This volume brings gender studies to bear on Micah's powerful rhetoric, interpreting the book within its ancient and modern contexts. Julia M. O'Brien traces resonances of Micah's language within the Persian Period community in which the book was composed, evaluating recent study of the period and the dynamics of power reflected in ancient sources. Also sampling the book's reception by diverse readers in various time periods, she considers the real-life implications of Micah's gender constructs. By bringing the ancient and modern contexts of Micah into view, the volume encourages readers to reflect on the significance of Micah's construction of the world. Micah's perspective on sin, salvation, the human condition, and the nature of YHWH affects the way people live-in part by shaping their own thought and in part by shaping the power structures in which they live. O'Brien's engagement with Micah invites readers to discern in community their own hopes and dreams: What is justice? What should the future look like? What should we hope for? From the Wisdom Commentary series Feminist biblical interpretation has reached a level of maturity that now makes possible a commentary series on every book of the Bible. It is our hope that Wisdom Commentary, by making the best of current feminist biblical scholarship available in an accessible format to ministers, preachers, teachers, scholars, and students, will aid all readers in their advancement toward God's vision of dignity, equality, and justice for all. The aim of this commentary is to provide feminist interpretation of Scripture in serious, scholarly engagement with the whole text, not only those texts that explicitly mention women. A central concern is the world in front of the text, that is, how the text is heard and appropriated by women. At the same time, this commentary aims to be faithful to the ancient text, to explicate the world behind the text, where appropriate, and not impose contemporary questions onto the ancient texts. The commentary addresses not only issues of gender (which are primary in this project) but also those of power, authority, ethnicity, racism, and classism, which all intersect. Each volume incorporates diverse voices and differing interpretations from different parts of the world, showing the importance of social location in the process of interpretation and that there is no single definitive feminist interpretation of a text.

Get ready for the ride of your life Fifty-plus looks nothing like it used to. Fitter, healthier, many of us hit half a century with little sign of slowing down. And yet...there's no denying that something happens to us sexually at 50. The menopause brings with it a whole slew of challenges, from bottomed-out libidos to painful sex, weight gain and body image issues. Many men grapple with erectile dysfunction and the mixed blessing that is Viagra. Toss in dodgy knees, stiff backs and fatigue and sex can become a source of stress rather than pleasure. Other challenges go beyond the physical: how do you ignite desire after decades with the same person? And what if you (or your partner) simply no longer wants to have sex? Happily, information and enthusiasm are all it takes to reclaim a robust sex life, whatever your situation. Let international sex expert Tracey Cox navigate you through what's actually happening to your body and what you can do about it. She'll show you how to age-proof your libido and stop comparing the sex you had when you were young with the sex you have now; how to arouse yourself and your partner (hello, sex toys!), how to flirt (remember?), how to create the perfect conditions for sex, what to do when infidelity visits, how to navigate sex when you're fifty- (or sixty- or seventy-) something and single, and so much more. Using a blend of research, case histories and personal anecdotes, Great Sex Starts at 50 is real, reassuring, honest, funny and most of all empowering. This is not about trying to stay young, or turning back the clock-it's about being the best version of yourself so you can live the second half of your life as happily as the first.

Combining humour with expert advice, The Sex Doctor covers everything from standard sex issues to the more bizarre carnal conundrums. No matter how good you think your sex life is, there's always a tip, trick or technique to make it even better. And you won't find a better compilation of libido-lifting, orgasm-orbiting, titillating titbits! With practical action plans, intelligent advice, how-to's and don't-ever's, prepare to be inspired, amused and above all, entertained. * Singles sex and how to get more of it * The top five things your new lover's hoping for * Foolproof ways to tell how you rate as a lover * Find your four new hotspots * Does cheating count if there's no-one around to catch you? * The latest, greatest sex toys and how to choose and use them * Should you stay if the sex isn't any good? * A sex detox and techniques sex therapists swear by * Crucial keys to having fabulous long-term sex At times, enlightening, amusing or downright eye-opening, The Sex Doctor answers all those questions you always wanted to ask but never dared...

Just about everyone has sex fantasies - and there are lots of reasons why. In fantasy land, there are no rules and you are in charge of the action. But there's a second type of fantasy - one that won't leave your head and which the truly adventurous want to see through to reality with consequences they can't always foresee. This book, by sex expert Tracey Cox, is about both types of fantasies: what women dream about - and what happens when they dare to take what existed perfectly in their heads into the stark (sometimes funny, or awful, or thrilling) reality of their beds. Here are women's most incredible and intimate secrets laid bare.