Talking with Tristan Taormino about Her Big Book of Sex Toys

By Troy Michael

Tristan Taormino is an award-winning author, columnist, sex educator, adult film director, and one of the nicest people in the porn industry.

Taormino, who graduated Phi Beta Kappa with her Bachelor's degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University, educates people worldwide with her sex and relationship workshops and has earned the label of "anal sexpert."

Recently, Taormino has released her latest book “The Big Book of Sex Toys” (Quiver Books) and is here, once again, to lend a helping hand (so to speak) to spice up your sex life.

With over 240 colorful pages, Taormino tackles just about every sex toy you can imagine. Additionally, she adds information on sizes, textures, forms and of course their role in pleasuring you and your partner.

“Oh, I don’t know. There are some toys I tried out and reviewed, that didn’t even make the book...maybe hundreds,” Taormino said, when asked how many toys are reviewed in the book.

From the beginning of the book as merely an idea to the actual publishing took about a year, but Taormino feels like she has been preparing for this book for the last 10 years.

“Considering I am a toy whore, this wasn’t a hard book to write, in the least,” Taormino explained. “I have an about 2,000 toys all over the place really. Let me give you the run down. First, I have the nightstand next to my bed with three drawers and that has my personal collection of sex toys that I use on a regular basis. Then, in the office closet, I have these plastic square tupperware boxes that are labeled—when I go give a lecture, I can just grab the box that I need and go.

“Then, in the Vivid storage unit (Vivid Pictures releases Taormino’s adult films), I have giant plastic tubs of toys that I use for movie shoots, and I also have a box of toys in my office. Oh, and I have a cardboard box of toys that are sent to me that I want to try, but haven’t had the chance yet.”

With the adult toy industry flooded with so many makes and models of pleasuring items, it’s easier to buy new car, rather than a sex toy. With “The Big Book of Sex Toys,” Taomino helps eliminate the confusion, assisting with any questions and helping you find the perfect sex toy.

“You really need to research, and I hope this book gives people a basic idea of sex toys,” Taormino explains. “For example, when people think of vibrators they think of one type, but there are so many more. Another thing is most sex toys don’t come with a manual, isn’t that crazy? Everything thing comes with manuals today, even tooth brushes. So, I hope this book helps people with tips and tricks, so that people can expand their minds, when it comes to adult toys.”

In the last decade, sex toys have expanded so much you can find just about anything you want or need in your sex life, whether it’s a solo performance or with another person. For example, sex toys for penetration used to be pretty simple, basically plastic or rubber. Now, you can get off with the aid of a glass dildo, a metal clit stimulator or a wooden anal plug. And with these options, breed more confusion.

“People take sex toys more seriously now and there is a trend of higher quality sex toys. Companies really take pride in their products and I think that is where the industry is headed. Years ago, sex toys were relatively cheap, but would break all the time. So if you are serious about your sex toys, why not spend $150 for something that will last a long time.”

With the sex toy industry rapidly expanding, Taormino could write “The Big Book of Sex Toys” over and over again, adding new chapters. However, she doesn’t see that happening in the future.

“It seems like there are 10 new toys a week, now,” Taormino said. “I don’t see this book as a series, more as an educational tool or an introduction to help people. Additionally, I think there are some good websites, and the toy sites have customer reviews that are very helpful. I know I read them, when I get a sex toy.

As consumers get smarter, there are more driven reviews to help people see what others are saying. So, I don’t think I need an updated book every year”

With so many sex toys in her life, Taormino can’t pin point one specific toy she likes the best. However, when asked if she remembered the first sex toy she ever bought, she proudly remembers. 

“I was 19 and it was a strap on from Good Vibrations back in the day, when Stormy Leather was making a purple leather harness and it had a black dildo with it. I don’t have the dildo anymore, but I still have the harness. They don’t make that type anymore, I guess purple wasn’t a big seller. I still love it and it has sentimental purpose, too.”