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The Joy of Sex: The Ultimate Revised Edition // The Timeless Guide to Lovemaking
by
Alex Comfort
The Joy of Sex revolutionized how we experience our sexuality. An international bestseller since it was first published in 1972, Dr. Alex Comfort’s classic work dared to celebrate the joy of human physical intimacy with such authority and clarity that a whole generation felt empowered to enjoy sex. Now fully updated, revised, and masterfully reillustrated , The Joy of Se...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
January 6th 2009
by Crown
(first published 1972)
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Beth F.
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
teenagers who find the copy their parents were hiding
Shelves:
nonfiction,
love-sex-and-marriage
--When I was 15 and found this book hidden in the basement, I read it and it gave me quite a thrill.
--The 70's version is awesome and disgusting and awesome, awesome, awesome!
--The hairy man beast who was prominently featured in the original version of this book may be entirely to blame for my disgust of facial hair (thank goodness my husband shaves daily!)
--I’ve never seen the new version with the modern couple and don't care to. It would totally ruin the magic.
--The 70's version is awesome and disgusting and awesome, awesome, awesome!
--The hairy man beast who was prominently featured in the original version of this book may be entirely to blame for my disgust of facial hair (thank goodness my husband shaves daily!)
--I’ve never seen the new version with the modern couple and don't care to. It would totally ruin the magic.
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Now days many people in America read urban books involving sex, drugs, and violence. However they also read other books out there, but surprisingly several of them are banned because of it’s religious beliefs, violence, and sexual content. Personally I believe every book that’s out there should be available to the public.
One reason I think books should be available is because of its religious beliefs. At times people tend to question god, some are not quite sure who he/she is, and others...more
One reason I think books should be available is because of its religious beliefs. At times people tend to question god, some are not quite sure who he/she is, and others...more
I find this rather G-rated in a hardcore world. I would probably feel comfortable giving this to my age 18 children if I had any. If you are really looking to reignite the spark, I don't know that this will do it, but you will know if you crack it open and find yourself saying 'been there, done that'. I do not consider myself kinky or used hard and put away wet, I probably fall more into the PRUDE catagory.
Malbadeen
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Joy - seriously, her name is Joy.
Shelves:
confused-or-informed-my-sexuality
I read this too young and I particularly remember a part that talked about not wearing spiked boots during sex, because while it may be a visual turn on it can cause some unintended physical pain in the long run. I felt it was a good point and made a note to my prepubescent self to not have sex while wearing spiky boots.
Sharon Sildatke
rated it
·
review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
People who want better communication with their partner on a sexual loving basis.
Need to reignite fiery sparks of passion in your life? Master a few old tricks whilst learning new? Wanting to re-establish communication on all levels with your partner? – Then this book is for you!
Need in-depth knowledge on sexual experiences and an easy how-to-guide for that which you haven’t learnt yet? Just want to understand Woohoo a little better than you did before? Or are looking for advice/ideas/comfort and reassurance if you haven’t had any experience yet? – Then this book...more
Need in-depth knowledge on sexual experiences and an easy how-to-guide for that which you haven’t learnt yet? Just want to understand Woohoo a little better than you did before? Or are looking for advice/ideas/comfort and reassurance if you haven’t had any experience yet? – Then this book...more
Perhaps some of the drawings may be considered 'out of date' by today's standards, this classic ought to be required reading for any adult who plans on exploring their sexuality with a partner, lover, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband.
It was a new edition, with revised content to update it, but as a friend mentioned, it wasn't really written for my generation or gender. Also, the writing is confusing. There was a sort of half-assed attempt at a dictionary format, so some sections start with just a noun phrase and some start with a full sentence. The inconsistency is confusing. Then, there are sentence that start with "For her, ..." but it isn't clear if they're talking about advice "for her" when she's...more
Writer Kate Figes has chosen to discuss Alex Comfort's The Joy of Sex on FiveBooks as one of the top five on her subject - Sex and Marriage, saying that:
"It seems so innocent really now, all those daring explanations of S and M and positions, but it was before Aids and people were so optimistic. It was as though we’d discovered sex and free love."
The full interview is available here: http://five-books.com/interviews/kate-figes
"It seems so innocent really now, all those daring explanations of S and M and positions, but it was before Aids and people were so optimistic. It was as though we’d discovered sex and free love."
The full interview is available here: http://five-books.com/interviews/kate-figes
Ok, ok, I know... Everybody's heard about it. I figured I'd read it to see if this book by Alex Comfort was in reality what I expected it to be. If all you expect upon opening this book is a racy book full of exotic photos, you'll be surprised. The Joy of Sex is actually very down-to-earth and not really at all titillating (pardon the pun). It's almost like a Chilton's guide to heterosexual sex. That being said, this book is most likely to be of help to relatively inexperienced couples, but even...more
My mom and dad got this for me to explain sex better when I came of age... it was one of the best ideas for that and plan on doing the same for my kids. Sex is important... and education on it just not thought about today.
For anyone out there, it explains in simple text and drawings of various positions, target areas, and more. Well worth the read young or old.
For anyone out there, it explains in simple text and drawings of various positions, target areas, and more. Well worth the read young or old.
During the 1970s this was our guide. Those of us who are boomers had a good time swinging from the chandelier and more. Suddenly, we shook off the fetters of our Puritan past and discovered just how much fun sex could be. We did it here and there, we did it anywhere. A train, a train,yes we did in on a train and in the rain. This is still not a bad introduction.
i used to sneak this book out of parents room and secretly read it in my backyard in the dog days of summer in my budding youth. i remember very little... just the proliferation of body hair. what makes me laugh is that they really really wanted to make this into a movie in the 70's... starring john belushi no less!
I found this to be alright. I do enjoy how they encourage women to not shave (another score for nature!) but don't enjoy how the advice for overweight people is basically "Loose weight, fatty." I picked this up for $1 at a library book sale, or else probably would not own it.
The Joy of Sex was (and perhaps is still) the classic sex book of its time. It caused a bit of an uproar when originally published in 1979. I do not think this was a particularly shocking book--more a case of common sense.
Actually, I read the original ediion. Informative, but oooh did I get tired of seeing all those hairy, hairy people. Razors really can be your friend, ladies and gentlemen.
Of course - I read this as a teen when trying to figure out what this whole sex thing was. Eye opening, but the real thing is so much better than reading it as a teen.
This classic book taught me how to bang back in the day and I still look back at it when I pick up a stranger in a bar.
Wonderfully graphic. Honors the sensuality and eroticism of lovemaking. A must read for lovers of all ages.
Well kind of. . .I have flipped through it. . .some might say I should have read it though!
aw come on!!!!!!! i don't think i have this particular version, but they keep reprinting it, and it just keeps getting better. i can't really recommend a particular chapter, cos then you'd know how kinky i was/am, but hey, everyone should have a copy on hand for various reasons...either for yourself on those cold winter nights, or when you think you've done it all and here comes another position! if you can find the version that has the pics of the hippies of the 60's, it's awesome to see how ...more
Mandatory '70s teenage reading! Would be fun to re-read,
see if I forgot anything ....
Heterosexist, all Caucasian illustrations, and a bonus dose of fat-phobia. Good times.
As a kid I couldn't resist this book or my Dad's liquor cabinet!
The writing is semi-so-so. The charcoal illustrations are beautiful.
JK but I wanted to see if anyone was really reading these postings!
Underlying theme: It's about couples having good communication and I would recommend.
Very interesting and freeing back in the day!
Um...it's about sex. Of course, I loved it ; )
The pictures were especially instructive!
Everyone my age has read this book
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Alexander Comfort, M.D., Ph.D. (10 February 1920 – 26 March 2000) was a medical professional, gerontologist, anarchist, pacifist, conscientious objector and writer, best known for The Joy of Sex, which played a part in what is often called the sexual revolution. He was also the author of many other books on a variety of topics.
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“The things that stop you having sex with age are exactly the same as those that stop you riding a bicycle.”
—
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