Challenging everything from the mandates of the Catholic Church to the hotly debated ethics of pornography, and from the controversy surrounding gay rights to issues of gender and feminism, With Pleasure explores a new theory of human sexuality that ignites every hot topic in the public domain. What role, authors Paul Abramson and Steven Pinkerton ask, does sexual pleasure play in our lives? Is the pursuit of sexual enjoyment in our blood? Our brains? Our very nature? Regardless of the source, it can be agreed that the joys of sex are widely appreciated. Why, then, is pleasure so often overlooked in discussions of sexual behaviour, and why do cultural, historical, and religious treatises so often fail to emphasise, or outright ignore, this obvious aspect of human sexuality?

Responding to these and many other questions about our most private affairs, With Pleasure provides a profoundly original challenge to the cherished truisms of human sexuality. Abramson and Pinkerton proclaim the paramount importance of pleasure, while at the same time overthrowing traditional ideas about gender, pornography, contraception, homosexuality, abortion, and much more. Supported by rigorous research and co-written by one of the foremost authorities on sex, With Pleasure argues that human sexuality cannot be understood if its significance is limited to reproduction alone. The authors posit that in humans reproduction itself occurs as a byproduct of pleasure--not the other way around--and that it is the strong drive for pleasure that makes people overcome many obstacles--and even life-threatening dangers such as AIDS--to have sex. Ranging from discussions about the church to current debates about pornography, and from evolutionary theory to questions about the future of sex and pleasure, Abramson and Pinkerton argue persuasively that the pleasurability of sex cannot be restricted to purely reproductive behaviour.

With Pleasure advances a startling and original new theory about human sexuality, one which the authors believe will replace all existing notions about sex. The book, standing in direct and deliberate opposition to traditions that try to confine sexuality to procreation, is sure to ignite a firestorm of controversy.

A woman's sexuality evolves dramatically during her life. In this book, Elizabeth Davis explores hormones and menstruation, pregnancy and birth, menopause and aging, fertility management through body awareness, and much more, for a complete picture. She analyzes controversial hormone replacement therapy and looks at what effect stress, overwork, major life events, relationship upheaval, and sexual abuse have on a woman's sexual health.

From advertising to health education campaigns, sex and sexual imagery now permeate every aspect of culture. Striptease Culture explores this 'sexualization' of contemporary life, relating it to wider changes in post-war society. Divided into three sections, Striptease Culture first traces the development of pornography, following its movement from elite to mass culture and the contemporary fascination with 'porno-chic'. In part two McNair considers popular cultural forms of sexual representation in the media. Moving from backlash elements in straight male culture and changing images of women to the representation of gays in contemporary film and television shows such as Ellen or Queer as Folk, McNair argues that the high profile of sexuality in contemporary culture, rather than evidence of moral decline, is a positive expression of post-war liberalism and the advance of feminism and gay rights, as well as a key contributor to public health education in the era of HIV and AIDS.
In part three, McNair turns to the uses of sexuality in contemporary art, examining the artistic 'striptease' of Jeff Koons and others, who have used their own naked bodies in their work. McNair also considers how feminist and gay artists have employed sexuality in the critique and transformation of patriarchy. In a concluding chapter, McNair considers the implications of the rise of striptease culture for the future of sexual politics.

In this rigorous and supremely honest book Alain de Botton helps us navigate the intimate and exciting - yet often confusing and difficult - experience that is sex. Few of us tend to feel we're entirely normal when it comes to sex, and what we're supposed to be feeling rarely matches up with the reality. This book argues that 21st-century sex is ultimately fated to be a balancing act between love and desire, and adventure and commitment. Covering topics that include lust, fetishism, adultery and pornography, Alain de Botton frankly articulates the dilemmas of modern sexuality, offering insights and consolation to help us think more deeply and wisely about the sex we are, or aren't, having. One in the new series of books from The School of Life, launched May 2012: How to Stay Sane by Philippa Perry How to Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric How to Worry Less About Money by John Armstrong How to Change the World by John-Paul Flintoff How to Thrive in the Digital Age by Tom Chatfield How to Think More About Sex by Alain de Botton

"Sensual Sex" is based on the idea that by becoming more attuned to our five senses we can develop an increasingly erotic relationship with our body and our partner's body. Sex therapist Beverly Engel takes readers through each of the five senses and gives exercises to help lovers increase their pleasure and intimacy by learning to luxuriate in their senses. 10 b&w photos. National radio drive-time tour.

In this warm and insightful book (formerly titled Sexual Healing), Barbara Keesling describes the many benefits of a healthy sex life, teaches readers how to recognize a healing partner, and demonstrates how to introduce sexual healing into a relationship at any stage. Packed with intimate exercises that can be practiced with a partner or alone, the book eases performance pressure and encourages readers to explore how touch and arousal can improve all areas of life.

Succumb to your primal desires with The Little Book of Sex. From the first signs of attraction to the post-coital glow, explore the wonderful world of sex through raunchy quotes, tales of history's most insatiable lovers, and sensual tips to get you in the mood for lurve. With forays into foreplay, a romp through the Karma Sutra and even an explanation of the science behind the sizzle, you're in for titillating treat.

Perfect for couples who want to add a bit of spice to their love life or as a cheeky present for a friend soon to be hitched, The Little Book of Sex is the ideal book to get you feeling frisky (and probably provide a bit of a giggle at the same time!).

Nobody thinks love unimportant, but people are not as clear as they should be about what love involves, and about what it is to learn to love. This study is primarily concerned with personal love between the sexes (or between members of the same sex). It is a mixture of analytic philosophy and depth psychology, but free from jargon and technicality. Its main aim is to help to understand the nature and value of love, and to grasp the difficulties one has to face when engaging with it.

Drawing from her years of professional experience as a sexual surrogate and therapist, Keesling delves into the profound and complex powers of sexuality, offering readers the idea that sexual exchange between loving partners contains all the elements necessary for healing and happiness: touch, intimacy, communication, physical activity, and playfulness. 15 photos.

In this companion to their best-selling book, "Extended Massive Orgasm," Steve and Vera Bodansky give much more detail about the best hand and body positions for performing and receiving EMO. More than 70 photographs and drawings illustrate genital anatomy and optimum positions for manually stimulating a partner. And while the first book focused mainly on female sexual pleasure, "The Illustrated Guide to Extended Massive Orgasm" covers new ground in the area of male arousal and orgasm. The Bodanskys also highlight topics such as:
unknown erogenous zones -- the introitus and the "hidden cock"
enhancing sensitivity -- the relationship between hand position and stroking
communication -- how to ask for what you like and how to "talk dirty"
Written for people of all sexual orientations, this book is a playful tool for partners of any age wishing to explore new depths of sexual pleasure. Orgasm is no longer just a fleeting moment, but the beginning of lasting arousal that goes far beyond the bedroom.

In the United States today, there are 8 million cancer survivors, including the 5 million who are alive for over five years since their diagnosis. With the help of the American Cancer Society, this leading sex therapist and staff member of the prestigious Cleveland Clinic has written an accurate, up-to-date and empowering reference for these survivors on staying sexually active and having children after cancer treatment. Examines the emotional and physical impact of breast, prostate and other cancers, plus sections on dating and sexual orientation.

"Finally! Such a comprehensive resource for survivors has been long overdue." —Michelle Melin, M.P.P., Director of Patient Services Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

"An excellent, well-researched book that responds to the needs of survivors." —Anna Meadows, M.D. Director, Division of Oncology and Children's Cancer Research Center Children's Hospital of Phildadelphia.

Now as never before cancer survivors are discovering their potential for renewed sexuality, which many may never have thought possible. In this comprehensive new book, the leading authority in the field carefully and reassuringly explains your options and gives you the accurate, up-to-date information you need to take advantage of them. Now you can make the decisions that are best for you based on recent medical advances and the newest perspectives. This unique guide covers:

• The kinds of sexual problems both men and women are likely to face after treatment —and state-of-the-art solutions
• The most effective infertility treatments
• How to assess the risks of pregnancy
• The latest information on body image, low sex drive, performance anxieties, medications, sex aids, and reconstructive surgery
• Special topics such as sex after breast or prostate cancer, and the specific problems facing gays, singles, and survivors of childhood cancers.

Unravelling the complexities of relationships and sexuality, this straight-talking guide will help you to navigate the associated social, emotional and physical issues. Expert advice and real life examples give you the knowledge to reflect on your own sexuality, provide you with information on different types of relationship, and gives you the confidence to decide which type of relationship is right for you. Together with important information on sexual health, this book will help you to understand how to find and maintain a relationship of your choosing in a safe and enjoyable way. Exploring the often unspoken rules of sex and relationships, this book also covers often unaddressed topics, such as: * what sexual attraction looks and feels like * how to identify your own sexual identity and preferences (and how they may change) * what your rights are, and how to stay safe * having children, or choosing not to, the impact of this on relationships * how to recognise power imbalances within relationships, and what to do

Winner of the 2011 AASECT Book Award!

Co-authors of Men 's Sexual Health, Michael Metz and Barry McCarthy have come together to inspire and motivate readers in their newest book, Enduring Desire. Real-life examples and clear, helpful individual and couple exercises allow readers to reach for realistic and high quality sexual satisfaction as a couple. Throughout the book, the authors promote positive, realistic sexual expectations without commercialism and the hyped, exotic promises that only set people up for disappointment. The message is down-to-earth and full of joy for all couples from their 20s to their 80s. The authors advocate the variable, flexible "Good Enough Sex" (GES) model, which validates the inherent variability and flexibility of couple sexuality and examines the biopsychosocial, multidimensional, and comprehensive roles, functions and meanings of couple sexuality.

Winner of the 2021 SSTAR Consumer Book Award! What makes sex magnificent? What are the qualities of extraordinary erotic intimacy and what are the elements that help to bring it about? Is great sex the stuff that people remember nostalgically from the "honeymoon" phase of their relationships, or can sex improve over time? Magnificent Sex is based on the largest, in-depth interview study ever conducted with people who are having extraordinary sex. It gathers the nuggets for remarkable sex from the "experts", distilling them into an attainable blueprint for ordinary lovers who want to make erotic intimacy grow over the course of a lifetime. Looking at factors including individual and relational qualities, empathic communication and the myths and realities of magnificent sex, this book offers accessible and evidence-based guidance for lovers and therapists alike. It is replete with frank and often humorous interviews with straight and LGBTQ individuals and couples, those who are "vanilla" and "kinky", monogamous and consensually non-monogamous and healthy and chronically ill. This illuminating book explores the implications of the findings to develop a model that effectively tackles the common problems of low desire and frequency. The "cure" for low desire is to create desirable sex!

Linda LeMoncheck introduces a new way of thinking and talking about women's sexual pleasures, preferences, and desires. Using the tools of contemporary analytic philosophy, she discusses methods for mediating the tensions among apparently irreconcilable feminist perspectives on women's sexuality and shows how a feminist epistemology and ethic can advance the dialogue in women's sexuality across a broad political spectrum. Such a dialogue encourages both women and men to take up a feminist perspective in exploring the meaning and value of sexuality in their lives.

Bringing together a collection of narratives from those who are on the autism spectrum whilst also identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and/or asexual (LGBTQIA), this book explores the intersection of the two spectrums as well as the diverse experiences that come with it. By providing knowledge and advice based on in-depth research and personal accounts, the narratives will be immensely valuable to teenagers, adults, partners and families. The authors round these stories with a discussion of themes across narratives, and implications for the issues discussed. In the final chapter, the authors reflect on commonly asked questions from a clinical perspective, bringing in relevant research, as well as sharing best-practice tips and considerations that may be helpful for LGBTQIA and ASD teenagers and adults. These may also be used by family members and clinicians when counselling teenagers and adults on the dual spectrum. With each chapter structured around LGBTQIA and autism spectrum identities, Gender Identity, Sexuality and Autism highlights the fluidity of gender identity, sexual orientation and neurodiversity and provides a space for people to share their individual experiences.

Step-by-step instruction teaches loving couples how to heighten their relationship by achieving mutual orgasm
-- Advances the idea that simultaneous orgasm is not only possible, but can easily become part of a couple's sexual repertoire
-- A program designed for monogamous couples and based on techniques developed by the authors at the Human Sexuality Institute

The first book solely dedicated to helping couples achieve simultaneous orgasm, this work is based on the premise that seeking new experiences and intimacies within a relationship is crucial to its health, and longevity. A valuable tool for any committed couple wanting to heighten their relationship, this book describes a method for partners who want to experience simultaneous orgasms, even multiple simultaneous orgasms, at will.
-- Part I examines the experience of simultaneous orgasm and explains why it is commonly dismissed by many sex therapists.
-- In Part II, the authors describe specific techniques for partners to become orgasmic separately, then simultaneously.
-- Finally, Part III discusses gender differences and the emotional connections of achieving simultaneous orgasm.

The Riskins' book is based on pioneering work at the Human Sexuality Institute, where the authors are codirectors. The program in Simultaneous Orgasm will enhance more than just a couple's sex lives -- it will enhance their communication, commitment, and respect for each other, enriching every aspect of their relationship.

Candid, compassionate, authoritative--a rich source of insights, information, and practical guidance. ""The first major work on the topic."" --Gay Community News ""A much needed comprehensive study of what happens to husbands, wives, and children during the coming-out crisis. --The Reverend Jane E. Vennard, founder Task Force for Spouses of Gays and Lesbians ""The new enlarged edition adds important factors, especially children's reactions to a parent's coming out. Well-researched and insightful."" --Fritz Klein, M.D., author of The Bisexual Option ""Anybody practicing in this area would be well advised to read this book."" --Professor Arthur S. Leonard, New York Law School In two million marriages, one spouse is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Having a spouse or parent disclose his or her same-sex attraction is a shattering experience fraught with pain, confusion, anger, and a profound loss of self-esteem. Amity Pierce Buxton spotlights this exploding phenomenon and reports constructive coping strategies that spouses and children have used to resolve problems of sexual damage, family breakdown, deception, and homophobia. Illustrated throughout by riveting personal narratives, this expanded edition of The Other Side of the Closet traces the family's journey from initial trauma to eventual transformation. This invaluable source of information for spouses, families, and professionals is based on Dr. Buxton's eight years of research, including interviews with 1,000 straight spouses and children, her own personal experience, and her counseling work with spouses of gay, lesbian, and bisexual partners.

This pathbreaking compilation, long out of print, is a survey of sexual fantasies from early folklore to the bawdy tales of the prolific Victorians to a very modern version of "Little Red Riding Hood." Here, among other selections, are vignettes from Poggio, Rabelais, and the "Divine" Aretino, instructive dialogues from the seventeenth-century Whore's Rhetorick, nineteenth-century flights of invention like Gynecocracy, Prince Cherrytop, and Les Tableaux Vivants, and a "superman" fantasy by Alfred Jarry--excerpts from the entire spectrum of Western erotica.
In their frank and fascinating commentary, the Drs. Kronhausen mine these "mental aphrodisiacs" as a valuable source of psychological and cultural insight. As they point out, it is the element of fantasy that distinguishes human sexuality from that of other species. In a spirit of respect for the play of the human imagination in all its forms, they commend their volume to their fellow professionals and to anyone "with literary interests, a sense of humor, and the moral courage to look at his own unknown psyche and that of his fellow men."