Dick for a Day: What Would You Do If You Had One? Paperback – February 25, 1997

Questions of gender and transgender experimentation might seem to open up innumerable and even fascinating discussions about sex and the sexes, but if the writings and illustrations in "Dick for a Day" are representative of women, penis envy is not a particularly imaginative pastime.
The topic sounds provoking and the jokes are good for a cheap laugh, but the contributions within this book are the stuff of talk shows and adult party games.

I bought this book partly out of shock value, and I kept it on my coffee table for probably a year. Most visitors who came to my house spent at least a few minutes with a story or two. There are some gems here (Adequate Dick, 1-800-yor-dick, and a few others) but many of these stories are sadly dull. Perhaps 50 women was too many to ask, as many of them had the same things to say. Most certainly an entertaining read and a great conversation piece, but at the same time it's little more than brain candy and mostly forgettable.

Let me just say something about the best of the lot. Senator Sin's 1-800-yor-dick. Even though it reads like a female view of what is would be like to have one - hey, that is the purpose to the book...is it not? - I howled at the Senator's escapades. The price of the book is almost (not quite) worth this one poem. And I do think the book cover is clever and all...But, better luck on a second coming.

I've had this book on my shelf since I first signed up with Shelfari but did not review it. I came across it in my personal library and remembered how much fun the book was and decided to give it a well-deserved review.<br/>The premise of the book is as follows: "What if a woman could try one (a penis) out for a day? To what uses might it be put? What mischief and adventures, or simple opportunities to inhabit new space? What object lessons for its everyday owners, the men we love? (taken from Fiona Giles' introduction). <br/>A surprising array of women answered the question, some in detail, some with humor, some with poetry, some with deadly seriousness. The respondents include many well-known women and I was, frankly speaking, surprised not only by who responded but by the nature of some of the responses. To say the least, many responses are eye-opening, perhaps even shocking.<br/>One thing this book is not and that is boring. Dick For a Day, from its provocative cover to its final entry, a short story by Catherine Texier is a captivating read. It is a guilty pleasure. It is versatile in that one can just keep it by the loo and read a few entries while doing one's business, or it can be picked up and read cover-to-cover in a single sitting. I advise against that approach. It tends to demean the many and varied responses. All the responses are worthy of your time and your consideration.<br/>I love this book. It takes what could be a playful, even silly question, one that could even be used as a party game, and results in a rather serious book.<br/>I love this book. I let people read it in my home, but I won't lend it out. Get your own copy. It is available on Amazon, although the price has gone up by five dollars since I purchased it. I consider Dick For a Day to be an important volume in my collection of feminist literature. I do urge you to get your own copy and have at it from whatever perspective you find appealing.