Synopses & Reviews
Nothing compares to
The Joy of SexSince 1972, more than 8 million people have come to this wise, witty, and uninhibited bestselling guide to lovemaking and found all they wanted to know about achieving greater sexual satisfaction. They have discovered how sex can be playful and imaginative, erotic and passionate, pleasurable and exhilarating. Now, with this fully revised 30th anniversary edition, The Joy of Sex promises to captivate an entirely new generation of readers.
Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated, The Joy of Sex provides a fresh view of sexuality in the 21st century. Filled with provocative illustrations and 16 pages of new full-color photography, the updated text continues to discuss a wide range of subjects in practical detail while still maintaining Dr. Alex Comforts no-nonsense yet fun approach to matters of the libido. The Joy of Sex remains the most comprehensive sex manual on the market. From current concerns about health and practicing responsible sex to the risks presented by AIDS and other venereal diseases, Dr. Comfort contends with every aspect of our sexual territory. Above all, this remarkable book emphasizes the importance of a happy and relaxed sexuality in our lives.
Now more than ever, The Joy of Sex is for people who want to make their lovemaking richer and more exciting. Complete with elegant photographs and superb drawings that capture in full, frank detail the intimacy of the act of love, it is undoubtedly a contemporary classic.
Review
"Although the book offers plenty of graphic suggestions, few will look daring or new to contemporary readers....If new information is what readers are after, this revision probably won't do the trick, but for anyone whose 1972 copy is getting a little rough around the edges, here's a perfect excuse to get a new one." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[A]nyone seeking either initiation or a refresher course in the old ars amatoria could do worse than to peruse these mauve, titillating pages....On the whole, the tone is warm, learned and friendly, as if Marcus Welby, M.D., had disappeared to California for a few months and come back with a great big grin on his face and some nifty new ideas on stress reduction." Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review
Review
"In a lot of ways for heterosexual couples at least The Joy of Sex delivers [simple, informative, reassuring, honest talk that tells them they aren't freaks or perverts]....Sometimes, [Comfort] just offers good practical technical advice....So why would The Joy of Sex be among the last books I'd recommend to anyone seeking sexual information? It all circles back to Comfort's goddamned cheerful tone. He keeps saying that sex should be adult play, but Jesus! does he make it sound like work....If The Joy of Sex has played a part in opening up your sexual enjoyment, then my objections will be nothing more than quibbles. And I don't want to underestimate the fact that when it came out, few above-the-counter books had anything like its degree of liberalism. Nor do I want to fall into the trap of assuming that people who seek advice from sex manuals have already attained a certain degree of hipness. There will always be a need for a sex manual that is heartening, encouraging and not intimidating. But if our sexual maturity has grown at all in the three decades since this book appeared, then the best sign of that growth would be for The Joy of Sex to be consigned to the relic heap where it belongs." Charles Taylor, Salon.com
About the Author
DR. ALEX COMFORT was one of the worlds leading experts in the field of human sexuality and one of the most versatile authors of the 20th century. He was known throughout the world for his frank and funny writings on love and sex, and was, essentially, the inventor of the modern sex manual. A pioneer in the study of old age, cofounder of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, social commentator, novelist, and poet, he wrote more than 50 books but is best known for The Joy of Sex series. In the course of his distinguished and varied career, Dr. Comfort worked as a head of research on gerontology at University College London, a lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University, and an adjunct professor at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Medicine and an associate member of the American Psychiatric Association. He died in March 2000 at the age of 80.