Editorial Review

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Reviews (43)

Updated 2005 Edition is Grrreat!
My sister in law had the older version of this book, and she showed it to my wife.We wanted something to make our love-life more exciting.
Secret Sealed Seductions Spice Up Your Love Life
Got this book as an anniversary gift for DH.It is grrreat! You rip out a sealed 'envelope' and open it up for an awesome seduction, complete with ingredients and instructions.We love knowing the other has something planned, but not knowing what it is until it happens!
101 Nigths of Grrreat Romance
Not only was I excited, but my husband couldn't have thought of a better idea himself than a book that does the planning for you. On top of working and parenting the last thing we have time for is to come up with creative ideas to keep the romance alive. Certainly this book is sure to be beneficial to any new or old lovers who are looking for a little spice in the bedroom and beyond. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Health & Fitness    3. Health/Fitness    4. Human Sexuality    5. Love    6. Love / Sex / Marriage    7. Man-woman relationships    8. Miscellanea    9. Sex    10. Sexual Instruction   

Reviews (10)

Two parts are especially helpful...
First, many women (having never experienced ejaculation) fear that they are about to urinate when they come near ejaculation.So, the woman stops on the path and never experiences ejaculation.This book offers very specific exercises to help a woman distiguish between urination and ejaculation and so learn to boldly move toward some amazing orgasms.Developing just that one knack (distinguishing ejaculation from urination) will be all that some women need in order to experienc ejaculation since they're already coming near ejaculation but changing directions when they come near.
easy to read
This book really breaks it down to where anyone can understand the terminology. Its easy to read and very informative and I would recommend it to anyone

Awesome Book and Learning Experience
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to increase their sexual excitement. My wife bought this book and WOW!!! She is my Fountain of Youth! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Family/Marriage    2. Female orgasm    3. G spot    4. Human Sexuality    5. Love / Sex / Marriage    6. Sexual Instruction    7. Sexual behavior    8. Women   

Reviews (6)

SunnyFlorida
This book helped me immensely.I bought the book about 7 years ago. Before I read and followed this book, I thought I would be "faking it" my whole life.I doubt I would have figured out how to acheive "it" if I hadn't read this.I highly recommend it to any woman who just doesn't get it when it comes to orgasm and you feel like you're the only one!This book can truly help you.

Thoroughly helpful
For all those women out there who think there's something wrong with them... chances are there's NOT!!! Medically Correct
What I liked best about this book, was it was not pornography in disguise.So many sex "self-help" books boarder on the inapproptiate.But not this one.The language was respectful and diagrams tasteful.Read more

Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Female orgasm    4. General    5. Love / Sex / Marriage    6. Psychology    7. Sex (Psychology)    8. Sex instruction for women    9. Sexual Instruction    10. Sexuality    11. Women    12. Family & Relationships / General    13. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (15)

So you think you want a slave?
There are a lot of "how to" books around on BDSM, which mainly cover areas such as negotiating play, safewords, toys and scenes.There is a dearth of literature on the topic of D/s in a real life relationship.Miss Abernathy has attempted to fill that void with this manual, and has succeeded admirably. Brief, solid introduction to a developing art
Contrary to what you may have heard or read, slave training is actually a new art -- when slavery was legal and socially supported, owners didn't waste tiem training slaves, other slaves did that.This book is really the philosophy part of a set of books written about erotica slavery, or what Miss Abernathy calls "slavehood" in today's so-called kinky community.The book has two parts: "The Training Program" and "D/S Relationships". The basic philosophy is that a training program contains basic standard components but also needs to reflect the individual needs of erotic owners and erotic slaves.Likewise relationships have certain common characteristic but are unique to the couple (or group) involved.It is one of the books I highly recommend.

Concise Indeed
This book is in fact very well written and very concise. However, I was disappointed by it. I came to the book with questions about consensual slavery and the practice thereof that were not answered. Instead, I read a very short and very witty and warm overview of just about everything I already knew--maybe a little less, and I am not all that knowledgeable. Her workbook was more informative, and that is the one that I read first, which helped me form so many of my questions, but the format is not one which will directly answer the questions of an owner, since it is written mainly for the unowned slave. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Psychology    4. Sexual Instruction    5. Sexuality - Manuals    6. Erotic fiction    7. Sex & sexuality   

Editorial Review

Philip Miller and Molly Devon think that S/M is fun, and "that reading about it should be fun, too." Read more

Reviews (59)

Funky sex is fun, too
Together Philip Miller, who is dominant, and Molly Devon, a submissive, has written a book that contains more or less everything you'd ever want to know about sadomasochism, bondage, dominance/submission, and alternative and different sexual and non-sexual relationships. They both have lots of experience, and when they wrote Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns, which was first published in 1995, they managed to put together what must be one of the most complete guidebooks ever written about these matters.
An Excellent and Entertaining Introduction to S&M
This is my favorite of the several S&M "how to" books that I have read.It's funny!And that makes it a good read, while you absorb very useful information such as where not to flog your submissive so they don't end up with kidney failure (it's good to know, I rather like my boyfriend having working kidneys), or how to make different types of cloth gags (I live in an apartment, so I don't want my neighbors complaining when he screams).
Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns
Excellent book, easy reading, well written, and very informative. I especially liked the beginning chapters which explained what it is that we do, and why. There is also a lot of practical advice on how to do various things, toy making, connecting with support resources, etc. I found this book very "real world", for people living this real time. Beginners and experienced folks alike should find it useful reading. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Psychology    3. Sadomasochism    4. Sexual dominance and submission    5. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (2)

This item refers to study guide.
Be careful. There is a misleading entry for $8.95 with the same title.The entry should be corrected to "Study guide To Accompany Gender: Psychological Perspectives".Please, don't waste your money ordering the study guide unless you really want one.The study guide entry lacks a picture of the cover.This is the second time on Amazon this has happened to me, be careful!

Bla Bla Bla
This book is possibly the worst I have read in a long time. It blabs on making inane points with specific examples that justify the exact inane point. It even says "science" was started in Europe in the 16th century...um sure... The According to the Media and According to the Research sections are rediculous. The author's own personal bias towards physchology is more easily seen than say Michael Moore's bias towards America in Stupid White Men. This book is a waste of your time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gender Psychology    2. Gender Studies    3. Gender identity    4. General    5. Human Sexuality    6. Sex Roles (Sociological Aspects)    7. Sex differences (Psychology)    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Textbooks    11. Psychology    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (23)

HE : A must have / read book for every man growing up
After gaining personal insights that I had never seen articulated so well, I gave HE to all my sons -5 - one of whom told me "that HE was a book which should be made mandatory reading for every boy in high school. HE helps put the forces which drive male psycholgy in perspective and balance incredibly well.

The Grail serves God in Johnson's interpretation.
This small book actually began with 10 lectures given by Robert Johnson at an Episcopal Church. Thus they are concise and do not offer a broad array of examples. I found the book to be excellent and found it much more to the point that Emma Jung's long study of the Holy Grail myth in all it permutations.
Every man is on a Quest
This book is disjointed, underdeveloped, and, at times, cursorily written.Why, then, the four gold stars?
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Subjects:  1. 12th cent    2. Chretien,    3. History and criticism    4. Human Sexuality    5. Knights and knighthood in literature    6. Men    7. Movements - Behaviorism    8. Perceval (Legendary character)    9. Psychology    10. Romances    11. de Troyes,    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (3)

If you think you know all about sex, think again!
I had to use this textbook when I took Dr King's Psychology class at the University of New Orleans (Spring '06). I found it to be a very informative eye-opener. Dr King presents information in a clear, concise, just-the-facts way, yet it doesn't read like a 'boring old textbook.' The information really makes the reader think twice about the West's cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives on the nature of sexuality.
Good Book and Great Class!
I recently had Dr. King's class at the University of New Orleans during the Spring semester of 05, his class is the best! I enjoyed every minute of sitting through his lectures! He's is a great professor and a great writer! Keep up the good work!

Great
The book arrived in timely manner. Also, the book was in good condition
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Human Sexuality    3. Psychology    4. Sex    5. Sex (Biology)    6. Sex (Psychology)    7. Sex instruction for youth    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Philosophy & psychology    12. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    13. Sexual behaviour   

Reviews (1)

Informative But Technical
Because the text is a compilation of chapters by different authors, the style and content vary dramatically.The book functions very well as an introductory text for sex therapy and gives a fairly comprehensive overview of the major topics in the field.
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Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Psychology    3. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    4. Sex Therapy    5. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality    6. Psychotherapy    7. Sexual behaviour    8. Urology & urogenital medicine   

Reviews (19)

Invaluable
Everyone should read this book.There is so much information in it about how healthy families behave that it would be useful even for those who have not been subject to an extremely close relationship with a parent.
Good Insights - Not enopugh practical advice
Good insights into the nature of emotional incest. Well written. Definitely worth a read, but falls short on advice as to WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

The right level of detail and advice
I found this book to be a good compromise between scientific explanation and practical advice. I would buy it again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abuse - General    2. Human Sexuality    3. Psychology    4. Family & Health    5. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality    6. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (6)

Horrible is an understatement
This jack rinella character not only seems to have limited experience in BDSM, but his writing style and ability is not above fifth-grade level.His paragraphs are one long, "Lost in his own self-importance" sentence.He seems to have no idea how to use punctuation and worse, he has misspelled words throughout his self-aggrandizing, shallow, uninformative, lackluster, run on, two-sentence chapters.
Its about relationships, not a how-to
This book is somewhere between the slave training guides by "Miss Abernathy" and the idealized multitude of "first-person" stories you can find anywhere.This is not a how-to manual.This is instead a look at relationships and how they might actually work or not work using one man's life as the basis.He covers about every topic I can think of that a gay master-slave couple might encounter but there are no how-to details here as he states in his introduction.Frankly given the personal nature of the book I wish the stories could have continued, often we just see snippets that left me wanting to know more especially on the slave side of the relationship.If you are looking for someone to give you the "one true path/method" look elsewhere.Looking to think more and be reassured that yes, love can equal ownership; this is a good book to start with.

Not For Everyone
From the back cover of the book: "Whether you are a novice D/s player or an experienced Master or slave, this insightful and forthright volume will prove to be a great read and a valuable reference guide."NOT.Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality    3. Self-Help    4. Sexual Instruction    5. Sociology    6. Sex & sexuality   

Reviews (4)

A Wonderful Book -- for certain couples
Potential readers should start by considering what this book *isn't*. It's not an "erotic" book, intended to titillate. It's not a "how-to-make-your-hot-marriage-hotter" book or a "how-to-be-a-better-lover" book. Neither is it intended for couples whose marriages are extremely dysfunctional, erotically or otherwise. It also might not be helpful for people who don't have a regular sexual partner. With some modifications, it might be helpful for gay and lesbian couples.
not a good book
I only bought this book because it was a dollar or two.If I had seen it in a bookstore instead of online I wouldn't even have spent a dollar or two.Not a very modern sex book.Wouldn't recommend it at any price.

"For Each Other"-Should be "For Women Only"
VERY disappointed in this.Thought it was a way that both partners could share, but it's written by a woman FOR women on how they can work through the WOMAN's perspective.
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Subjects:  1. Family & Relationships    2. Family/Marriage    3. Love / Sex / Marriage    4. Sexual Instruction    5. Sexual behavior    6. Sexuality    7. Women    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality   

Reviews (2)

Destroying the mind forged restraints
In the second volume of his history of sexuality L'Usage des plaisirs or The Use of Pleasure M. Foucault turns to ancient Greece, an era opulent in honest eroticism. Sexuality is so key to our development that all sorts of restrictions are found in the most primitive of societies. According to M. Foucault, even in the animal kingdom, sexual practice is followed by something remarkably resembling the seeds of moral behavior. We must move outside the confines of society, if only for a short time, if we wish to escape the confining practices of sexual morality. Within this framework,the bathhouse and the orgy chambers may be said to offer refuge transgression from the constraints of civilization. It seems that the only place in society where sexuality has ever been entirely free of moral hindrances has been the fantasizing adolescent mind. For more on this topic, kindly refer to History of Sexuality Volume 1: An Introduction and History of Sexuality Volume 3: The Care of the Self (Also available on Amazon.com). Good Use of Leisure
Although it is not as theoretically courageous, The Use of Pleasure is tenfold more interesting and approachable than the first volume in this trilogy on the history of sexuality.Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History & Surveys - Modern    3. Human Sexuality    4. Mind & Body    5. Philosophy    6. Sex customs    7. Sexual behavior    8. Philosophy / General   

Subjects:  1. Marital Therapy    2. Marital psychotherapy    3. Psychology    4. Psychopathology - Compulsive Behavior    5. Psychotherapy - Couples & Family    6. Sex Disorders    7. Sex therapy    8. Sexual Disorders    9. methods    10. Neurology & clinical neurophysiology    11. Psychology & Psychiatry / Family Therapy    12. Psychotherapy    13. Sexual behaviour   

Reviews (2)

Simply the BEST!
This is just about the BEST book ever written in the entire history of the human race! Whether or not you are a sociologist, sexologist, or just someone looking for an incredible piece of scientific work ... this is the book you need to read. I read it cover-to-cover without even putting it down, it's that good. Impressive research, and ethicists' tempest in a teapot
This book is the first and one of the few and to study male-male sexual behavior as it occurs between men who do not primarily identify themselves as being homosexual or bisexual.Previous studies had been largelyclinical, based on the reports of individuals undergoing psychotherapy, andmost ethnographic studies have been of more or less gay-identifiedcommunities -- gay bars, gay organizations, gay neighborhoods -- or maleprostitutes.This was the first to study men who have sex with men but whomostly have lives as apparently ordinary, married heterosexuals.The studyrevealed some surprising facts about such men, and fired a controversy oversociological ethics and propriety that continues to this day.Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay Studies    2. Gender Studies    3. Human Sexuality    4. Sociology    5. Cultural studies    6. Social Science / Gender Studies   

Reviews (8)

The Feminine Struggle - From a very Masculine point of view
I was impressed with what Mr. Johnson did with "HE," his book about the archetypal stages in development toward masculine maturity, and I eagerly dove into "SHE," the feminine counterpart.
A Revealing Treatment of the Psyche/Eros Myth
"It is very easy to relegate mythology to a far away place long ago and thus isolate it from the mainstream of here-and-now life." So says Robert A. Johnson in the final chapter of SHE. This short, easy to read book, like Psyche's lamp, sheds light on the inner life of women, as well as the feminine within the male psyche. I've been aware of the Myth of Psyche for many years and have read several books mentioning it. However, I felt the authors often got lost in intellectual jargon or digressive personal experiences, so the meaning of the myth always eluded me. While I had a general idea of its importance, its deeper meanings always remained just out of reach. Johnson systematically takes each stage of the myth apart and shows the reader how it applies to the psyche, and there were many revelations for me in this book. For those who have read SHE and come away unenlightened or confused, I would suggest that perhaps this is not the fault of either author or reader. It does help to have at least a little knowledge of Jungian thought (although Johnson's book could serve as an intriguing introduction to Jungian psychology). I would say that if you're interested in the topic, keep reading about it. Keep building on your knowledge. Over time, your mind will sort out the information--just as the ants help Psyche to sort out the seeds--and you'll come to your own epiphany about the Myth of Psyche, just like I did when I read Johnson's book. I wish readers well in their search.
complex & obtuse
I admit, I didn't get it.I bought this book on the strong recommendation of a psychology major, who praised He, She & We (all three books by Johnson).Perhaps my lack of understanding of Jungian theory interfered with my ability to glean meaning from the text.Read more

Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Psychology    3. Women    4. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Reviews (7)

Fine Work
If you want to learn, this book will teach you how. One of the best how-to books concerning luv in recent memory.This is a terrific book if one wants to communicate better with their lover.I liked this book it was easy to understand which is why I rated it 4 stars cuz if you wanna know how to this will help.
LAME
Do not buy this book. Unless you need to be able to laugh about your inability to "talk dirty" with your partner. This book was a complete and total waste of time and money.

Tell it like it is!
I admire this author's willingness to explore the taboo subject of dirty talk, no matter how embarrassing and finicky it may seem to some people. I found myself nodding in agreement at society's timid approach to verbal stimulation during intimacy. The Fine Art of Erotic Talk is a great beginner's guidebook on how to express yourself verbally in bed. I was duly impressed with this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Erotica    2. Love / Sex / Marriage    3. Self-Help    4. Sex    5. Sex (Psychology)    6. Sexual Instruction    7. Sexual behavior    8. Verbal behavior    9. Family & Relationships / Sexuality    10. Gender studies    11. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Editorial Review

This is an essential read for anyone wanting to understand how S/M can be primal, when leather can be spiritual, why someone could be proud of being a sadist, or how to find joy and wholeness in our dark sides. Rinella notes that "attitude makes the difference between being a master and a top," and Read more

Reviews (16)

Like Most of His Other Writings
Perhaps because I subscribe to Jack Rinella's Leather Views column, I did not find this book particularly enlightening. It told me nothing that I have not already seen in his column, which I find more anecdotal than enlightening. Persons who are fans of Jack Rinella will certainly like this book and will applaud it; persons who are not will not. Persons who have had no prior exposure to Jack Rinella's writings, however, are likely to fall into many categories, with those persons with homophobic sentiments being the first to take offense to the work, as Jack Rinella makes no apologies for his sexual orientation. Here I would say that the reader would do well to cast aside such prejudices before judging the value of the work itself.
This guy doesn't have a clue
If you are looking for information or pleasure reading on the subject of BDSM, don't go anywhere near this author.The 'author', jack rinella, seems to have a very limited understanding of BDSM.It appears that he uses these barely literate books of his as some sort of slurred, unintelligible series of pickup lines.There is a distinct void of information in these books, quite likely because this `author' doesn't have a clue about BDSM.He seems to view himself as some sort of player and blathers on incessantly about himself, but never approaches an understanding of the topic of BDSM.
Nothing new
Altogether i'm rather disappointed. From the title i expected a more in-depth treatment on dominance and submission in a relationship, but Rinella's offering is more of a general introduction to the Leather/BDSM scene. The book is essentially a series of unconnected essays, most of which were published separately elsewhere, and now weakly tied together. It offers a melange of firsthand experiences, expositions on theory, and tidbits of practical advice, all mixed together. Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay men    2. Human Sexuality    3. Leather lifestyle    4. Psychology    5. Psychology & Psychiatry / Human Sexuality    6. Sadomasochism    7. Sexual Instruction    8. Sexual dominance and submissio    9. Sexual dominance and submission    10. United States    11. Alternative Sexual Behavior    12. Gender studies    13. Health & Fitness    14. Sex & sexuality    15. Sexuality   

Reviews (41)

Evolution of desire.
The author does a superb job tracking down the evolution of desire via a plethora of studies, including some conducted by the author and his colleagues. Though it's true that evolution has granted us certain "sexual strategies", psychologically we are more complex mentally than hunters and gathers. The book reads exactly as the title suggest. The author never dabbles into behavioral psychology to explain anything left unexplained by evolutionary psychology. You may catch yourself arguing with the book, trying to explain human motives through behavioral psychology. A major pet peeve for me is I often find the author repeating statements, especially in the later chapters.

Provocative...
I gave this book a 5 rating because it is provocative and challenges a lot of society's assumptions about sexual behavior.While I realize the book has some shortcomings, it does shed a lot of light on human mating strategy.
Very good
A deep dive in human mating process. We can follow the author in every aspect of men and women behaviour toward relationships. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Human Sexuality    2. Psychology    3. Sex    4. Sex (Psychology)    5. Sex Relations    6. Sexual attraction    7. Sexuality    8. Social Science    9. Sociology - General