The Book That Taught the World to Orgasm and then Disappeared

Named a “Most Anticipated Nonfiction Books for 2026” by The New York Times

Named a “Most Anticipated/Great Spring Book” by The Millions

”.. . revelatory … Readers will find this an essential account of an oft-overlooked feminist pioneer.” – Publishers Weekly STARRED review

“Campbell aims to revive [Hite’s] contributions: with the rise of the manosphere, trad wives, ‘resurgent misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and racism,’ Hite, Campbell argues, is worth remembering… . A portrait of a complex woman in fraught times.” – Kirkus Reviews

‘A cultural history of Shere Hite and her groundbreaking work, The Hite Report. It examines how Hite’s research—built from thousands of women’s personal testimonies— challenged dominant narratives about female sexuality and exposed widespread misconceptions about women’s pleasure.’ — Darling Magazine UK, Book Picks & Recommendations

‘Tells the intriguing story of Hite’s fraught childhood, her rise to fame and her eventual cancellation by the far right and the media.’ —The Independent, Best New Books To Read in April

“Compelling… If you’re not foaming by the time you finish Rosa Campbell’s brilliant recapture of this feminist warrior, I’ll eat my hat.” —The Irish Times

”As we cope with the 21st-century resurgence of misogynistic trends like trad wifery, Hite’s message resonates.” —The Los Angeles Times

”‘Just as The Hite Report proved that women’s place in sex is a mirror of their place in society, Campbell proves that the story of Hite’s life, too, mirrors the oppressive political structures which continue to harm women everywhere… Campbell’s examination of backlash against feminism and women speaking openly about sexuality makes the book feel strikingly contemporary.” —The Women’s Journal

Rosa Campbell is a historian of global feminism and writer based in London. She is a Leverhulme Postdoctoral Fellow at King’s College, London and holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge. She has written for Literary Hub, The White Review, The Independent, Public Books, and Meanjin, among others.

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