Can Everyone Please Calm Down?

Can Everyone Please Calm Down? A Guide to 21st Century Sexuality is a 2019 young adult literature and debut book^[1] written by comedian Mae Martin.^[2][3]

Can Everyone Please Calm Down? A Guide to 21st Century Sexuality

Author	Mae Martin
Language	English
Subject	Human sexuality
Genre	Non-fiction
Published	May 2019[1]
Publisher	Hachette Children's
Publication place	United Kingdom

Overview

Author Mae Martin's insights into 21st century sexuality and their own, sometimes humiliating, adventures in courtship, sex and identity.

Origins

In a 2019 BBC interview Martin explains, ""I wanted to write a book that I would have found helpful when I was 14 and approach the subject of sexuality, which these days can seem so fraught and serious and weighed down in debate, with humour and a lighter touch.""^[2]

In the same interview Martin described human sexuality as fluid and a spectrum, using examples of Classical Chinese and Roman civilization as well as celebrities such as musician Miley Cyrus and actor Marlon Brando that rejected definition of their sexuality.^[2]

Media

The BBC said, "With her characteristically jaunty and self-depreciating style, Martin uses a blend of personal anecdotes, embarrassing teen stories and social commentary to show young people it's OK to be attracted to whoever they want."^[2]

When asked what they would change about the book, in a 2022 interview with GQ, Martin stated: 'I'm non-binary and my feelings about my own gender have evolved since I wrote it. So I’d probably delve into that a little more.' Martin also reflected they would 'probably have refrained from using my high school crush’s full name because I think it freaked her out.'^[3]

DIVA magazine wrote, "With a string of acclaimed stand-up hours under her belt, a Radio 4 series, non-fiction book Can Everyone Please Calm Down? A Guide To 21st Century Sexuality and now her very own sitcom, it really feels like Mae’s time to shine."^[4]