Customer Reviews

Kim Cattrall Sexual Intelligence

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Other than for those whose sexual IQ is at the moronic level, there is very little here that any adult would not already know. The very sexy picture of a naked Kim on the cover is totally deceptive, since inside there is exactly one photo of a naked woman and man from the rear. Most of the rest of the illustrations that are not of flowers are of classical paintings and sculptures of unclothed, but unstimulating, mythological figures -- fine for an art history book, but not for a book about sex. The very few pictures of Kim inside are totally asexual -- and were apparently all taken on the same day as she's wearing the same raincoat and unrevealing (not even attractive!) clothing underneath. Beyond the disappointing illustrations, the content is mostly a collection of not very original or interesting quotations from a few familiar works on sex such as Thomas Moore's "The Soul of Sex". Seven individuals -- described as extraorinary 'ordinary' people in the introduction -- are also quoted throughout the book. From their photographs, they all appear to be in the same age group (20-30ish) so there's no diversity, and their remarks are rarely gripping, e.g. the highlighted comments of "Cayra" are rather blah: "The idea of being watched. I don't know why that's such a turn-on. That's kind of odd, I don't know, I can't explain why that would turn me on." A big baffling 'duh' from one of the extroardinary ordinaries.
With its huge print fonts and minus the illustrations, the 130 pages here could have been reduced to probably less than 20 pages -- so at $30 there's absurdly little value. I enjoyed Kim's earlier book on sexual techniques, so I was really bummed to have her follow-on volume fail utterly to inform or entertain.

This book is just what I would expect from a movie and TV personality... not very intelligent at all. It tries too hard and takes itself way too seriously. Kim Cattrall seems like a somewhat intelligent woman, but why did she think that playing a sexually liberated woman like Samantha on "Sex and the City" made her an expert in sexuality? Ms. Cattrall does not reveal anything new about human nature in this book. There are no revelations here... just a pretty coffee book with endless cliches. Did you guys know that bio-chemistry had alot to do with human sexuality? IMAGINE THAT! and, I bet you did not know that your BRAIN is the most inportant sexual organ. Gosh darn it, I guess I better start using mine! If you are really interested in sexuality (and you should, because it is an important aspect of human nature), there are much more intelligent books than this. Don't go for this Hollywood/HBO slick job.

After perusing the fine contours of the figure on the cover of this book, one will eventually open it and find, surprisingly, a very interesting read. It is not the frivolous, banal, and empty self-indulgent prattle that one usually finds from celebrities these days. Instead, the author has allied herself with people that have the needed expertise and quotes recognized researchers. However, it is not an advice manual, but instead attempts to present to a general audience a rational view of human sexuality, to develop a notion of what the author calls `sexual intelligence.'

And who says there cannot be a science of sex? Many of the standard methodologies appear: geometry via the cylinders, cones, triangles, and spheres of all different sizes; physics via friction and the large expenditures of energy; biology via the flow of blood and the abundance of neuronal synapses. One supplements this science with aesthetics: with poetry, art, and imagination. The result is a complex picture, but one definitely worth examining, and of course eventually indulging oneself in: any real science requires experimentation.

For its size, the book is full of interesting information and some surprises. One would like a more detailed reference list, but if one overlooks this oversight it is worth the time. Important contemporary issues arise in the discussion early on. One of these concerns the belief that the ability to get and maintain a rigid cylinder via the use of the big-pharm potions of lust does not imply one will optimize one's pleasure. Sexual pleasure is the result of carefully planned choreography as much as it is a spontaneous random walk. Typically the cylinder enters the triangle, but it can also walk into the other hallways. Sometimes the fit is tight, sometimes loose, and sometimes momentary. Geometry again is the final arbiter.

And do the holders of the XX chromosomes have needs identical to the holders of the XY? Not really, writes the author, the XX has "more plasticity" than the XY, and when indulging in fantasy has a greater likelihood to create "complex narratives". To most readers, these claims will not be new, and are in fact very believable. Experience with the XX reinforces these beliefs, as does a reading of the history in this book (albeit very brief).

As expected, many photos of the author decorate the inside of the book. They do not detract from the case she is presenting, but they do serve to distract (in a delightful way of course). The other photos included in the book are also tastefully done and serve to remind the reader of the cultural context in which sex has been displayed.

This will no doubt not be the last book written by a celebrity on sex, but it does stand out from the rest in its attempt to present a case that is based on what is known in the scientific and historical community, even if the discussion is brief. Further refinement of what is presented is needed if one is to develop a more detailed notion of sexual intelligence. The author's approach is both fun and interesting, and is a good start to such a project.

Plenty of books have been written exploring sexual behavior and health, but SEXUAL INTELLIGENCE is something different: it does into the HBO special of the same name and it explores the origins of sexual desire, delving into both history and health to consider sexual behavior patterns from eye contact to kissing and beyond. From behaviors of particular sexual orientations to human body reactions, SEXUAL INTELLIGENCE pairs color photos throughout with excellent, artistic insights.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I somehow knew when I bought it that I was falling into a marketing trick. The title is extremely misleading as it hardly develops the concept of what is "sexual intelligence". Ms Cattrall basically states that our sexual emotions, feelings and perceptions are guided by the mind, which is kind of obvious, but any original conclusion or insight is absent from the text. That aside, the book is read in 1 hour and it feels like talking with a friend about this topic, and even if no new ideas are developed during the conversation, is fun to have it anyway. After all we are talking about sex.

Recommended not only for women, but especially men. Men be a 5 star lover to the woman in your life, read the book.

Miss Cattrall is beautiful and makes her points well. Informative and Entertaining.

If you're looking for a "coffee table" book...this might be okay.

Admittedly, if you are looking for a book of pornography, this book will certainly disappoint you. What this book is instead, is an interesting and colorful coffee table book on the subject of human sexuality. With chapters on desire, messaging (seductiveness through appearance), arousal, fantasy and release, sexuality is explored in an interesting, non-clinical manner. Along the way, the reader is treated to many interesting pictures, both ancient and modern.

Overall, I found this to be an interesting book. It is not a "How-To" book by any stretch of the imagination, but it makes a wonderfully sensuous and entertaining read.

this Book is very detailed&gets into doing things the right way.I've always had a Crush on Kim Cattrall.that chick has always been sexy to me&I liked the Cover&Pictures of her. very well done Book.