforts that went into this book but I felt like nothing really stuck with me and I didn’t really have anything to take away from this book, atleast for myself that’s just my opinion. This book was more of a personal biography of the authors life and experiences, but I think that the authors writing was good, I just got loss sometimes while reading. Anyways it was still a pretty average read for me so 3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, and publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Heather Daughrity · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed but overall positive feelings on this one. She wanders a bit and certain passages are far longer than they need to be, but the message is good just the same, and at times I found myself actually being inspired to put the book down and go MOVE and DO and CREATE, so that has to count for something.

[A.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stirred my spirit and set my creative desire ablaze. I liked how passionate the author was about creativity and art. Her enthusiasm rubbed off on me and got me excited to create more, as well as expand my understanding of the energetic force known as eros and creativity.