The Joy of Gay Sex, Revised & Expanded Third Edition (Paperback)

by Charles Silverstein (Author), Felice Picano (Author) "Culturally induced fears have given many people phobias about their assholes..." (more)
Key Phrases: sex phobia, pleasure trap, sleazy sex, United States, Dangerous Sex, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Anal sex, Barebacking, Cruising-the ABCs of gay male sexuality get neatly presented here in an encyclopedic format with a savvy, knowledgeable attitude. A good number of the entries, though, seem unnecessary: perfunctory explanations of kissing ("an integral part of the entire experience of making love"), pornography ("the object is to turn you on") and phone sex ("use adjectives describing yourself and your favorite sexual scenes. If you don't know which words to use, watch a porn video and note those words that turn you on"), for example, will enlighten only the very inexperienced. Psychologist Silverstein and author-poet Picano make a notable attempt in this edition to define crucial elements of the "changing sociopolitical landscape of gay men's lives in the early twenty-first century" by including such topics as HIV "cocktail" treatments, bisexuality and transgenderism and the internet's role in helping fetishists connect. But many entries continue to feel sanitized, despite the authors' decision to use sexual slang and expletives. Others need a dose of editorial Viagra to provide clued-in readers with the kind of candid, useful information they might be searching for. Entries addressing issues such as domestic violence, gay liberation and civil rights feel out of place in a manual dedicated to the machinations of sexuality complete with illustrations depicting everything from fisting to sex parties. Originally published in 1977, four years after the American Psychiatric Association reversed its decision labeling homosexuality a mental disorder, The Joy of Gay Sex continues to be a popular resource due to its "permissive tone about sex," an important feature and one that has been carefully retained in this revised edition. Readers may object to the title (which lacks the word "male"), the illustrations (which almost solely feature wiry, tattooed and hairless men) and some of the theories (the "daddy/son scene" may be enjoying increased popularity owing to a "greater need for good parenting"), but this is nevertheless a needed title.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

For a new century and a new generation of readers comes a fully revised and expanded edition of a classic guide to gay sex, love, and life.

Invaluable as a sex guide, a resource on building self-esteem, and a trusted aid for coming out of the closet, The Joy of Gay Sex covers the ins and outs of gay life alphabetically from "anus" to "wrestling." Noted psychologist Dr. Charles Silverstein has collaborated once again with critically acclaimed novelist Felice Picano on this third edition, updating every single entry and adding nearly thirty new entries. The authors provide positive and responsible advice on safe sex in all its varieties; on emotional and relationship-oriented issues such as long-term couples, loneliness, and growing older; and on scores of diverse topics ranging from spirituality to online dating. With fifty new line drawings by acclaimed illustrator Joseph Phillips, this landmark reference is a necessary addition to every gay man's bookshelf.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Collins Living; 3 Rev Exp edition (May 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060012749
• ISBN-13: 978-0060012748
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,461 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good but there is better out there..., November 12, 2003

By	Jerry "argonaut" (Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Joy of Gay Sex: Fully Revised and Expanded Third Edition (Hardcover)

I picked up a copy of the first edition originally published in 1977 years ago at a used bookstore, mainly for some of the wonderful drawings. The original drawings were warm and natural, the newer one's have a harder, colder, almost cartoonlike edge to them. Other than this change, my likes and dislikes of Joy remain pretty much the same as they have always been.

My primary reservation with Joy is that it has always favored breadth over depth. Instead of having a nice, long entry on a topic like anal sex, covering both it's history and all the issues, Joy is more interested in cramming in every weird, esoteric practice that it can in order to be called definitive. Unfortunately this involves bizarre entries like "Sex with animals" that I suspect frankly most people would rather not read about. Whether waxing rhapsodic in a new entry like 'shaving' or belittling the promising trend toward a lighter-skinned physical ideal for us caucasions rather than an overly sun-leathered look the book too often rankles with it's (overstated) opinions.

If nothing else, this book is certainly comprehensive. I can't imagine any gay sex practice out there that isn't touched on to some extent by this book. It gives fair coverage to the issues of coupledom and long term relationships, it acknowledges that non-penetrative sex (frottage) "need not be considered a make-shift" while still accepting the primary top/bottom dichotomy that has come to dominate most of post-Stonewall gay life. And lastly, the latest Collins paperback printing of Joy from 2006 does feature a much sexier cover photo featuring two young hotties with perfect teeth and (thank you!) unshaved faces.

For my money, the best gay sex manual ever written was published by Gay Sunshine Press the same year as the original Joy of Gay Sex (1977) although it is unfortunately now out of print. It is Men Loving Men by Mitch Walker (revised in 1985 and 1994). It has beautiful illustrations (especially the hippie influenced original) and a joyous, loving, holistic writing style. Gay Sex by Jack Hart (revised in 1998) is also very good and again, with wonderfully sexy drawings.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Whatever!, March 22, 2006

By	V. Cummings "victorc1978" (Two Rivers, WI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't know about anyone else but I do not know to many gay men that are into animal sex, yes I said animal sex - who in the hell thought it would be okay to put that in a book?? An ordinary straight person would pick this book up and see that and deffintly say we are all sex addicts! I do have to give the book a lot credit it covers a lot of ground but some in very little detail and some in great detail. I just think they could of done better!

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gay sex eye opener, June 4, 2003

By	Derek Williams "Derek Williams" (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Joy of Gay Sex: Fully Revised and Expanded Third Edition (Hardcover)

due to the complete lack of any sex education for gay men when I was a student, owing to the fact that the system assumes all students are heterosexual and educates them as such, I had to learn about sex "on the road" so to speak - this book is a serious attempt to redress this - well done