Customer Reviews

My Romantic Love Wars

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This is an incredibly honest accounting of Betty's challenge to prudish attitudes towards sex that may well underlie so much of what ails society. Hypocrisy in regard to experiencing pleasure is one of the hallmarks of our struggling civilization. Where would the controls of the patriarchal churches of the world be if everyone were free to enjoy their own lives and their own bodies? Betty confronts the hypocrisy that surrounds our attitudes toward sex head-on and in so doing has liberated countless women as she guided them to discover pleasure for them selves. Above all, she dared explore in directions that will not be for all of us but which nevertheless defined her journey into self-awareness. Her story is not for prudes but neither is it pornographic. This is the story of an enormously courageous woman who ventured into the hidden world of sensuality and here she shares her doubts and fears and her joys and successes.

The erotic scenes in Betty Dodson's life story, although sexy as hell, end up as interesting asides, the popcorn and candy during the show, as I became immersed in the recent history of feminism and the sexual revolution from the perspective and experiences of a mature woman, already past her fortieth year in the 1970s, who was completely comfortable in her sexuality. This is the gift her story provides. For those of us too young to have experienced the height sexism, and the complete denial of our sexuality, Betty Dodson becomes a time traveling spy writing today to help us remember how far we have come, and the work left to do.

This book documents the making of a woman whose brand of feminism is hyper-focused on the individual woman's view of herself, and love for herself, as expressed through her sexuality, with masturbation as a base. Betty's story highlighted for me how the thrust of the vast majority of feminism was, and maybe still is, external to us as individuals. Feminism sometimes seems only about what our place as a group is in the power structure, or which political party we support. But without a strong personal sense of our individual power, we are weakened. Though Betty's life story, we may start to question whether the typically feminist icons can claim to have liberated us if we still aren't accepted as fully sexual beings. What if feminism had done things in reverse and insisted on equal sexual rights first?

The path Betty took, and wants us to widen, is the one that so many big named feminist didn't want to follow because it was so less traveled as to make it only enticing for the truly tough explorers, like Dr. Dodson. Read about her "Split Beaver Slide Show" and you might just agree.

Betty Dodson's "My Romanic Love Wars" is a rare memoir, the most unflinching account of a person's sexual history since "My Life and Loves" by Frank Harris, published ninety years ago. But this time it's a woman writing and, oh, the difference. Dodson and Harris both had a very active background in the arts. Harris was a famous writer and literary magazine editor in his generation; Dodson is a NYC sexual revolutionary in painting, photography, writing, education, and erotic performance.

Harris scandalized many in the literary world and his book was censored by right thinking bureaucrats for decades. Today's crowd is harder to shock, but there is something in Dodson's book, some very detailed experiences, that will push even the most the open-minded reader to his or her limit. Betty has very personally investigated every avenue of female sexual expression -- and she tells you all about it.

Dodson gives new definition and depth to the word "honest". Her book is a unapologetic memoir of her continuing sexual evolution during her 80 plus years. She was born and raised in Kansas and has never lost her midwest brashness, even as she infiltrated New York City's incestuous art world. Increasingly she became the sexual rebel in her art and life, and she has remained the most outspoken and refreshing woman for the last several generations.

What do we do with this woman? Many will dismiss her as a compulsive sex addict, others will do what they've always done and simple ignore her. But neither attitude works. She dared to advertise the word "Masturbation" and then published a popular underground book advocating and demonstrating the art of self loving. As uncomfortable as it may be for some, Dodson personally plumbs the depths (and polishes the surfaces) of every human sexual expression imaginable. Betty has done it all. Repeatedly.

(Disclosure: Betty and I have crossed paths often since the early 70s and I've been the beneficiary of her talents)

Like her art, her writing style can be beautifully frank and and confronting. At times in her life she was a hard boiled chick attempting to economically make it in New York's tough and puzzling art scene. But she's also a born comedian and her stories are filled with ironic humor and great punch lines. Often in the book she is genuinely vulnerable and affectionate, especially in the role of a very loyal daughter to her amazing mother. Always however she is an extreme realist in her sexual encounters with women and men -- and with herself;

Dodson is a woman of strong opinions, sometimes hardened ones. But her sweet humor softens continuously. She never spares herself. She will take a position at one moment in her life and in the next chapter will admit that she was wrong and move on with renewed enthusiasm. Her entire life has been a process of cutting away the dense cultural thickets that defined women's sexual roles. Each detailed sexual anecdote -- almost all describing a phase in her outrageously adventurous sexual journey -- tells of the confusion, the pain, but mostly the pure joy and dedication in her mission and her life.

Read the book and be prepared for a shock of recognition. You'll discover yourself somewhere in the pages. Beck Peacock

This book is amazing! So often women forget that we deserve real pleasure from sex. Ladies read this book and see if you know all that you think when it comes to your sexual freedom and the pleasure that you deserve. Read this book especially if you have never had an orgasism, or uncertain if you've had one. It will enlighten and liberate you. Women YOU CAN have multiple organisms and deserve to know how to experience that unbelievable pleasure!

First off, my usual disclaimer: Betty and I have been pen pals and long distance friends since the 80s. I am a fan and greatly admire her work to liberate women (and men) from the shackles of sexual ignorance and irrational Puritanical dogma. I think she is the most important feminist (or for that matter, liberation writer) of our times, bar none.

That said, this may be her most important work, because it details her personal journey from "normal" young woman in middle America to the foremost rebel against sexual tyranny of our time. This is not so much a book of principles as it is the story of how she developed and exercised those principles in her life. Through her life we get a glimpse of the changing scene of sex and sexual liberation from the 60s to our current times.

Obviously, it is sexually explicit in places, so be forewarned if you are on the prudish side.

The book is organized into 31 chapters which take us through her journey from childhood in the Midwest, through her work as a fashion artist and on into her fine art period and the beginnings of "second wave" feminism. She discusses her relationships with various men and women in her life, her movements in and out of various forms of sexual expression and sexual communities, and her thoughts and feelings as she works through her own challenges and those encountered in the world around her.

While not a whirlwind tour of purely sexual adventure, there is plenty of discussion of her sexual explorations, if that is what one is looking for. There are also a few pictures of Betty and others, some of which display full nudity. There are detailed descriptions of some sexual behavior, but this is not a sex manual nor pornographic novel, so don't expect a great deal of that. It is all in context and appropriate.

We are also treated to some inside views of the wave of feminism of those times, including some hints of "feet of clay" on some of the idols of that age. The reasons she broke from mainstream feminism are discussed.

Having lived through the same time period, albeit somewhat removed from the cosmopolitan circles in which she circulated, I can say that the glimpses of my generation's changes over this time are revealing. Again, this is not meant to be a tour de force assessment of that generation, but some of our changes do get mirrored in her life experiences. A lot of people, myself included, explored and experienced similar flavors of seeking liberation, if not from exactly the same menu. If we had been given intelligent sex education at the time, and had better knowledge of Tantra and Taoist sexual alchemy been available, things could have been far more productive and our liberation far more powerful and complete.

Alas, such is life....

In any case, it is a great read, definitely provocative, inspiring, and even "stimulating" in places. Part of me is envious of many of her adventures, but she had her struggles as well.

I would recommend it to every woman out there who wants to be truly alive, and to all the men who want to cheer them on and even join them. Ultimately, liberation has no gender, and sexual energy is the fundamental energy of liberation (which is why it is so heavily controlled and punished). It is a great ride on one woman's journey to liberation (which still continues, by the way).

Good job (as usual), Betty Ann.

(I read the paperback edition - I will check out the Kindle version and update this review if I find anything to report about the difference.)

UPDATE on the Kindle version:

The book translates well to the Kindle - text flows easily and is well formatted. Pictures are clear and sharp. The only drawback I have found is that the Table Of Contents is not linked or active - it is just another page of text. I would like to see the publisher link the TOC to the chapters in an update.

I wasn't sure about buying it, but I'm glad I did. Very interesting, it challenges your thinking, opens your mind to new ways of thinking, and it has funny stories... I highly recommend it.

Book Title: My Sexual Revolution
Review From: TIGERM.NET
Book Genre: Autobiography/Memoir/Thesis
Book Authored By: Betty Ann Dodson, PH.D
Illustrated By: Betty Ann Dodson, PH.D
Book Written By: Betty Ann Dodson, PH.D
Book Number of Pages: 417
Book Distributed By: Betty Dodson, PH.D / Dodsonandross.com
Review Written By: Tiger M. Gales
Tiger M. Gales Book Completion Time: 8:01 PM (4/3/2011) [Eastern Standard Time, The Biding House, U.S.A.]
Tiger M. Gales Book Review Began: This Afternoon; WHEW! Wednesday! ^^' 4:09 PM, 4/6/2011
Tiger M. Gales Book Review Complete:
My Sexual Revolution (2010) Gales Entertainment Scale (GES) Rating: ASTOUNDING-Lesson 10!
TMG Favorite Chapter? Epilogue.

"There can be no deadline for understanding sex or the outcome of the creative process.
The doing is its own reward."
-Betty Ann Dodson, PH.D, My Sexual Revolution, Closing Statement

Betty Ann Dodson is indeed a living embodiment of sexuality. A 'Hymn To Creation' and the pleasures and debates which surround 'How we Get Here' and what drive us on the seen-and-unseen planes alike.
My Sexual Revolution is the true tale of a great woman of our world who refuses the outlook of an anti-sexual society which attempts again and again to strangle her natural flow of free will and understanding. Taking a full-forward-confident-foot through an outlook based not only on sex-education but true and honest sexual experience--Dr. Dodson sticks a proverbial needle into the staunches of conservative views and most hardened of hearts. A living story and well-living example of the joys and nuisances of what we make of, "How We Got Here" Betty Dodson is a super person who deals with society's sometimes hard-to-understand 'scorn-towards-sex.' After all, if not for sexuality--life as we know would not continue. Dodson debates society's tarnishing of sexuality not only in terms of sex itself--but the experiences we sometimes ourselves shun. Like masturbation. ^_^

Following the life of Betty Dodson from her birth in rural Kansas, U.S.A., to life in ultra-metropolitan, New York, U.S.A.; subjects of history's bouts with the pleasures "facts-of-life" [quite literally ^_^] are presented before us. Betty takes us through the pleasures and debates since the early 1940s regarding sex presenting her own life as a living example of sexuality and the circumstances--all positive, negative and neutral--which surrounds our world.

Covering debate which government has within government regarding enjoyments of sex versus biological reasons; the debates of citizens from varied backgrounds, ethnicities, sociological mindsets, belief systems and upbringings including her own personal trials and triumphs. From the courageous confessional disgusts Betty initially feels after being disappointed with the sex life she shares with her husband Fred-of-seven-years to her acceptance of all human beings both women and men alike--to the creepy phone-stalkers-and-dirty-talkers of our world to taking her once-secret world of masturbation public--readers are in for a wild and VERY informative ride! =D

Betty herself is a living embodiment of sexuality and her story is a bridge-way between the ultra-conservative views which cloud the puritan North American mindset and the ultra-[if-not-brashly-]-clear-and-accepting-world of the view that sex is yes, indeed, part of the natural process of living and joy. =) Having lived in both worlds, Betty Dodson, PH.D, is a body of educated-experience who has a message for our world in a very real-and-totally-honest presentation. Certainly not pretending that sex is all pleasure-without-pain--Sexologist, Rights Activist, Doctor & Writer--speaks with a voice of authority and truly lived experience instead of theoretical bullcrap... on the issues of jealousy, disease and sociological conditioning sex can and may have one some who obtain or divert it.

From feminist movements to the tale of the infamous B.T.K. killer and her own run-in with the FBI--Betty Dodson has written a memoir that will live as part of OurStory as she shares HerStory after sharing in HerStory and HisStory with dignity, indignity, self-acceptance and her learning of self-love. Fore love is indeed not found in our world but seen through our actions as the purposes which drive us. Dr. Dodson shares with us her experiences from the full-sphere view of sex and the mindsets connected to sexuality within all middle-class, higher-class, lower-class and all-classes on all points of the sociological-sphere.
Betty Ann Dodson's life is a living lesson of where we have been and very likely where we will go!
Not only in the realm of sexuality and self-growth--but in the very human understanding of what it means to define one's own life as a chapter of existence within our world.

From dealing with the transition of her mother as well as brother to transcending the unspoken double standard into the public mind [whether it is liked it or not ^_^]--Dr. Dodson performs sexual surgery on portions of our existence which may have remained otherwise hidden to some. =) The amazing allegory of her sharing in life's natural pleasures while during the VERY SAME weekend cult-crazy-leader Jim Jones leads thousands to suicidal deaths in Jonestown, Guyana--aide readers and skeptics alike to reexamine... just what it is that our society praises. Capitol punishment and death or joy and pleasure? Peaceful-love-and-Satisfaction with Self-love or pain-worship and complaints with the mindset that love-is-sacrifice? Love is what we make it--what we individually decide--and thus the purpose we see which defines us.

Our author, Betty Ann Dodson, PH.D, leaves the decision up to the viewer to decide their own love
[That is "Passionate Purpose"] and so defines her own as lesson to what she has learned in living.

There is a society-joke that sums up the gist of what open-minded readers will get from My Sexual Revolution:

A man buys a lie detector robot that slaps people who lie. So he decides to try it out at dinner.
DAD: Son, where were you today during school!?
SON: At school *robot slaps son*
SON: Ok, I went to the movies.
DAD: Which one?
SON: Toy Story *robot slaps son again*
SON: Ok, it was A Day With A Porn Star.
DAD: WHAT?! When I was your age, I didn't even know what porn was. *Robot slaps dad*
MOM: HAHA!! After all he is your son, *robot slaps mom*

^_^

Indeed it is time for society to discontinue pretending like sex doesn't exist and loving it in secret.
Betty Dodson is indeed in-pack with Dr. Ruth, Go Ask Alice! & Madonna. An allegorical "Wake-Up!" smack to society and conservative views of sex and sexuality.
In My Sexual Revolution, we learn many of the 'clean little secrets' some pretend are 'dirty' in order to slap the "ILLEGAL" or "TOO GRAPHIC!" or "TOO SEXY--um... I mean--TOO OBSCENE" sticker on. ^_^
We live in a world that is rapidly changing and I do have reason to believe that it is great contributions like the Awesome Autobiography My Sexual Revolution and living legends like Dr. Dodson who promote sexuality and enjoy informing our public mind upon the subject of masturbation which leads and guides our progress to further self-acceptance.

The choice is YOURS to decide in your life and even if your choice is different from what is read--
Living through a "SEXUAL! SEXUAL! Revolution!" is but only a read away! ^_^ =D

Even if but only to take part in events in our world which has lead us to our current time and day...
Read Betty Dodson's My Sexual Revolution today! =D
You'll be glad you did! ^_^ "Oh Bella! Oh Bella!" *Tool box goes FLYING in the Air!"* *Man SHRIEKS!*
Real page turner! =3 [went through 150 pages during a brief break over just TWO DAYS! O.O]
And the ending allegory of the free-flying bird... may just amaze you...

Forever In Love With All That Which Exists
(That Which Is Seen & Unseen, Known & Unknown),
-Tiger M. Gales [WHEW! Wednesday! ^^']
-7:20 PM (4/6/2011) [Eastern Standard Time, U.S.A.]

Who Is TIGER M? O.O
TIGERM.NET
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