What do You think about Guide To Getting It On! (2007)?
Let me start out by saying I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is the most inclusive and extensive sexual health guide I have ever read, and I have read quite a few! Throughout the book, you can find chapters on everything you could think of. Here are just a couple of topics from the 81 different chapters: pregnancy, gender, sex history, kink, contraception, sex when you are disabled, cyber sex, anatomy, and sex toys. Some sections read vaguely like a how-to column in Cosmo (sections on oral sex, etc for example), while others read more like an extensively researched guide for educators. The scale of this book is almost unparalleled. The only book that comes close is the Good Vibrations Guide to Sex, which is very similar in format. Both have a happy balance between information, quotes, illustrations, and even parts of interviews that the authors have conducted. However, The Guide to Getting it On contains so much more content. The book has more than 990 pages, and it even includes a sex glossary that is equally as comprehensive as the book itself. This is something that every sex educator, sexuality studies major, and everyday person interested in sex should find a spot for on their book shelf. This is the third version I have read, and from what I can tell (the book is far too long to read cover to cover) it hasn't changed all that much. However, the information is definitely updated and added to as the years have gone by. Since medical information and cultural trends become outdated so quickly, the continuous updating of the Guide is essential. If you have a much older version, it is definitely worth picking up a new one to make sure you have the best and most accurate information at your service. The only flaw I see in this book is that there seems to be an awful lot of assumptions about gender. Not everyone with a penis identifies as a "he" and not everyone with a vagina identifies as a "she". Using these pronouns without thought, alienates everyone who does not identify within the traditional gender binary. This is something I truly hope the author edits out in the next edition.
—Ally
After I started reading this book, I had a difficult time putting it down! It has some really great information that I've yet to find in other books about sexuality. However, most of the information was about heterosexual relationships. The author spent some time discussing other sexual orientations and was certainly gay-friendly, but again it is geared towards heterosexual sexuality. The book also had some really great chapters that looked at sex and sexuality from a historical perspective and was written in a way that anyone could understand it.Although the book was great overall, the author often had some really corny jokes that were either really bad or pretty funny depending on what the reader's sense of humor is like.I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about sex.
—Jess
The Guide to Getting It On is one of the very few how-to guides that I recommend to others. This book covers a wide variety of topics from basic anatomy to advanced sexual skills for new parents and/or disabled lovers! I know several instructors who use this thick book for their classes, but don't let that give you the impression that it isn't an interesting read. It's engaging with a wonderful emphasis on the role of emotions and intimacy, whether play is solo or partnered. This edition offers additional information for men's anal play and same sex relationships, which is an excellent improvement over past offerings. As an added bonus, the author is a great guy with a caring personality and a great deal of expertise. Whether you're looking to enhance your own knowledge, want a gift for a coming of age young adult, or are seeking a great gift for a friend, this is a fantastic and reasonably priced find.
—Dr. Ruth Neustifter
