What is Want by Gillian Anderson about?

Want by Gillian Anderson is a groundbreaking collection of anonymous sexual fantasies submitted by women from around the world. The book reveals how women feel about sex when given complete anonymity, covering topics like desire, power dynamics, consent, and pleasure. Organized thematically with Anderson's thoughtful introductions, Want explores the intimate fears and fantasies that women typically keep private, creating a contemporary snapshot of female sexuality.

Who is Gillian Anderson and why did she write Want?

Gillian Anderson is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor known for The X-Files, Sex Education, and The Crown, as well as an activist and writer. Anderson created Want to provide women with a safe space to share their deepest sexual fantasies anonymously. She established an online portal inviting women worldwide to submit their desires, ultimately curating thousands of submissions into this collection to destigmatize female sexuality and spark honest conversations about desire.

Who should read Want by Gillian Anderson?

Want by Gillian Anderson is ideal for readers interested in women's studies, diverse perspectives on sexuality, and contemporary discussions of feminine identity. The book resonates with anyone curious about the evolution of female desire, those seeking to understand that their sexual fantasies are part of a shared human experience, and readers looking for honest, vulnerable conversations about intimacy. Anderson's collection particularly speaks to women feeling isolated by shame around their desires.

Is Want by Gillian Anderson worth reading?

Want by Gillian Anderson is worth reading for its cultural significance and ability to make readers feel seen and less alone in their desires. Nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Award, the book succeeds in creating an inclusive space that challenges perceptions of what desire looks like. However, some readers note repetitiveness within thematic chapters and uneven quality of submissions. Its value lies more in sparking reflection and discussion than providing definitive answers about female sexuality.

How is Want by Gillian Anderson organized?

Want by Gillian Anderson is thoughtfully organized into thematic chapters, each introduced by Anderson's personal reflections that contextualize the anonymous letters. Key chapters include "On Fantasies," "Power and Submission," "The Watchers and the Watched," "Exploration," and "Gently, Gently." Each section groups similar fantasies together while providing content warnings. Anderson's introductions strike a balance between academic analysis and personal narrative, connecting individual stories to broader cultural patterns and making complex themes accessible.

How does Want compare to My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday?

Want by Gillian Anderson follows in the footsteps of Nancy Friday's revolutionary 1973 work My Secret Garden, presenting a contemporary snapshot of women's sexual fantasies fifty years later. While Want serves as a spiritual sequel, it holds back more than Friday's collection—partly due to social media hypervigilance and concerns about exploitation. Want includes more disclaimers and avoids entries portraying criminal behavior, reflecting both evolved sensitivity and modern fears about misogyny exploiting women's honest expressions of desire.

What types of fantasies are included in Want by Gillian Anderson?

Want by Gillian Anderson features fantasies from women of all backgrounds, countries, income levels, relationship statuses, and sexual orientations. The submissions range from stranger fantasies and power dynamics to less mainstream desires and abstract philosophical reflections. Common themes include being desired, submission and dominance, watching and being watched, and exploration. Many contributors emphasize that fantasies involving submission are consensual imaginings and don't reflect real-life wishes, highlighting the complex relationship between fantasy and actual desire.

What are the main criticisms of Want by Gillian Anderson?

Critics of Want by Gillian Anderson note that the thematic organization becomes repetitive, with tedium setting in halfway through each chapter. Some reviewers found the submissions uneven in quality, with certain fantasies being overwritten or unsurprising. The book's limited geographic scope and the necessity for disclaimers—while responsible—may betray the project's original purpose of complete honesty. Several readers felt Want lacks the depth and rawness of Nancy Friday's work, struggling to establish truly honest conversation due to holding back for fear of judgment.

WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

the Eclogues by Virgil

Gillian Anderson

Overview of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Gillian Anderson's #1 bestseller curates hundreds of anonymous female sexual fantasies from 800,000 submissions worldwide. This provocative collection - with Anderson's own fantasy hidden inside - challenges taboos and celebrates desire, earning critical acclaim as "an intriguing cabinet of curiosities" in women's sexuality.

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Chapter 1

Desire Unbound: When Fantasy Meets Liberation

In 1973, Nancy Friday's groundbreaking "My Secret Garden" revealed what many suspected but few discussed: women possess rich, complex erotic inner lives comparable to men's. Nearly fifty years later, Gillian Anderson's "Want" continues this revolutionary tradition, collecting intimate fantasies from women worldwide. The response was overwhelming-800,000 words from women eager to be heard, seen, and validated in their desires. This collection arrives at a critical cultural moment, with celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Dakota Johnson promoting sexual wellness brands, yet many women still struggle to articulate their deepest desires. As Anderson notes, sexual liberation must mean freedom to enjoy sex on our terms, expressing what we truly want rather than what society pressures us to want. "Want" offers a rare glimpse into women's unfiltered sexual imaginations, creating a safe space for readers to recognize themselves in others' fantasies and perhaps discover new dimensions of their own desires.

Chapter 2

The Secret Gardens of Our Minds: Understanding Fantasy's Purpose

Fantasies serve as private sanctuaries where we can explore desires free from judgment or consequence - intimate mental spaces where imagination roams unfettered by social constraints or practical limitations. For many women, these mental playgrounds provide essential relief from the constant demands of modern life, offering moments of pure psychological freedom amid overwhelming responsibilities. As one contributor confesses, "I would like to understand myself," expressing her conflicted feelings about desiring submission despite her feminist principles. This internal tension reflects a broader struggle many women face between their political consciousness and private desires. Another writes about the shame of wanting to be dominated completely while being a "firm feminist," highlighting the fascinating contradiction between intellectual beliefs and erotic imagination - a paradox that suggests our desires often operate independently from our conscious principles. These internal conflicts appear repeatedly throughout the collection, manifesting in various forms of cognitive dissonance that women navigate daily. A transgender woman's husband sees her as "very vanilla" while she secretly dreams of being a sex symbol and porn star - a fantasy that speaks to deeper questions of identity, visibility, and sexual expression. Another describes surviving a nearly sexless marriage by developing elaborate fantasy worlds - from zombie apocalypse scenarios to magical realms - to cope with loneliness. These imaginative escapes serve not just as sexual outlets but as complex coping mechanisms for emotional and psychological needs. Many contributors describe their fantasy lives as essential companions through mundane activities, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for rich inner experience. One woman reveals her "secret" mental adventures that accompany her through public transport, shopping, and walking - leaving her with a slight smile as she moves through spaces, her rich inner world entirely hidden from those around her. These private narratives add layers of meaning and pleasure to everyday life, creating a parallel existence that enriches rather than detracts from reality. Another states plainly that sexual fantasies give her "the will to live," providing hope in her daily existence beyond mere physical arousal - suggesting that fantasy fulfills fundamental psychological needs for excitement, meaning, and possibility. The collection reveals how fantasies often serve as bridges between our conscious values and unconscious desires, creating safe spaces to explore contradictions without requiring resolution. They allow us to temporarily escape the weight of responsibilities through surrender, to "be entirely in our bodies and out of our heads." As Anderson reflects, these fantasies represent "an equal and opposite intensity to one's life experiences," providing cathartic release from the multiple demands women often juggle - running homes, managing relationships, and navigating professional lives. Through fantasy, women find permission to temporarily relinquish the control they maintain in other aspects of life, accessing a form of psychological freedom that refreshes rather than diminishes their sense of self. These mental sanctuaries offer not just escape but also integration, helping women reconcile their various roles and desires in an increasingly complex world.

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Chapter 3

Power Dynamics: The Thrill of Control and Surrender

Power exchange emerges as a predominant theme throughout the collection, with women describing the complex and often paradoxical erotic charge of inverting their everyday roles. Professional feminists fantasize about being dominated, corporate executives dream of submission, and traditionally passive personalities find excitement in assuming authority. These power exchanges serve multiple psychological functions: offering freedom from the burden of constant decision-making, addressing deep-seated feelings of imposter syndrome, or providing clarity through clearly defined dominant/submissive roles. The narratives reveal intricate layers of desire and control. One self-described feminist who typically demands equality in her professional and personal relationships confesses her contradictory desire to surrender completely: "I want to be possessed, to have someone take control without BDSM accessories - it's about the raw intensity of being desperately wanted and claimed." Another strong businesswoman who dominates in both her career and typical sexual encounters fantasizes about complete surrender: "In a world where I must constantly control everything about myself - my appearance, my words, my decisions - I crave pure release, to be tied up, controlled, and brought close to climax repeatedly until I'm begging." The collection reveals fascinating contradictions between public personas and private desires, highlighting how fantasy often serves as a pressure valve for daily responsibilities. A legal professional writes, "Though I'm a feminist who believes passionately in women's power and control over their lives, my fantasies all involve being dominated by my boyfriend - ordered around, restrained, made to please him." Another contributor, a university professor and self-described "ardent feminist" who typically demands equality, confesses her desire to be possessed, noting the complex interplay between her feminist principles and her sexual fantasies: "In my imagination, I can surrender without compromising my values - the fantasy actually reinforces my agency because I'm choosing to give up control." These fantasies provide a safe space to explore power dynamics that would be problematic or unacceptable in reality. As Anderson notes in her analysis, "While sexual assault in reality is about power taken, these fantasies are actually about power given - the woman remains in control as the director of her own imagination." The woman in these fantasies occupies a uniquely powerful position - she has reduced her partners to such states of desire that they cannot control themselves, yet she ultimately orchestrates every aspect of the scenario. For many contributors, these power exchanges represent not a rejection of their values but a temporary escape from them - a mental vacation from the responsibilities of constant vigilance and control that many women experience in their daily lives. Some describe it as "permission to pleasure" or a way to explore aspects of themselves that daily life doesn't accommodate. A CEO contributor explains: "In my fantasy life, I can explore being vulnerable in ways I never could at work. It's liberating precisely because it's so different from my everyday reality." The psychological complexity of these power dynamics often extends beyond simple dominance and submission. Many women describe layered scenarios where physical submission masks emotional dominance, or where the act of surrendering actually demonstrates ultimate control. This interplay reveals how fantasy allows women to explore and resolve the tensions between their public strength and private desires, their feminist principles and their sexual imagination.

Chapter 4

Forbidden Desires: Exploring the Allure of Taboo

What constitutes "forbidden" varies dramatically between individuals, shaped by cultural context, religion, personal boundaries, and societal norms. Many contributors describe fantasies that might seem relatively tame to some readers but represent significant transgressions within their particular circumstances. The definition of taboo shifts across cultures and generations - what's scandalous in one context might be perfectly acceptable in another. If homosexuality is illegal in your country or forbidden by your religion, same-sex fantasies feel extremely illicit. Similarly, activities considered mundane in secular societies often carry heavy moral weight in conservative communities. One bisexual Latin American woman writes about her "controversial" fantasies involving women, noting she can't tell her friends since "sexuality remains taboo for many Latin American women." She describes the internal conflict between her desires and cultural expectations, where even discussing menstruation or basic anatomy remains uncomfortable. Another describes growing up evangelical in the American South, which kept her unaware of her queerness since "even contemplating homosexual desires risked eternal damnation." Her story reflects how religious doctrine can create deep-seated shame around natural sexual impulses. Many letters outline fantasies about someone just out of reach - a friend, relative, or neighbor - where the forbidden nature itself becomes the most erotic element. The impossibility and wrongness of the situation often amplifies the fantasy's power. One woman simply states, "I am in love with my best friend, I want to touch her. I fuck her in my head, in my normal day-to-day." Another describes elaborate fantasies about her husband's brother, noting the irony that "his brother liked me for years before I chose my husband." These forbidden attractions often persist despite happy relationships, suggesting the taboo itself provides unique erotic charge. Religious taboos feature prominently, with several contributors describing fantasies that deliberately transgress sacred boundaries. The juxtaposition of the sacred and profane appears repeatedly as a powerful theme. One woman's "most meaningful sexual fantasy" involves finding an empty church where a man would perform oral sex on her as she lies on the altar, her moans of pleasure filling the echoing space. The specific details - the cold stone altar, filtered light through stained glass, the sacrilegious nature of the act - make the fantasy particularly potent. Another simply states, "I fantasise about being fucked in a church. In the pews, under the stained-glass windows, staring at Jesus on the cross." The deliberately blasphemous nature of these fantasies suggests a complex relationship with religious authority and sexual freedom. These fantasies offer temporary respite from shame, an escape into a world where desires aren't judged. They provide a safe space to explore transgressive thoughts without real-world consequences. As Anderson suggests, "If we could loosen shame's chains in reality, what pleasurable heights might we all reach?" This question points to broader implications about how societal restrictions shape our desires and whether embracing our taboo fantasies might lead to greater sexual and emotional freedom.

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Chapter 5

The Gaze: Watching and Being Watched

Social media has transformed us into a society of watchers and watched, where we constantly observe others' lives while potentially exposing our own. This cultural shift is reflected in numerous fantasies involving voyeurism and exhibitionism-the thrill of seeing or being seen in intimate moments. Many contributors describe fantasies of being observed during sex, sometimes by strangers, sometimes by specific individuals. One woman in her sixties describes her lifelong fantasy of being taken to the cinema by her boyfriend, where during an interval the house lights suddenly come up, revealing an audience of only men. Her boyfriend then leads her naked onto the stage, announcing he'll "display" her for everyone to see. Another fantasizes about being in a room with glass walls where an audience watches her through one-way mirrors as she's pleasured by a robot they control. The complementary desire to watch others in intimate moments appears equally powerful. One woman describes fantasizing about watching her husband have sex with another woman-specifically one they met on a cruise fourteen years ago. Another shares her fantasy of being a "lowly deckhand on a pirate ship with an all-female crew," where she's summoned to the captain's quarters to discover pairs of naked women pleasuring each other before joining them. These fantasies reveal complex relationships with visibility and privacy. As Anderson notes, "In fantasies, we can be both audience and actor, subject and object, shifting between roles based on our desires." For someone who is watched professionally like Anderson, this creates a complicated relationship with privacy-comfortable being observed when playing a role but self-conscious in personal life. The fantasy of being watched often connects to desires for validation and affirmation. Being the object of others' gaze-particularly a desiring gaze-confirms one's attractiveness and worth. As one contributor writes, "My fantasy is to be desired. Growing up chubby and not feeling attractive, I dream of someone craving me carnally and obscenely."

Chapter 6

Multiple Partners: The Fantasy of More

Fantasies involving multiple sexual partners emerge as the most prevalent and diverse theme in the collection, encompassing threesomes, group encounters, and various combinations of gender identities. These scenarios represent more than just physical desire - they embody complex psychological needs including the wish to reinvigorate long-term partnerships, explore forbidden territories without real-world consequences, or experience an abundance of sensual stimulation that transcends ordinary experience. The narratives reveal how these fantasies often serve as psychological release valves for those in conventional relationships. One middle-aged American woman, married for twenty-three years with a predictable intimate life, finds liberation through elaborate fantasies where she's "gang-banged at a masked sex party by well-endowed men who take turns pleasuring her while she services others." Her fantasy includes specific details about masks, silk sheets, and dim lighting - elements that create a safe distance from reality while maximizing erotic potential. A transgender woman describes how hormone therapy triggered a profound second sexual awakening, transforming her previous singular partner fantasies into expansive scenarios including "multiple partners - sometimes up to seven men at once," reflecting her evolving sexual identity. These multi-partner scenarios frequently involve precise configurations that would be logistically complex or impossible in reality. One woman in her seventies crafts detailed fantasies about being surrounded by "fifteen or more of my best past lovers - all beautiful, respectful men who know exactly how to please me," creating an idealized highlight reel of her sexual history. Another contributor elaborates an intricate fantasy where she's the sole female resident at an isolated monastery, engaging in various consensual activities with the monks - a scenario that combines forbidden religious elements with group dynamics. For many contributors, multiple-partner fantasies provide safe spaces to explore unexperienced aspects of their sexuality. A virgin in her twenties describes meeting an attractive couple at a luxury hotel bar, leading to an evening where she experiences both masculine and feminine touch for the first time. A septuagenarian imagines her husband and two longtime male friends creating a cocoon of pleasure around her, making her "feel utterly beautiful and desired" - a fantasy that speaks to deeper needs for validation and attraction in later life. The collection reveals how these fantasies often feature intricate choreography that would challenge even experienced practitioners in reality. One woman shares a detailed vacation fantasy where she and her husband encounter a curvaceous stranger at a beach resort, leading to "an intense threesome where I position her between us, pleasuring her while my husband takes her from behind." The fantasy includes specific details about ocean sounds, the taste of salt on skin, and synchronized movements that would be nearly impossible to recreate - highlighting how fantasy allows us to transcend not just social boundaries but also physical limitations. These multiple-partner scenarios often incorporate elements of both control and surrender, allowing the fantasizer to orchestrate complex sexual encounters while simultaneously losing themselves in pleasure. Many contributors emphasize how these fantasies provide not just sexual satisfaction but also emotional fulfillment, creating scenarios where they feel desired, appreciated, and completely free from judgment or constraint.

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Chapter 7

The Tender Touch: Yearning for Connection

In striking contrast to fantasies of wild abandon, many contributors express desires for tenderness, emotional connection, and safety. These letters reveal profound longing for romance, affection, and being truly seen-often in response to relationships lacking these qualities. One woman shares her seemingly insignificant fantasy that fills her with embarrassment: "I simply want to be kissed. Kissed on the lips-gently, roughly, with passion-just once more before I die." Another at fifty yearns "simply to be touched," wondering if she'll spend her remaining years without caresses or sexual excitement. Many of these gentler fantasies take place in natural settings like forests or water, suggesting a desire to return to basics away from modern complexities. One woman describes wandering through a vast nighttime forest where she encounters fauns who provide moments of joy away from her drab life. Another imagines herself "splayed on a forest floor, hillside, or beach" in communion with nature. These fantasies often represent healing responses to past trauma. A woman sexually assaulted at eleven describes fantasies centered on "a caring, faceless man I trust completely" who touches her slowly, talks constantly about his desire, and checks her comfort. Another who can only have sex while heavily intoxicated fantasizes about "safe, trusting sex where I actually enjoy myself without self-consciousness." Despite increasing independence among women, many still desire moments of dependence-to be cared for, soothed, and affirmed. One woman describes her "Care Play" fantasy set in a magical university where her professor creates a calming potion and provides understanding rather than pity. Another longs for "a partner who takes care of me in bed, making our bodies and pleasure mutually familiar." In our hyperconnected world where technology often impedes real intimacy, these fantasies reflect a fundamental human need to be loved, respected, and treated with kindness. As one contributor simply states, "My fantasy is to have a man love me for who I am and not to see me as a living sex toy."

Chapter 8

Fantasy as Self-Discovery: Exploring Identity Through Desire

For many contributors, sexual fantasies serve as laboratories for exploring aspects of identity-gender, sexuality, power, and personhood-in ways that may not be possible or safe in their everyday lives. These mental explorations often reveal truths about the self that conscious thought might miss or suppress. Several contributors describe fantasies that helped them recognize or accept their sexual orientation. One woman writes, "I never imagined feeling this intensely about someone of the same sex," while another notes, "As a pansexual woman who's been in a committed relationship with a man since I was eighteen, I've never explored my attraction to women. These fantasies affirm my sexuality even though I may never have real sexual encounters with women." Gender exploration appears frequently, with several contributors describing fantasies involving gender transformation or fluidity. One woman fantasizes about having a penis while still loving her feminine body, desiring "to experience the pleasure men feel during heterosexual sex." Another imagines herself with "both male and female genitalia that interchanged between us, allowing me to experience penetration from both perspectives." For some, fantasies serve as bridges between their current reality and potential futures. A young lesbian puzzles over her effective sexual fantasy involving her male supervisor, noting her confusion about these thoughts despite never before fantasizing about men. Another describes fantasizing about divorce or widowhood to experience lesbian relationships, creating "bittersweet fantasies embedded with yearning for a path I didn't know existed when younger." Perhaps most profoundly, many contributors describe fantasies of self-acceptance and integration. One woman at thirty-eight recently experienced her "first out-of-body meditative experience where I made out with myself," describing this as a "transformative moment" that helped her "finally love and accept all parts of myself after years of feeling hurt and misunderstood." Another's "most guarded fantasy" involves herself-meeting herself at a hotel room door and making love to herself perfectly, experiencing "both what I'm giving and receiving." These self-exploratory fantasies reveal how our erotic imaginations can guide us toward deeper self-understanding and acceptance, offering insights that might remain hidden in more conscious contemplation.

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Chapter 9

The Liberation of Fantasy: Embracing Our Desires

The extraordinary diversity of fantasies collected in "Want" demonstrates that there is no "normal" when it comes to desire. From tentacles to door handles, hairy armpits to adult diapers, women's erotic imaginations prove boundlessly creative and deeply personal. What emerges most clearly is that fantasy provides a crucial space for women to explore desires free from judgment, consequences, or practical limitations. Despite fifty years of evolution since "My Secret Garden" and the internet enabling access to every conceivable kink and community, shame persists around sexual desires. Many contributors express relief at finally articulating fantasies they've kept hidden for decades, suggesting that the simple act of acknowledgment can be powerfully liberating. The collection challenges persistent myths about women's sexuality-that women are less visual, less interested in variety, or inherently more romantic than sexual. Instead, it reveals women as complex sexual beings with desires ranging from tender connection to primal abandon, from vanilla to kinky, from monogamous to multiple partners. Perhaps most importantly, "Want" demonstrates that fantasy and reality need not align. Many contributors explicitly state that their fantasies represent desires they would never want to experience in real life. The woman who fantasizes about being dominated completely while being a "firm feminist" notes that this contradicts "everything I believe in and would never want in real life." Another who imagines being kidnapped by terrorists emphasizes, "I don't support violent organizations." This distinction between fantasy and reality offers profound freedom-the liberty to explore any scenario, any dynamic, any desire within the safe confines of imagination. As Anderson notes in her introduction, "If I have one hope, it's that this book starts a new conversation about sexual power for women and genderqueer people. Sexual liberation must mean freedom to enjoy sex on our terms, to express what we truly want rather than what we're pressured to want." In this sense, "Want" continues the revolutionary work begun by Nancy Friday-normalizing women's sexual desires, reducing shame, and creating space for honest conversation about the rich interior landscapes we all inhabit but rarely share.

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Key Themes in WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

female sexual fantasy
erotic inner lives
power exchange dynamics
feminist identity paradox
sexual liberation

Quotes from WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Sexual liberation must mean freedom to enjoy sex on our terms.
I would like to understand myself.
Fantasies give her 'the will to live'.
Be entirely in our bodies and out of our heads.
Permission to pleasure.

Characters in WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Gillian AndersonAuthor and curator of the fantasy collection
Nancy FridayAuthor of the 1973 book My Secret Garden
Dakota JohnsonCelebrity promoter of sexual wellness brands

About the Author

Gillian Leigh Anderson, born in Chicago in 1968, is an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress, activist, and writer best known for her iconic role as FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files. In Want, she curates a groundbreaking collection of anonymous sexual fantasies from women worldwide, exploring themes of female desire, empowerment, and sexual liberation.

Anderson's work on Netflix's Sex Education inspired her to create a safe platform where women could share their intimate fantasies without judgment. Beyond Want, she co-authored The EarthEnd Saga fantasy trilogy with Jeff Rovin and the self-help guide We: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere with Jennifer Nadel.

With acclaimed roles in The Crown, The Fall, and Hannibal, Anderson brings her fearless storytelling approach to this intimate anthology. Want features contributions from women across cultures and generations, including Anderson's own anonymous submission, making it a raw and deeply personal exploration of contemporary female sexuality that challenges cultural taboos around women's desires.

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

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"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

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@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

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@Jaded_Falcon

201

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@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

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Chapter 3

WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

OverviewOverview of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Desire Unbound: When Fantasy Meets Liberation

The Secret Gardens of Our Minds: Understanding Fantasy's Purpose

See every word as you hear it

Power Dynamics: The Thrill of Control and Surrender

Forbidden Desires: Exploring the Allure of Taboo

Get more out of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

The Gaze: Watching and Being Watched

Multiple Partners: The Fantasy of More

See every word as you hear it

The Tender Touch: Yearning for Connection

Fantasy as Self-Discovery: Exploring Identity Through Desire

Get more out of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

The Liberation of Fantasy: Embracing Our Desires

You made it to the end of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Key Themes in WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Quotes from WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Characters in WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

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1,000,000+ curious minds.

1,000,000+ curious minds.

One book. Many ways to hear it.

Desire Unbound: When Fantasy Meets Liberation

The Secret Gardens of Our Minds: Understanding Fantasy's Purpose

See every word as you hear it

Power Dynamics: The Thrill of Control and Surrender

Forbidden Desires: Exploring the Allure of Taboo

Get more out of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

The Gaze: Watching and Being Watched

Multiple Partners: The Fantasy of More

See every word as you hear it

The Tender Touch: Yearning for Connection

Fantasy as Self-Discovery: Exploring Identity Through Desire

Get more out of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

The Liberation of Fantasy: Embracing Our Desires

You made it to the end of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere

Users also liked

Discover more

Overview of WE: A Manifesto for Women Everywhere