Human Sexuality: Diversity in Contemporary America is a pioneering text in many ways. The first text to achieve a full integration of cutting-edge research with a contemporary "sex-positive" approach, it also strives to represent the modern, diverse world that students encounter outside the classroom. Both within the text itself and throughout the exemplary art and photo program, the focus is on inclusion. Written by a leading sexuality researcher and experienced teachers of the human sexuality course, Human Sexuality has been lauded by students and instructors alike for providing the most integrated and non-judgmental view of sexual orientation available. This modern theme, along with the thorough coverage of sexuality and the media, engaging writing style, and biopsychosocial orientation, make the text a perennial best-seller. The new sixth edition builds on these strengths and adds updated information, a new design, and a highly crafted resource program to make the book more useful than ever.

This edition reflects current research and trends regarding American sexual attitudes and practices. The increasingly diverse responses to what is considered normal in this area is discussed (as witness the mature treatment of homosexuality in Brokeback Mountain), and changing attitudes about sex in aging and disability. But chapters also address the shallow sexuality and abuse that continues to pervade contemporary society. To inspire critical thinking, the nonjudgmental text includes discussion questions, suggested Web sites and reading, and a glossary. A supporting Web site offers additional resources, practice tests, and videos. Strong was most recently with the U. of California, Santa Cruz. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

William L. Yarber is professor of applied health science and professor of gender studies at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is also senior research fellow at The Kinsey Institute for Research on Sex, Gender, and Reproduction and senior director of the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention at Indiana University. He has authored or co-authored over 100 scientific reports on sexual risk behavior and AIDS/STD prevention in professional journals. He also authored the countrys first secondary school AIDS prevention curriculum. He is past president of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) and past chair of the board of directors of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. He has received $3 million in federal and state grants to support his research and AIDS/STD prevention efforts. His awards include the 2002 SSSS Award for Distinguished Scientific Achievement, the 2002 Research Council Award from the American School Health Association, and the Presidents Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Graduate Student Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award at Indiana University. He regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in human sexuality. He has presented papers at numerous national and international conferences. He was previously a faculty member at the University of Minnesota and Purdue University, as well as former public high school health science and biology teacher.Barbara W. Sayad is a full-time faculty member at California State University, Monterey Bay. She has been teaching and mentoring at the university level for nearly twenty years and currently teaches courses in human sexuality, womens health, marriage and family, and wellness, with a focus on service learning. In addition to co-authoring the last three editions of Human Sexuality, she has co-authored the 8th edition of The Marriage and Family Experience with Bryan Strong and Christine DeVault, and has contributed to a variety of other texts. Barbara has served as a health and sexuality educator in both university and organizational settings. She received her masters degree in public health, and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in health and human services, with a focus in human sexuality. Barbara is married and has three teenage children.