Jill'n Off - A Woman's Guide to Solo Sex
Duana R. AndersonNonfiction
Available from Extasy Books
ISBN: 1-55410-174-3
July 2004
| This book is a wonderful resource along the lines of the classic book Our Bodies, Ourselves. It is a book that should be on the shelf of anyone wanting to maximize their sexuality. It is written in a casual straightforward style by the author who draws from her life experience and from her work as a writer of sexuality.
The book has 5 chapters: Masturbation Facts, Taboos & Myths; Your Body, Orgasm and Heath; Jill'n Off: Batteries Not Included; Toys Are NOT Only for Kids; and Resources. The author goes through the history of masturbation and reviews practices of the ancients - Sumeria, Greece, Egypt, Malta and Native Americans. The book goes on to review condemnation practices in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, negative associations from Christianity and belief practices in psychiatry. Hysteria, believed to be caused by female sexual frustration, was an epidemic in the 1890's and was treated by genital massage by physicians or midwives. I was amazed to learn that the American Psychiatric Association didn't remove hysteria from their disease list until 1952. Guilt and myths were also discussed. The invention of the vibrator in the early 1900's was discussed. Numerous studies were discussed including those of Kinsey Institute (1948), Masters & Johnson (1966) and Goldstein, Haeberle & McBride (1971). The book went on to discuss fantasies, stages of arousal, Tantra, types of orgasms and Kegel exercises. Further reading discussed how masturbation teaches you to pleasure yourself and that allows you to teach your partner the best ways to achieve your sexual pleasure. Male masturbation is also covered. Many methods were discussed including massage, Tantra, spirituality, breathing, bathing, variety, water play and anal play. There is a chapter devoted to sex toys, lubrication, dildos, vibrators and there was a detailed recommendation of sex toys to try. All the toys were tested by the author. The last chapter which was very impressive was on resources and discussed where to buy sex toys online, books, videos and DVDs, sexperts and masturbation links on the Internet. At the end of the book there's a bibliography which references books, magazines and journals and references online. This book is a wonderful resource with a tremendous amount of information. I recommend it to everyone.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Ellen |
