Customer Reviews

The Dirt on Sex: A Dateable Book (Dirt, The)

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Many of the figures quoted in this book about success rates of birth control and the like are in error. While abstaining from sex is the only fool-proof birth control method, giving teens incorrect information will make them doubt the usefulness of protection even if they do decide to have sex, creating a dangerous situation for all involved.

This book is horrible, it spreads misinformation and inaccurate statistics. I'd like to think that misrepresenting facts is wrong, regardless of your ideology. For example, he says that the Department of Health and Human Services says that "THERE IS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVE CONDOM PROTECTION AGAINST STDs." when in reality they say "Latex condoms significantly reduce your risk of getting most STDs, including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS), if you use them correctly every time." ([...]) This is dangerous, he's telling teenagers information that will discourage them from using life-saving protection. He's also lying about their effectiveness at preventing pregnancy, saying they have a 85% success rate each time they are used (assuming perfect use). In reality, they have a 98% success rate over a year in sexually active couples ([...]). Nothing in this book can be trusted.

My husband and I are youth sponsors at our church. My husband is also a high school teacher and I taught before becoming a stay at home mom. We consider ourselves "in the know" when it comes to what teens are talking about. This book is raw. It is real. It is written by a Christian with Christian perspectives. I recommend parents reading it. You'll be shocked by the content but realize it is nothing less than what your teens are constanly being bombarded with in the locker rooms, at school, in their teen magazines, and of course on TV. Only difference (and a big huge one that matters) is that this book explains everything in a Christian perspective and even has a chapter on getting right with God. Read it then have your teens read it. They'll get the Truth (God's truth) on the issues that most adults are too afraid to address.