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The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe: Quips, Tips, and Lists for Those Who Go Both Ways
Double your chances for a date this weekend with the ultimate handbook. Organized by experience level, this no-holds-barred, irreverent guide is for anyone—bisexual, queer, pansexual, or none of the above—who wants the best of both worlds. Increase your Bi-Q now!
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2006
37 people are currently reading
504 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 31, 2011
While I thought this book was pretty funny, it contains a lot of remarks that, while written sarcastically to DISprove stereotypes about Bisexuals, might very well seem serious to a newbie or someone just coming out...or hell, could be easily misquoted by your average Christian Right-wing Republican. Contains very little real information, and should only be read as a humorous take on bisexuality.
June 21, 2007
One line from this book, ‘Not many folks leave their houses on a Friday night thinking, “I hope I meet a nice bisexual tonight.”’ - sums up bisexuality for those of us who are. I do have a quibble with the title – it’s actually The Bisexual’s Guide to the USA. It’s relentlessly focused on one geographic area and one cultural reality. That apart, you will not find a better feel-good, laugh-aloud, tick-box introduction to the weird, wonderful and often almost inexplicable world of those who swing both ways.
The best sections for this reader were the ‘bi-slogans’ and the quizzes. I was somewhat adrift with some of the BIcons, which is where the American focus of the book left me a bit cold (like who IS Marin Hinkle?), but for those unsure of their sexuality the list of bi potential role models is huge, and there’s definitely someone for everyone (Marin Hinkle, possibly?). I would have liked more identification of the difficulties that arise out of bisexuality in relation to ethnic and religious issues – being bi is tough enough, but being female, bi and black can be a lot tougher, so my partner tells me - and I think the authors missed a trick in failing to categorise that aspect of ‘fluid’ sexuality, given that they managed to find a category for almost everything else.
The book made me laugh, and that’s quite a feat in a world where being bi often means ‘second-class citizen’.
The best sections for this reader were the ‘bi-slogans’ and the quizzes. I was somewhat adrift with some of the BIcons, which is where the American focus of the book left me a bit cold (like who IS Marin Hinkle?), but for those unsure of their sexuality the list of bi potential role models is huge, and there’s definitely someone for everyone (Marin Hinkle, possibly?). I would have liked more identification of the difficulties that arise out of bisexuality in relation to ethnic and religious issues – being bi is tough enough, but being female, bi and black can be a lot tougher, so my partner tells me - and I think the authors missed a trick in failing to categorise that aspect of ‘fluid’ sexuality, given that they managed to find a category for almost everything else.
The book made me laugh, and that’s quite a feat in a world where being bi often means ‘second-class citizen’.
January 12, 2019
This book was trite, boring and relied heavily on stereotypes (even as it was telling you not to do the same). Some of the language they used was rather dismissive towards others; for example, calling monosexuals "boring" and claiming that "other terms" for bisexuality include 'polyamory', 'label-free', 'fluid', 'fence-sitter', 'experimenting', 'half-dyke', 'omnisexual', 'pansexual', or the cringeworthy 'trisexual' - as in, "I'll try anything once". The only good parts were the lists of movies - though this may change after I actually check them out - and some of the quotes. Very disappointed in this book; it wasn't even worth the time it took to read, let alone the title of 'Bisexual's Guide to the Universe'.
March 23, 2021
First off the most important thing to make clear is that while this is a book on bisexuality this is not a book for someone who is just beginning their journey of defining their sexual orientation. This is a fun book filled with both tips and facts but also a great deal of sarcasm and satire. It is definitely a read for someone more secure in understanding how widely misunderstood Bisexuality is, and can take a joke. There are some 'jokes' included that could be offensive so it is important for those reading to know that most of the book is written in a more sarcastic tone.
October 6, 2008
I try to read whatever bisexual books I can get my hands on, as they are few and far between. This particular book is mildly entertaining, but reads like a book-length magazine article. In the name of humor, old stereotypes are replaced with new, annoying ones. Not a bad read if you're waiting in line somewhere.
February 24, 2017
Ugh. Ok, I made it about a third of the way in, but I'm giving up on this book. I really wanted to like it! It's called "The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe" for goodness' sake! It SOUNDS awesome! But it's not. Some of the funny lists and quizzes were mildly entertaining, but obviously all the pop culture references were really outdated since this was written like 10 years ago now. That I could forgive, but this book is also really quite problematic in a lot of ways.
From the very beginning the authors are really inconsistent in the ways in which they talk about bisexuality and polyamory. I believe they did mention somewhere that not all bisexuals are polyamorous, but they also include several polyamorous desires and activities (that have nothing whatsoever to do with being bisexual) in their "You're Probably a Bisexual If..." checklist on page 5. They also rip on lesbians quite a bit, mostly joking bitterly about how lesbians hate on bi women and dump their partners for being bi. Now, I know there are lesbians who act like this, but a heck of a lot of us bi women are happily dating wonderful lesbian women who have no issues with our differing sexualities. I guess I just don't see a point in trying to create even more of a divide in what is supposed to be a united community. Oh, and the authors also don't think that pansexuality is a real thing. Unfortunately, all of this was just the tip of the iceberg.
What really started to bother me was the way the authors referred to "professional bisexuals," people who dedicate themselves and their professional lives to fighting for bisexual recognition and acceptance. Here's a quote about how they describe these activists: "Because professional bisexuals have busted their asses to create the floundering, sputtering machine we call the bisexual movement, they are also the most touchy members of the practically invisible bisexual community. They will insist that Bisexual be capitalized, and that there isn't just male or female but many genders. Also look for a button, sticker, or piece of clothing with pink, blue, and purple involved" (p. 57). Um, first of all, I KNOW this was written 10 years ago. I know. But really? There ARE more than two genders. Gender is a spectrum. And seriously, this book claims the title of "The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe" and this is their only reference to the BISEXUAL PRIDE FLAG? The authors then go on to refer to these so-called professional bisexuals getting "their panties in a twist" over the media's use of bisexual stereotypes and state that "most professional bisexuals lose their cool way too much and have forgotten how to play off the positive stereotypes -mainly, that the mainstream perceives bisexuality as incredibly hip, adventurous, and interesting (not to mention hot)" (p. 58). It's like the authors don't know how harmful these so-called "positive" stereotypes can be. When I personally came out, I was accused of just wanting to seem "cool." Uh, no, not really. I just like women as well as men. I also don't think that most bisexuals necessarily love the idea that people think it's really hot that they're bisexual. Maybe I'm wrong. Is being fetishized due to one's sexuality really a turn-on for a lot of people?
The thing that finally made me put the book down was the chapter titled "Support Groups and Why They Suck." The authors basically make the argument that sexuality-based support groups are fairly pointless because sexuality isn't a big enough part of a person's identity for it to mean that group members really have anything in common with one another. Well, I kind of disagree with that, but that's their point of view and it's fine. However, they go on to state, and I quote, "Many people attend bi support groups and support groups in general because their therapists recommend they do so in order to gain a better understanding of their sexuality. The unfortunate by-product: a number of socially dysfunctional head cases end up in these groups, and there's no screening process" (p.59-60). Yeah, referring to people who attend therapy and seek a better understanding of their sexuality as "dysfunctional head cases" is my limit. Going to therapy is a healthy thing for any person to do, and people seeking help with their mental health should not be stigmatized. Period.
Writing this review has made me frustrated all over again, and I'm debating switching my 2 star rating to 1 star. If I could give this book a 1.5 I would. Even though I found many things about this book problematic and offensive, I know a lot of that has to do with societal changes that have taken place since this book was originally written and published. As I said before, some of the quizzes and lists were lighthearted and amusing, and it is nice just to find a book with the term "bisexual" in the title. Overall, I'd recommend today's newbie bisexuals to pick up "Ask a Queer Chick" by Lindsay King-Miller instead. Lindsay identifies as bisexual, and while the book is written for all queer female-identifying persons, it is very bi friendly and actually dedicates a whole chapter specifically to bisexuality.
From the very beginning the authors are really inconsistent in the ways in which they talk about bisexuality and polyamory. I believe they did mention somewhere that not all bisexuals are polyamorous, but they also include several polyamorous desires and activities (that have nothing whatsoever to do with being bisexual) in their "You're Probably a Bisexual If..." checklist on page 5. They also rip on lesbians quite a bit, mostly joking bitterly about how lesbians hate on bi women and dump their partners for being bi. Now, I know there are lesbians who act like this, but a heck of a lot of us bi women are happily dating wonderful lesbian women who have no issues with our differing sexualities. I guess I just don't see a point in trying to create even more of a divide in what is supposed to be a united community. Oh, and the authors also don't think that pansexuality is a real thing. Unfortunately, all of this was just the tip of the iceberg.
What really started to bother me was the way the authors referred to "professional bisexuals," people who dedicate themselves and their professional lives to fighting for bisexual recognition and acceptance. Here's a quote about how they describe these activists: "Because professional bisexuals have busted their asses to create the floundering, sputtering machine we call the bisexual movement, they are also the most touchy members of the practically invisible bisexual community. They will insist that Bisexual be capitalized, and that there isn't just male or female but many genders. Also look for a button, sticker, or piece of clothing with pink, blue, and purple involved" (p. 57). Um, first of all, I KNOW this was written 10 years ago. I know. But really? There ARE more than two genders. Gender is a spectrum. And seriously, this book claims the title of "The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe" and this is their only reference to the BISEXUAL PRIDE FLAG? The authors then go on to refer to these so-called professional bisexuals getting "their panties in a twist" over the media's use of bisexual stereotypes and state that "most professional bisexuals lose their cool way too much and have forgotten how to play off the positive stereotypes -mainly, that the mainstream perceives bisexuality as incredibly hip, adventurous, and interesting (not to mention hot)" (p. 58). It's like the authors don't know how harmful these so-called "positive" stereotypes can be. When I personally came out, I was accused of just wanting to seem "cool." Uh, no, not really. I just like women as well as men. I also don't think that most bisexuals necessarily love the idea that people think it's really hot that they're bisexual. Maybe I'm wrong. Is being fetishized due to one's sexuality really a turn-on for a lot of people?
The thing that finally made me put the book down was the chapter titled "Support Groups and Why They Suck." The authors basically make the argument that sexuality-based support groups are fairly pointless because sexuality isn't a big enough part of a person's identity for it to mean that group members really have anything in common with one another. Well, I kind of disagree with that, but that's their point of view and it's fine. However, they go on to state, and I quote, "Many people attend bi support groups and support groups in general because their therapists recommend they do so in order to gain a better understanding of their sexuality. The unfortunate by-product: a number of socially dysfunctional head cases end up in these groups, and there's no screening process" (p.59-60). Yeah, referring to people who attend therapy and seek a better understanding of their sexuality as "dysfunctional head cases" is my limit. Going to therapy is a healthy thing for any person to do, and people seeking help with their mental health should not be stigmatized. Period.
Writing this review has made me frustrated all over again, and I'm debating switching my 2 star rating to 1 star. If I could give this book a 1.5 I would. Even though I found many things about this book problematic and offensive, I know a lot of that has to do with societal changes that have taken place since this book was originally written and published. As I said before, some of the quizzes and lists were lighthearted and amusing, and it is nice just to find a book with the term "bisexual" in the title. Overall, I'd recommend today's newbie bisexuals to pick up "Ask a Queer Chick" by Lindsay King-Miller instead. Lindsay identifies as bisexual, and while the book is written for all queer female-identifying persons, it is very bi friendly and actually dedicates a whole chapter specifically to bisexuality.
April 19, 2020
A real hodge-podge of a book - it bills itself as a guide for Bisexuals, but anyone following this guide would soon get lost down an irrelevant cultural alleyway... It never pretends to be a serious resource, which is in its favour, and some of the stats, facts and arguments are interesting and relevant to someone exploring Bi life. But a lot of it is just filler (whole chapters of pop-cultural analysis of which TV characters are Bi or of supposed interest to Bi people ?!) and poorly edited. While being incredibly supportive of people who identify as Bi it tends to overreach, proselytizing for the lifestyle and quite denigratory of straight culture - which, given that the vast majority of people who could identify as Bi (if they ever cared to examine themselves) currently identify as straight, seems like a bad idea. Worth a read if only because there is so little written from & for a Bi perspective - but a snack rather than a whole meal.
December 31, 2021
This was an exciting book. However, I felt like the sarcasm was a bit much. Like, how the hell is random food quizzes useful. In fact, there are a lot of really harmful ideas presented. I know it's in jest, but I don't find it funny. In fact, there were so many harmful ideas that I just read and felt so uncomfortable with it.
July 4, 2024
Many, many other reviews have the shape of this book down: very glib, very outdated, very full of terrible advice. This is a.....strange one, and I can't see how it would be helpful to anybody. 1 star here is for the good laugh I got from mentions of "up-t0-date" social media like MySpace and Friendster.
August 14, 2024
Leider bereits ziemlich outdated und trifft an den als witzig gemeinten Stellen nicht meinen Humor.
February 5, 2020
Did not finish! Stopped reading at 45% which is near the end of the Intermediate sections.
This book has a good sense of humor, but doesn’t contain much real information and seems rather outdated to me. I just got bored of reading it and want to get back to my usual fantasy and thriller novels.
I keep on trying to find non-fiction I enjoy, but it’s so hard!
This book has a good sense of humor, but doesn’t contain much real information and seems rather outdated to me. I just got bored of reading it and want to get back to my usual fantasy and thriller novels.
I keep on trying to find non-fiction I enjoy, but it’s so hard!
September 7, 2011
Didn't really find this book that funny, and if it wasn't personally relevant, I think I would've put it down because I honestly flipped through most of it. There isn't much useful information here. The book quotes a lot of stats and pop culture facts in huge chunks of text, which I find to be really lazy and uninteresting writing. The most positive I can say is that when you read it, it feels like you're sitting in a bar with the two authors while they reassure you that bisexuality exists and that it's okay to be this way. I guess that's good if you're just dealing with recognizing this about yourself, but not much help if you're well immersed in that aspect of yourself.
It also says some contradicting things like there is no identifier for bi people, like there is with gay or straight people - and if people are unaccepting of bisexuality, you shouldn't let them know about it.
My best advice after reading this is to speak in a fashion that doesn't place you on one side or the other without revealing your sexuality outright, so you don't fall into seeming to be gay or straight. Eg. Instead of asking a guy if he has a girlfriend, ask if he has a girlfriend or boyfriend. I also don't like the premise that if you are very feminine or have long hair, you're less likely to look like a bi or lesbian.
It also says some contradicting things like there is no identifier for bi people, like there is with gay or straight people - and if people are unaccepting of bisexuality, you shouldn't let them know about it.
My best advice after reading this is to speak in a fashion that doesn't place you on one side or the other without revealing your sexuality outright, so you don't fall into seeming to be gay or straight. Eg. Instead of asking a guy if he has a girlfriend, ask if he has a girlfriend or boyfriend. I also don't like the premise that if you are very feminine or have long hair, you're less likely to look like a bi or lesbian.
July 31, 2014
This book was written by some horribly arrogant writers. I was hoping it would be a Bisexual 101 guide and a fascinating, funny read. Instead, I got a face-full of remarks about how "evolved" bisexuals are and how BORING! monosexuals are. First, coming off as superior because you aren't picky about the gender of your partner is just the first step on that slippery slope toward "We're better than everyone, even the gays!" pronouncement. Not trying to win friends and allies, are you? Secondly, do you even know what "evolution" means? It's not the linear progression idiots think it is, just as humans aren't "better" than dogs, birds or any other life-form. It's a terrible fallacy to assume this, as we've seen humans overpopulate the earth and ruin it because we think we're "holier-than-thou" and own the planet. I was only able to get through the first chapter. It is not at all funny, unless you are the sort to find it hilarious to give peanut brittle to a friend who has a profound peanut allergy. Give this one a pass and pick up "Bi Any Other Name" for a better "101" type of book for bisexuals.
May 17, 2022
In short: It's kinda funny and an easy read, but not very informative, and not something I'd suggest to anyone as an introduction to bisexuals/bisexuality/any LGBT stuff.
I was hoping to find an informative and cleverly written book, and this really wasn't it. Written like an abominable combination of cheap tabloids and a 90s teen magazine with an LGBT subject line, this book has pages and pages of useless silly quizzes and 32+ pages of paragraph-biographies concerning celebrities/historical figures most of whom are probably not bisexual. So if you're worried you won't be able to finish the book, don't worry - you can skip those bits.
The authors write like intelligent, well-meaning people who have only ever worked for buzzfeed, college humor at best. I haven't read anything else by these authors, and this makes me curious how their other work reads. The most interesting bits were where they spoke up about their personal experiences, but almost everything else is written poorly, with incredible bias, or about something entirely useless.
I was hoping to find an informative and cleverly written book, and this really wasn't it. Written like an abominable combination of cheap tabloids and a 90s teen magazine with an LGBT subject line, this book has pages and pages of useless silly quizzes and 32+ pages of paragraph-biographies concerning celebrities/historical figures most of whom are probably not bisexual. So if you're worried you won't be able to finish the book, don't worry - you can skip those bits.
The authors write like intelligent, well-meaning people who have only ever worked for buzzfeed, college humor at best. I haven't read anything else by these authors, and this makes me curious how their other work reads. The most interesting bits were where they spoke up about their personal experiences, but almost everything else is written poorly, with incredible bias, or about something entirely useless.
July 28, 2009
I am reading this right now. It is sooo funny, and I just love the term they use "sexually schizophrenic."
June 27, 2008
This is a silly but fun read. It's a good option for someone who wants to read about bisexuality in a positive and light hearted way.
December 20, 2009
Surprisingly, vampires received a lot of press in this book. I'm going to purchase a copy for Cypress, and recommit to having GSA meetings. I've been remiss.
August 24, 2010
This is a fun book. Filled with info, both important to know and totally ridiculous things.
Read
July 23, 2011A snarky and quick read. I finished almost the whole thing in one night.
July 28, 2011
This book is freakin awesome. It is hilarious, relevant, smart, interesting, and a joy to read.
February 26, 2012
Funny and fascinating: an insight into a world that I never experienced.
May 14, 2012
Meh. It was nice to be recognized, but there were so many generalizations and ridiculousness I was rather turned off by the whole affair. Fun but by no means a page turner or required reading.
not-at-library-what-do-i-do
November 8, 2014I'm kinda worried I'm gonna get offended at some point. But oh well...
November 30, 2009
Entertaining, quick, full of quizzes and fun anecdotes about outlier sexual orientations.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews