Review
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Title: Shall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarah
Author: Zachary McLeod Hutchins
Publisher: Greg Kofford Books
Year Published: 2025
Pages: 111
ISBN: 9781589588196
Genre: Non-fiction
Reviewed by Sherrie Gavin (originally for Goodreads)
Within a religious context, “pleasure” is a complicated sensation. Hutchins intellectually, artfully, and faithfully weaves the concept(s) of pleasure from that which is forbidden to that which is righteously fulfilling, beautiful, and good. It seems that the ironic is a place where Hutchins is comfortably positioned: as a professor trained in the “history of sexuality,” and as a lay minister for the LDS church, he examines the theory behind that which is acceptably pleasurable, and that which is not. But within this examination, he teaches the reader about cultural shifts in what is perceived as inappropriately pleasurable, often using familiar examples shared in recent General Conference speeches, making the book readable and friendly.
This is further enhanced with personal experiences, and wonderful examples of scriptures that are skillfully braided throughout the text (he even mentions Heavenly Mother and Adam’s legendary first wife, Lilith!). To be clear, this is a book about sex within martial relationships, and how that is scripturally and doctrinally important.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Hutchins’ easy-to-read style, skillful examples, and solid conclusion. In this, I gave it 95% out of 100%. I reserved the 5% as I was disappointed that the book did not address or even acknowledge barrenness, infertility, or those who remain unmarried in the long-term; I even had the sense that these concepts were never considered by the author—which was a lost opportunity. Yet this book is well worth the meager investment for the beautiful rendering and analysis of the concept of pleasure within a devout Latter-day Saint frame. Again, I highly recommended this for both men and women.
Sherrie Gavin is a PhD candidate at the University of New England, Australia. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary studies specific to women, religion, food, and culture. Her passion is in examining feminist food studies within distinct cultures, subcultures, applying broader explorations of cultural phenomena. These applications intersect with pop culture representations of women, religion, and food within historical landscapes. Having completed her undergraduate degree at Southern Utah University in analysing the socioeconomic perspectives of the state of North Carolina during the American Civil War, her graduate research is inclusive of the ongoing effects of eugenics, class distinctions, and inherited racism. Additionally, she is on the editorial board of Segullah, works as a Senior Cultural Engagement and Research Officer at PopCRN, and has authored her own works.