'Profound and vulnerable. An essential gift for all of us that relate' - Anne Mauro

What do we mean when we say 'relationship'?
How do we separate our needs and desires from norms and expectations?
How can we approach our relationships with mutuality, care and compassion?

This down-to-earth guide is the ultimate companion for anybody who wants to examine their place in the world -- how we relate to ourselves, and others.

With considerations of historical, cultural, and developmental contexts; explorations of relationship diversity as it manifests in queerness, the ace and aro spectrum, non-monogamy and neurodivergence ; and a look towards deeper, compassionate, interdependent ways to relate - this book will help people of all ages, backgrounds and identities explore their relational world.

The ultimate guide to exploring and understanding how relationships work to help readers navigate, structure and identify their intimate relationships, their relationship to themselves and the world around them.

About the Author

Meg-John (MJ) Barker (they/them) is a writer, zine-maker, collaborator, contemplative practitioner, creative mentor, and friend. They are the author of a number of popular books on sex, gender, and relationships, including graphic guides to Queer, Gender, and Sexuality, How To Understand Your Gender and Sexuality, Life Isn't Binary, Enjoy Sex (How, When, and IF You Want To), Rewriting the Rules, and Hell Yeah Self Care. They also publish zines, comics, and free books on themes including plurality, trauma, consent, and creativity.

Alex Iantaffi has been a therapist for over a decade, and a scholar for two decades. They have published work on gender sexuality, relationship, and disabilities for a broad range of audiences, both academic, and more general. Alex was the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy for eleven years. They teach gender, sexuality, counselling skills, sex therapy and family therapy to both graduate and undergraduate students. Alex is a skilful presenter, and accessible writer, able to translate complex academic ideas into readable content. They co-authored How to Understand Your Gender, Life Isn't Binary, and Self-Care: Your Workbook with Meg-John Barker, as well as contributing several chapters to a wide range of books, as well as having published extensively in peer reviewed journals.

Reviews
Some books are only beneficial to some people. This book is beneficial to ALL people. It offers a basis to understand relationships, how we've come to normalize some and not others. How we think and feel about our own relationships, including the relationship to ourselves. Alex and MJ have a profound and vulnerable way of breaking down complex concepts into something that is not only understandable but relatable in how we experience relationships. This book offers trauma-informed exercises that assist the reader to dive deeper in exploration. It is an essential gift to all of us that continue to be in relation. Questo libro, come gli alrti, e un capolavoro -- Anne Mauro, LMFT, DHS, CSE, CST-S, Systemic Sex Therapist, educator, supervisor, and writer, Coast Salish territory, Washington.
Reading this book could help anyone get closer to having the relationships they really want. It has a wealth of practical exercises to do on your own or with friends, partners and family members. Great to read a book about relationships that includes so many perspectives from neurodivergent and disabled people. A wonderful read . -- Sophia Graham, LGBT+ educator and coach
Encourages us to unpick how our cultural and family backgrounds colour the ways we show up in our adult relationships (of all kinds). I'm not normally one to complete the exercises in self-help books but this time I actually did! -- Hannah Darvill
Offers a broad definition of relationships that includes various types and dynamics beyond just the romantic. Enriching. -- Fernanda Parolin
A compassionate, informative, and inquisitive guide for those who wish to imbue their relationships with intentionality and curiosity. -- Emily Sotelo Matlack author of Multiamory: Essential Tools for Modern Relationships and host of the Multiamory Podcast



Book Information
ISBN 9781787756540
Author Meg-John Barker
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 41g