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The Thrill of the Chaste
Dawn Eden, internationally known speaker and author, presents a completely revised Catholic edition of her bestselling work, The Thrill of the Chaste. In this version, Eden shares her story of conversion to Catholicism and invites readers into a Catholic understanding of chastity and its spiritual benefits.
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 26, 2012
As much as I was looking forward to reading a discussion of chastity "for grownups," as this book was touted in a PW review, I found two of the basic premises of this book to be fundamentally unfounded (and strangely naive), leaving me disappointed.
Firstly: Eden contrasts promiscuity, founded on a faith in one's unproven partners, vs. chastity, founded on a faith "that God, as you pursue a closer walk with Him, will lead you to a loving husband." Um, no. God has not promised anyone a marriage partner. So such faith is as baseless as the faith Eden detects behind premarital sex. While Eden emphasizes, from time to time, that chastity is more about a woman's relationship with God than about her relationship with a future husband, the underlying assumption that God is going to bring every good girl a good man sooner or later is unrealistic and gives an inadequate picture of the single life as only having value as preparation for marriage, rather than a valid state of life in itself.
Secondly: Eden so emphasizes the value of chastity for women that the book creates a pervasive impression that the old double-standard of sexual behavior is actually a valid and appropriate way to organize single adult dating practice. Of course she never actually suggests that it is legitimate for men to behave unchastely -- quite the contrary -- but the description of unchastity as being especially destructive to women gives the impression that the reasons for men to live chastely are relatively slim. I have no beef with Eden addressing her book primarily to women readers, but her presentation of gender differences makes me wonder what rock she expects her godly future husband to crawl out from under, since men in general appear in her book to be sex-crazed womanizers.
ETA 2012: Instead of this book, read Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity and/or Singled Out: Why Celibacy Must Be Reinvented in Today's Church.
Firstly: Eden contrasts promiscuity, founded on a faith in one's unproven partners, vs. chastity, founded on a faith "that God, as you pursue a closer walk with Him, will lead you to a loving husband." Um, no. God has not promised anyone a marriage partner. So such faith is as baseless as the faith Eden detects behind premarital sex. While Eden emphasizes, from time to time, that chastity is more about a woman's relationship with God than about her relationship with a future husband, the underlying assumption that God is going to bring every good girl a good man sooner or later is unrealistic and gives an inadequate picture of the single life as only having value as preparation for marriage, rather than a valid state of life in itself.
Secondly: Eden so emphasizes the value of chastity for women that the book creates a pervasive impression that the old double-standard of sexual behavior is actually a valid and appropriate way to organize single adult dating practice. Of course she never actually suggests that it is legitimate for men to behave unchastely -- quite the contrary -- but the description of unchastity as being especially destructive to women gives the impression that the reasons for men to live chastely are relatively slim. I have no beef with Eden addressing her book primarily to women readers, but her presentation of gender differences makes me wonder what rock she expects her godly future husband to crawl out from under, since men in general appear in her book to be sex-crazed womanizers.
ETA 2012: Instead of this book, read Real Sex: The Naked Truth about Chastity and/or Singled Out: Why Celibacy Must Be Reinvented in Today's Church.
August 4, 2015
I am completely blown away by this fabulously inspirational book. Without being 'preachy' or 'stuffy', Dawn Eden has laid out a book full of fabulous advice and insight on relationships and chastity that is more than useful in today's world. This was the right book at the right time, and I would recommend it to anyone!
August 3, 2013
First of all, Dawn Eden's got some balls for writing this book. I don't know, man, but if I were a journalist in New York City that used to sleep around and then I became a Christian, I don't think I would be brave enough to write such a transparent book about chastity with such a personal look at all of my past failed relationships and one-night stands. Living chastely until marriage, like my fiance and I are doing, is something that is so scoffed at in our culture that I don't even usually talk about it with people who aren't Christians because I don't want to be seen as a prude. And isn't that ridiculous? So even though this book is really written for single women as an encouragement to live chastely and rely on the Lord to satisfy you as well as wait on him, I was challenged to not be afraid to talk about chastity with those outside my Christian circle. Also, I did learn a lot about resisting temptation and the power of asking others to pray for you while you're in the midst of it. Lastly, I feel as if I will pass on a lot of Dawn's wisdom to my youth group girls, if not recommend that they read it, because it's so accessible of a read.
August 23, 2015
First edition, 2007.
Quite good in some ways. It is very good on the need for control of our desires. The emphasis is quite obviously on sexual desire and the need for the virtue by which we exercise control of that desire. She was a convert to Protestant Christianity, on the way the Catholic Christian faith, when she wrote the 1st edition in 2006.
There is a strange emphasis which I cannot figure out on looking for a husband which seemed "too much."
I have asked for the Catholic edition which came out this year, 2015. Dawn Eden, Catholic Edition, The Thrill of the Chaste, 2015.
I just got the Catholic edition. She drops the emphasis which I found strange, that she often mentioned that she was looking for a husband... That is not there. Indeed, she states that "Two and a half years ago, after believing for my whole life that I was called to marriage, I came to realize that God was asking me to say yes to a celibate vocation."
As she put it, she realized that the question was not "Is God calling me not to have sex?" Rather, the primary question is, "Is God calling me to glorify him in this particular vocation of personal consecration, religious life, or priesthood?"
See pp. 120-123, 125-6
Very nicely done. Deeply spiritual. I would recommend this edition.
Quite good in some ways. It is very good on the need for control of our desires. The emphasis is quite obviously on sexual desire and the need for the virtue by which we exercise control of that desire. She was a convert to Protestant Christianity, on the way the Catholic Christian faith, when she wrote the 1st edition in 2006.
There is a strange emphasis which I cannot figure out on looking for a husband which seemed "too much."
I have asked for the Catholic edition which came out this year, 2015. Dawn Eden, Catholic Edition, The Thrill of the Chaste, 2015.
I just got the Catholic edition. She drops the emphasis which I found strange, that she often mentioned that she was looking for a husband... That is not there. Indeed, she states that "Two and a half years ago, after believing for my whole life that I was called to marriage, I came to realize that God was asking me to say yes to a celibate vocation."
As she put it, she realized that the question was not "Is God calling me not to have sex?" Rather, the primary question is, "Is God calling me to glorify him in this particular vocation of personal consecration, religious life, or priesthood?"
See pp. 120-123, 125-6
Very nicely done. Deeply spiritual. I would recommend this edition.
October 13, 2018
This would be a helpful and appropriate book for a young woman of a certain age and maturity level. I consider this book meant for those who have just made the choice to live chastely. It starts the conversation about chastity, but left me a little wanting.
December 17, 2016
While I enjoyed reading the perspective of a woman who flip-flopped her position on sexuality after her conversion to Christianity, this book read more like a memoir than the trove of practical advice I was hoping to find. I appreciate the author's transparency with her own struggles, but in some ways the constant stories of her own past made it hard for me to translate them into practical usage for my life today. While there are definitely some valuable gems tucked within these pages, this book was not what I was hoping for overall.
October 12, 2016
Priest at school asked me to read this to see if it's worth recommending to our female students. Not very impressed yet....
maybe the worst book I've ever read. Incredibly over simplified and stereotypical view of men, people of faith, and those that already desire to live a chaste lifestyle. Not to mention poorly written.
DO NOT RECOMMEND. no stars.
maybe the worst book I've ever read. Incredibly over simplified and stereotypical view of men, people of faith, and those that already desire to live a chaste lifestyle. Not to mention poorly written.
DO NOT RECOMMEND. no stars.
October 7, 2016
I really loved this book about chastity. The author had a mix of personal storytelling and also insight about God's plan for sex and sexuality. Dawn Eden tells the story of how she went from a lifestyle of promiscuity, using others for immediate gratification, to living out a chaste lifestyle in pursuit of something fuller. She was incredibly brave to write this book and I'm so happy I read it.
March 19, 2008
As delightful and real to read as she is in person. Very real and honest look at relationships and the significance of giving yourself.
July 18, 2017
Candid and inspiring guide of a kind of how to value and to live chastity.
This book is updated version of the original publication 2006, when Dawn Eden was a convert to Christianity (Protestant). Since then she walked quite a way - she has become Catholic and even made vows to live as a celibate as a vocation.
So this book is a "Catholic" version of the original book.
The book is refreshingly honest and candid (even intellectually honest, which might be a rare nowadays). Dawn, a survivor of the sexual abuse, is not shy to write about how she experienced the searching of her value as a being in the arms of men. And how this not fulfilled her, as it was just a mutual abuse and/or chasing of an illusion, not the real love. But, in my opinion, this experience makes her a very good representant of the chaste life - she is not a long-life celibate, but a former rock music enthusiasist, journalist and agnostic. So why has chastity became so important for her?
Shortly: it is a way of love. And not just a way of better love for the future spouse (if there is any), but the way to love God and yourself (with the healthy self-love and self-value).
As for marriageability of the celibate people, this citation says it beautifully:
“That’s not true,” I responded. “My chances are better now than they’ve ever been, because before I was chaste, I was looking for love in all the wrong places. It’s only now that I’m truly ready for
marriage and have a clear vision of the kind of man I want for my husband. “I may be thirty-seven,” I concluded, “but in husband-seeking years, I’m only twenty-two."
I got some valuable insight from the book - one of the strongest point it that unmarried people may forget what does to be "like a child". Children don’t speculate and compare, they ebjoy the present moment without the added pressure of statuses, expectations and other qualifiers - they can enjoy the simple happiness of just being.
I will try that, too.
While the book (I have not read the original version) have a lot of pros, there are also several cons - like the book is a bit heavy, intellectual reading sometimes. Some things are better to say the simple way (and a lot of passages are just like that, simple and honest). I understand that with many citations from catechism and theological and other books the authoress aims for the clarity of meaning. But it also weakens the simple strength of her statements in my opinion.
I would also love to have more practical tips.
But these are jus minor issues when comparing the honest, personal and witty read this is.
Read it.
This book is updated version of the original publication 2006, when Dawn Eden was a convert to Christianity (Protestant). Since then she walked quite a way - she has become Catholic and even made vows to live as a celibate as a vocation.
So this book is a "Catholic" version of the original book.
The book is refreshingly honest and candid (even intellectually honest, which might be a rare nowadays). Dawn, a survivor of the sexual abuse, is not shy to write about how she experienced the searching of her value as a being in the arms of men. And how this not fulfilled her, as it was just a mutual abuse and/or chasing of an illusion, not the real love. But, in my opinion, this experience makes her a very good representant of the chaste life - she is not a long-life celibate, but a former rock music enthusiasist, journalist and agnostic. So why has chastity became so important for her?
Shortly: it is a way of love. And not just a way of better love for the future spouse (if there is any), but the way to love God and yourself (with the healthy self-love and self-value).
As for marriageability of the celibate people, this citation says it beautifully:
“That’s not true,” I responded. “My chances are better now than they’ve ever been, because before I was chaste, I was looking for love in all the wrong places. It’s only now that I’m truly ready for
marriage and have a clear vision of the kind of man I want for my husband. “I may be thirty-seven,” I concluded, “but in husband-seeking years, I’m only twenty-two."
I got some valuable insight from the book - one of the strongest point it that unmarried people may forget what does to be "like a child". Children don’t speculate and compare, they ebjoy the present moment without the added pressure of statuses, expectations and other qualifiers - they can enjoy the simple happiness of just being.
I will try that, too.
While the book (I have not read the original version) have a lot of pros, there are also several cons - like the book is a bit heavy, intellectual reading sometimes. Some things are better to say the simple way (and a lot of passages are just like that, simple and honest). I understand that with many citations from catechism and theological and other books the authoress aims for the clarity of meaning. But it also weakens the simple strength of her statements in my opinion.
I would also love to have more practical tips.
But these are jus minor issues when comparing the honest, personal and witty read this is.
Read it.
August 31, 2019
This is the second book I've read by Dawn Eden and it was well worth it. She makes a very cogent argument for (the real meaning) of chastity--and for keeping oneself for marriage (whatever has happened previously--yes, there's always time for a new start with God's mercy!). With her experience, she makes a solid case for why she wishes she'd done things differently before she turned her life over through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is counter-cultural stuff, for sure, as it runs against the widespread trend and normal practice (at least in the West) to have causal sex before commitment in life-long marriage. A cheapening, a deception, a ruse, that only leads--as Eden says--to a more dislocated & lonely existence.
February 21, 2020
This book was unbearable and this author is incredibly judgmental. I genuinely could not force myself to keep reading this book when ever other sentence had me rolling my eyes. I have nothing positive to say about it, so I feel like the only thing left to say is that I’m putting my copy in the recycling bin.
(PS I’m marking it a read because after reading over half of it and desperately trying to finish it I would like to give myself credit on my reading challenge.)
(PS I’m marking it a read because after reading over half of it and desperately trying to finish it I would like to give myself credit on my reading challenge.)
May 13, 2019
Love the title of this book by the witty Dawn Eden Goldstein--whom I first heard on the Eric Metaxas show. Written in 2006, the book feels a little dated, but the sordid truths remain the same.
I was surprised by the lifestyle she described, but also saddened. Dawn provides interesting insight into the hollow life of a Sex in the Cities girl.
I was surprised by the lifestyle she described, but also saddened. Dawn provides interesting insight into the hollow life of a Sex in the Cities girl.
January 10, 2017
I've always thought that was the best title imaginable for a book on the pure of heart. And now Dawn Eden's early book, written while she was on her way to becoming a Catholic, has been issued in an updated and revised "Catholic edition." A Twitter conversation with Eden led to my receiving a review copy--which I read precisely as a most unchaste film was breaking box office records all across America.
I was expecting something a bit more targeted; a bit more on the "relationships" which would seem to be the only context for a book about chaste living. Instead, what I found in The Thrill of the Chaste is an integrated book of Catholic spirituality for young adults who are puzzled about how they can, in the words of the subtitle "find fulfillment" in their relational lives, not only with a prospective spouse, but in a deeper way: living a fulfilled life, rich in healthy relationships (starting with the self!). The Thrill of the Chaste uses the desire for a fulfilling spousal relationship as a home base for a thorough presentation of the human vocation to love. After all, the search for love is a driving force in every person's life, because we were created for God, who is love.
Sadly, the vocation to love is frequently compromised, and in many people's lives it is violated, leading a person to seek love in all the wrong places, or to sabotage their own desire for it. This was the case in Eden's life. Her book is a testimony to the mystery of the cross, in that the unjust and dehumanizing suffering that was inflicted on her has become, in her two books (the other is My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints) a means of light and guidance for thousands of others.
In some ways, Thrill is a catechism for young adult Catholics: a presentation of aspects of the faith that are particularly relevant (and particularly susceptible to misinterpretation) among the twenty and thirty-somethings who may for a time have fallen away from the practice of the faith to follow all the rules of the surrounding culture--only to be left disappointed, disillusioned, spent and alone. Eden does not just offer the readers guidance for getting their outward act together in a way that would be consistent with Catholic sexual morality: she puts it in a complete Catholic context with a presentation of the human vocation (in the words of St John Paul the Great's talks on love, better known as his Theology of the Body), the meaning and place of the Mass and Confession, the path of spiritual growth (ordered toward Heaven!) and the irreplaceability of a warm, personal relationship with Jesus. She does all this while also addressing issues like workplace flirtation and fashionably modest attire.
A thoroughly personalized book--Eden is drawing on her own struggles and misconceptions--The Thrill of the Chaste does not preach from on high, but offers a voice of friendship and accompaniment to those on a contemporary "Road to Emmaus."
I was expecting something a bit more targeted; a bit more on the "relationships" which would seem to be the only context for a book about chaste living. Instead, what I found in The Thrill of the Chaste is an integrated book of Catholic spirituality for young adults who are puzzled about how they can, in the words of the subtitle "find fulfillment" in their relational lives, not only with a prospective spouse, but in a deeper way: living a fulfilled life, rich in healthy relationships (starting with the self!). The Thrill of the Chaste uses the desire for a fulfilling spousal relationship as a home base for a thorough presentation of the human vocation to love. After all, the search for love is a driving force in every person's life, because we were created for God, who is love.
Sadly, the vocation to love is frequently compromised, and in many people's lives it is violated, leading a person to seek love in all the wrong places, or to sabotage their own desire for it. This was the case in Eden's life. Her book is a testimony to the mystery of the cross, in that the unjust and dehumanizing suffering that was inflicted on her has become, in her two books (the other is My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints) a means of light and guidance for thousands of others.
In some ways, Thrill is a catechism for young adult Catholics: a presentation of aspects of the faith that are particularly relevant (and particularly susceptible to misinterpretation) among the twenty and thirty-somethings who may for a time have fallen away from the practice of the faith to follow all the rules of the surrounding culture--only to be left disappointed, disillusioned, spent and alone. Eden does not just offer the readers guidance for getting their outward act together in a way that would be consistent with Catholic sexual morality: she puts it in a complete Catholic context with a presentation of the human vocation (in the words of St John Paul the Great's talks on love, better known as his Theology of the Body), the meaning and place of the Mass and Confession, the path of spiritual growth (ordered toward Heaven!) and the irreplaceability of a warm, personal relationship with Jesus. She does all this while also addressing issues like workplace flirtation and fashionably modest attire.
A thoroughly personalized book--Eden is drawing on her own struggles and misconceptions--The Thrill of the Chaste does not preach from on high, but offers a voice of friendship and accompaniment to those on a contemporary "Road to Emmaus."
May 30, 2025
It felt like listening to an older sister who really cares for your wellbeing and soul. Dawn's personal story of experiencing Jesus's merciful love and forgiveness was immensely inspiring. As a sister in Christ, she is very encouraging and real. She is a true countercultural voice that is greatly needed in our modern era. Choosing chastity and running into the arms of Jesus (with His church to support you) will change your entire world for the better, and Dawn Eden's story embodies this truth.
July 1, 2015
Unlike many chastity books that tend to recycle the same St. Augustine and Theology of the Body quotes, Dawn offers a fresh take on Church teachings supported by anecdotes and insights from early Church fathers and saints. Chastity seems to always be traced back to St. John Paul II but the Thrill of the Chaste argues just the opposite: chastity has long been a virtue championed throughout Church history, and the treasury of the Church continues to provide insightful and theological truths for the modern person. St. Maximillian Kolbe, Edith Stein, the Blessed Mother, and St. Ambrose all find a home here. And as she acutely observes, chastity books for adults are scarce, if non-existent. It is with great humility and intelligence that she seeks to fill the gap, and unveil the beauty of chastity for those of us who have outgrown our parish RE programs.
The Thrill of the Chaste is a hybrid of sorts: part memoir, devotional, and social commentary. Much like Eve Tushnet, Dawn presents the ontology of chastity as an affirmation, a “yes,” our very own fiat. In my favorite chapter, Dawn identifies the deficits of the “single” terminology. Single is ordered towards an absence of romantic relationships. However, if we are to truly offer our state of celibacy as a fiat to God, then single is a wholly inadequate term. Singular, she argues, is better ordered towards the virtue of chastity: a singular woman celebrates instead of seeking pity, she blesses others instead of sustaining a sense of entitlement, and she recognizes the supremacy of the vocation to love over her own sexual desires. And this is the genius of the Thrill of the Chaste: it presents an archetype of femininity that is not rooted in sex but in sacrifice, and is therefore pertinent to singular and married women alike.
In an unexpected plot twist, Dawn shares her own celibate vocation, which she describes as “apostolic celibacy.” This revelation alone is enough for me to recommend this book to anyone discerning their vocation. So few books address apostolic celibacy as a legitimate and viable vocation – in fact, I found myself wanting to learn more about her own discernment process (next book, Dawn??).
The Thrill of the Chaste is a deeply needed book for Catholic women. It’s smart, funny, and vulnerable. Dawn, like Christ, offers her wounds for us to touch. Each page is a deep look into her heart – and it is so beautiful, because it so clearly reveals the love of the Father.
The Thrill of the Chaste is a hybrid of sorts: part memoir, devotional, and social commentary. Much like Eve Tushnet, Dawn presents the ontology of chastity as an affirmation, a “yes,” our very own fiat. In my favorite chapter, Dawn identifies the deficits of the “single” terminology. Single is ordered towards an absence of romantic relationships. However, if we are to truly offer our state of celibacy as a fiat to God, then single is a wholly inadequate term. Singular, she argues, is better ordered towards the virtue of chastity: a singular woman celebrates instead of seeking pity, she blesses others instead of sustaining a sense of entitlement, and she recognizes the supremacy of the vocation to love over her own sexual desires. And this is the genius of the Thrill of the Chaste: it presents an archetype of femininity that is not rooted in sex but in sacrifice, and is therefore pertinent to singular and married women alike.
In an unexpected plot twist, Dawn shares her own celibate vocation, which she describes as “apostolic celibacy.” This revelation alone is enough for me to recommend this book to anyone discerning their vocation. So few books address apostolic celibacy as a legitimate and viable vocation – in fact, I found myself wanting to learn more about her own discernment process (next book, Dawn??).
The Thrill of the Chaste is a deeply needed book for Catholic women. It’s smart, funny, and vulnerable. Dawn, like Christ, offers her wounds for us to touch. Each page is a deep look into her heart – and it is so beautiful, because it so clearly reveals the love of the Father.
February 7, 2014
I gave it 3 out of 5, but hovered over 4! I so very nearly 'really liked it'.
From the get-go, I loved Eden's style and humour and passion and earthiness as she writes about her experiences of breaking away from the shallowness of the 'Sex and the City' culture.
What a relief to me on my own similar journey to find an author I can really connect with on the basis that they write from the position of someone who, like me, has actually experienced that lifestyle and it left them wanting. Not some fuddy-duddy pure and innocent who's never known what it's like to be with a guy.
So from that standpoint, I think it's a wonderfully brave, warming and encouraging book for people (Christian women especially) who are trying to recover and restore themselves sexually after life on the other side of the fence.
My main (probably only) issue with the book was that singleness and celibacy is portrayed as a state of waiting for a husband, not of value in and of itself. I appreciate that's Eden's journey and destination, and I suspect many women would relate to her in that respect. However that's where she and I part ways.
For many people, including myself, celibacy is is not about 'hanging on until....' it's a spiritual discipline to be learned with its own inherent value and blessings. Whether or not I end up in a relationship or married is not within my search beam, however for Eden it seems the sole focus of her journey.
Overall, I'd recommend the book; simply for it's honesty and warmth in dealing with a subject that is generally considered taboo in church!
From the get-go, I loved Eden's style and humour and passion and earthiness as she writes about her experiences of breaking away from the shallowness of the 'Sex and the City' culture.
What a relief to me on my own similar journey to find an author I can really connect with on the basis that they write from the position of someone who, like me, has actually experienced that lifestyle and it left them wanting. Not some fuddy-duddy pure and innocent who's never known what it's like to be with a guy.
So from that standpoint, I think it's a wonderfully brave, warming and encouraging book for people (Christian women especially) who are trying to recover and restore themselves sexually after life on the other side of the fence.
My main (probably only) issue with the book was that singleness and celibacy is portrayed as a state of waiting for a husband, not of value in and of itself. I appreciate that's Eden's journey and destination, and I suspect many women would relate to her in that respect. However that's where she and I part ways.
For many people, including myself, celibacy is is not about 'hanging on until....' it's a spiritual discipline to be learned with its own inherent value and blessings. Whether or not I end up in a relationship or married is not within my search beam, however for Eden it seems the sole focus of her journey.
Overall, I'd recommend the book; simply for it's honesty and warmth in dealing with a subject that is generally considered taboo in church!
Read
August 22, 2015Up until page 89, I really wasn't having any issue with what Dawn had written. Yes, she does seem to be writing to an audience specifically consisting of females who have every intention of one day becoming married (which is a criteria that I fit into), as she often refers back to waiting on God and gives real-life examples of how sometimes she/we become impatient with God and therefore try to speed up the process by doing our own searching and pursuing. I get it. I've totally been in that situation, and quite honestly, I appreciate how honest and frank she is about doing it, and how tactfully she goes about showing that it is not wrong... It is a mindset o fear rather than trust. However, on page 89, she wrote something that stuck out to me like a sore thumb, because the wording of the phrase is Biblically inaccurate. It's possible that it is simply a bad choice of wording. The quote: "...while it's true that we can't rely on the Lord to answer every specific need in our lives, there are certain spiritual blessings of His that are always available from God through the Holy Spirit..." She goes on to give an accurate list of spiritual blessings that are readily available to us in Christ. I have no issue with the second portion of that quote, but that part about God not providing for every individual need is inaccurate. It's the wants that we cannot assume He is going to grant us, not the needs. (Phillipians 4:19)
March 26, 2008
Finally, a book that 'gets' it. This book was amazingly inspirational... It talks about sex and relationships from one of the most real perspectives I have ever heard...
The author was at one time a 'typical' New Yorker, engaging in both casual and committed sexual relationships. However, as she put it, it got her no closer to finding a husband. In fact, it left her more alone than ever before. She makes one of the most poignant remarks that when women go from man to man, you aren't 'open' as the female sexual revolution would have you believe. If anything, you are further closing yourself off because it is easy to let a man into you physically, than to open your mind and heart and risk being truly vulnerable. This is something that I believe is so true.
For me this book was the validation I needed to realize that the 'sexual revolution' isn't really all that its cracked up to be... and that there is a lot of fulfillment in not buying into the Sex-and-the-City culture...
The author was at one time a 'typical' New Yorker, engaging in both casual and committed sexual relationships. However, as she put it, it got her no closer to finding a husband. In fact, it left her more alone than ever before. She makes one of the most poignant remarks that when women go from man to man, you aren't 'open' as the female sexual revolution would have you believe. If anything, you are further closing yourself off because it is easy to let a man into you physically, than to open your mind and heart and risk being truly vulnerable. This is something that I believe is so true.
For me this book was the validation I needed to realize that the 'sexual revolution' isn't really all that its cracked up to be... and that there is a lot of fulfillment in not buying into the Sex-and-the-City culture...
April 6, 2010
This is the second book I've read recently to help with a girls Bible study I am leading on preserving your sexual purity (the other being Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman's Battle). These 2 books were certainly directed at different audiences, with this one directed toward adult women. That being said, I must admit that I wasn't ready for the bluntness with which the author speaks about sexual topics, particularly in her past relationships. Although she's never really explicit, it would still be a shock to anyone who is uncomfortable with the topic. Overall, I thought this was a good book. Miss Eden is able to tie together Scripture and her own personal experience to make the case for the benefits and blessings of chastity. While the book sometimes felt a little bit repetitive - same topics covered in various chapters, Miss Eden does a pretty good job of conveying her points in an interesting and insightful manner.
December 10, 2012
3.5 stars? I found her views refreshing, providing a whole new way of looking at sexuality. But she was a bit radical... She says that sexual liberation is actually like a prison. Which I can kind of understand, especially since she talks about obsessions with sex, and describes her own experiences of having sex to avoid loneliness. But for people who have premarital sex in committed relationships, or for people who have casual sex not because of loneliness (they must exist!), I don't think it's necessary to forbid premarital sex. She also abstains from kissing. I can understand why she'd abstain from kissing, but isn't that more like imprisonment? She was also sexually abused when she was younger, which may explain her desire to please men before she started abstaining. She did make an interesting point about masturbation, though.
I think we also need a man's perspective, since her book was very gendered. Would a man in this position hold himself to the same standards?
I think we also need a man's perspective, since her book was very gendered. Would a man in this position hold himself to the same standards?
March 6, 2014
I found myself of two minds while reading this book. The first were those moments when I had to stop, reread a sentence, and wanted to look up at Dawn and say, "what?" This is a compliment within a complaint, because while I didn't always fully understand Dawn at times, she writes in such an easy, approachable style that it really did feel like a conversation.
The other side of my mind stands up, applauds her, and gives her a big hug. Who is saying what Dawn is saying? She isn't just a guinea pig for 'second virginity.' She has thrown her lot and life in with Jesus, and shares her past failures and false beliefs, present struggles and rewards, and future hope and confidence. Once one of the dime-a-dozen trawlers among the singles' scene, she drank from the tap that will never cease to satisfy. Dawn gave her life to Christ and now presses into Him in the midst of the sex-saturated world she know full well. She is a role model that is hard to come by.
The other side of my mind stands up, applauds her, and gives her a big hug. Who is saying what Dawn is saying? She isn't just a guinea pig for 'second virginity.' She has thrown her lot and life in with Jesus, and shares her past failures and false beliefs, present struggles and rewards, and future hope and confidence. Once one of the dime-a-dozen trawlers among the singles' scene, she drank from the tap that will never cease to satisfy. Dawn gave her life to Christ and now presses into Him in the midst of the sex-saturated world she know full well. She is a role model that is hard to come by.
July 13, 2025
I found The Year of the Chaste to be a compelling and courageous read. It was recommended through my church some time ago, and my curiosity led me to pick it up. What struck me most was Dawn Eden’s boldness in sharing her personal journey—her vulnerability adds a powerful authenticity to the message she conveys.
Eden challenges the cultural norms of instant gratification and moral complacency, offering a refreshing perspective rooted in discipline, personal growth, and spiritual conviction. She addresses a society that often prioritizes consumption over character and calls readers back to values that promote long-term fulfillment over temporary pleasure.
I believe this book would be especially impactful for younger generations navigating a world of mixed messages about identity, love, and purpose. It’s a meaningful resource for those seeking clarity and wisdom before stepping fully into adulthood.
Eden challenges the cultural norms of instant gratification and moral complacency, offering a refreshing perspective rooted in discipline, personal growth, and spiritual conviction. She addresses a society that often prioritizes consumption over character and calls readers back to values that promote long-term fulfillment over temporary pleasure.
I believe this book would be especially impactful for younger generations navigating a world of mixed messages about identity, love, and purpose. It’s a meaningful resource for those seeking clarity and wisdom before stepping fully into adulthood.
August 2, 2009
I heartily recommend this book. Dawn Eden writes with verve of her own life, and her decision when about 30, to live a chaste life, and exactly how that has helped her. Truly, an examined life. Now that I've finished it, I will add that I wish I had read it when I was a young woman. To be honest, I don't know that I would have been able to relate to the amount of scripture quotes which are liberally sprinkled throughout, but Dawn's honest assessment of what exactly, in terms of behavior, will lead to marriage is so true, and yet so hard to see when one is caught up in a very worldly lifestyle. Additionally, Dawn Eden's firm hope is compelling.
October 8, 2007
Practical advice for the practice of chastity - not abstinence - in a world that has nothing positive to say about such a practice. I would recommend it for religious folks only; the staunchly secular probably wouldn't be open to these ideas. I recommend this to all single Christian (especially Catholic) women looking to take "Thou shalt not commit adultery" seriously. It's written by a woman who has been there and done that and her advice is sound and down-to-earth. A good read for men, too, in my opinion.
April 4, 2016
This book was so beautiful, full of truth, and theologically rich! I was blown away and inspired by insight after insight. I was really impressed with the level of discourse within the book, which I found to be both accessible and deeply enriching, and with Eden's courage in writing it and sharing from her experience. I would recommend this to anyone, but especially to young women growing up in our society, left broken in the wake of the sexual revolution. There is hope for healing!
May 25, 2010
This was a very interesting book and not at all what I expected it to be. The author has a great way of conveying exactly what she is trying to say and getting her point across. I never expected the book to have humor in it but it legitimately had me laughing. It's nice to read about different opinions and not just the same old opinion of society, I really enjoyed reading this book.
July 5, 2013
I appreciated the honesty of this book. Living chastely in today's world is hard, and the author tells it like it is. She lived a somewhat promiscuous lifestyle, before her conversion to Christianity. She talks plainly about the difficulty of giving up sex and her reasons for doing so, as well as her understanding of Christian doctrine related to sex and marriage. Good stuff!!
February 21, 2015
I loved this book! The author had a sense of humor and was able to relay Church teaching in an easily accessible manner. This book leaves you with a sense of God's love for us and His hopes for us in the fulfillment of our desires.
January 18, 2016
If you're disillusioned with the popular culture's flow chart of how to find the perfect mate, this book will give you an alternative. Dawn Eden is not afraid to share real-life lessons that she's learned and does so in a humorous way despite the serious topic.
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