Dr. Ruth Westheimer (June 4, 1928 – July 12, 2024), born Karola Ruth Siegel, was a trailblazing German-American sex therapist, media pioneer, Holocaust survivor, and bestselling author who fundamentally transformed the global discourse on human intimacy. After escaping Nazi Germany via the Kindertransport at age ten and later serving as a trained sniper in the Haganah in mandatory Palestine, she immigrated to New York in 1956. She went on to earn a Master's degree in Sociology from The New School and a Doctorate of Education (EdD) from Teachers College, Columbia University. Standing at just 4 feet 7 inches, her infectious energy, unmistakable German accent, and nonjudgmental, fact-based approach turned her late-night radio program, Sexually Speaking, into a national syndication phenomenon by 1984. Over a prolific career spanning television, radio, and global universities, she shattered taboos around female pleasure, sex education, and HIV/AIDS prevention. A highly dynamic writer, she authored more than 40 books—ranging from Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex to her final national bestseller on combating isolation, The Joy of Connections (2024)—leaving an indelible legacy as a cultural icon who proved there was never anything to be ashamed of when it came to love and relationships.
This profile is awaiting source review; collected books are already linked below.
