Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need, and Deserve [Hardcover]

Hilda Hutcherson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2005

A frank and spicy guide to finding deeper sexual satisfaction-written by a media-friendly author and sex columnist

Since the hardcover publication of What Your Mother Never Told You About Sex (Putnam, 2002), Dr. Hilda Hutcherson has reached millions of women through her two appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, her popular monthly columns in Glamour and Essence, and other media exposure-in addition to book sales of more than 70,000 copies in hardcover and trade paperback combined. Now Dr. Hilda has written what she calls "a sexier sex book"-an accessible, tell-it-like-it-is guide that goes beyond the basics to answer the questions women across the country are asking-about overcoming anxiety and insecurities in bed, trying new sex positions (and diplomatically retiring some old ones), spicing things up with games, toys, and fantasies, and more. Written in the tone of a supportive and savvy friend who just happens to be a top sex expert, and featuring fifty instructive illustrations, Pleasure covers:

- redefining pleasure: why the quest for female orgasms is overhyped-and how to relax and truly enjoy sex, with or without them;
- exploring the female body's pleasure zones;
- communicating with a partner about what feels good (and what doesn't);
- Sex Positions 101 . . . and 201; and a lifetime of pleasure: great sex after pregnancy, after fifty, and beyond.

Encouraging, empowering, and an entertaining read, Pleasure is the ultimate guide for any woman who wants to break out of old inhibitions and more fully enjoy her sex life, whether she's in a budding new relationship or a long-term marriage that's already stood the test of time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Orgasm. Not everybody's having one-and that's perfectly okay according to Hutcherson, gynecologist and co-director of the New York Center for Women's Sexual Health at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. This sexual wellness guide aims to liberate women from anxieties and inhibitions preventing them from experiencing a full spectrum of sexual pleasure. Hutcherson redefines "good sex" by shifting the focus from society's emphasis on achieving orgasm to the delight possible in finding enhanced sexual satisfaction through the discovery of, and guiltless indulgence in, intimate acts purely for the sake of pleasure. She begins with well-illustrated discussions about female and male anatomy and the ways each body part contributes to the overall ability to experience pleasure. Always explanatory, but never too clinical, the author maintains a frank and unreserved voice that spices up anatomical facts while also tempering her explicit advice on over 150 (primarily heterosexual) techniques and positions. The book has surprising inclusions: a chapter on how food choices affect desire, prescriptive exercises to strengthen and tone muscles of the pelvic region, direct talk about the waxing and waning of desire within marriage and a matter-of-fact chapter on anal sex. For women whose feeling of entitlement to sexual pleasure needs reinforcing, this guide's emphasis on comfort and confidence as the foundation of sexiness and the ability to experience pleasure will be very useful.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Hilda Hutcherson, M.D., is a codirector of the New York Center for Women's Sexual Health at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. A monthly columnist for Glamour and Essence, and a gynecologist for more than twenty years, she has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today show, and 20/20.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (December 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399153047
• ISBN-13: 978-0399153044
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure Map for Sexual Intimacy and Fulfillment, March 16, 2006

By 

A. Taylor (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need, and Deserve (Hardcover)

In "Pleasure", Dr. Hilda Hutcherson approaches the topic of female sexuality from a lighter, more personal and fun-friendly perspective than she did in "What Your Mother Never Told You about S-E-X". In "S-E-X", the reader is like a new patient engaging in a reassuring and open conversation with her well-chosen and nurturing gynecologist. By the time we get to "Pleasure" the doctor-patient relationship has grown significantly more personal and trusting, and the topics addressed take on a whole new level of intimacy.

"Dr. Hil" is to women and sex what "Dr. Phil" is to relationships. "Pleasure" is filled with emotionally supportive and detailed advice. The numerous illustrations are sensually tasteful and instructive. This is the perfect book for anyone who seeks to improve her sexual happiness, but is put off by the often cheesy plethora of `hot sex' guides on the market today.

"Pleasure" frees the reader to feel good about herself, discover her own unique style of `sexy' and explore both physically and psychologically what uniquely rocks her boat. (Sections of chapter 5 can stand alone as a manual for any man interested in obtaining the ultimate step by step exploratory guide on giving pleasure). We also learn that orgasm is just one of many sources of pleasure, and not the be-all end-all win or lose aspect of a woman's sexual enjoyment.

The book covers a range of topics, including self-care (emotionally, spiritually, psychologically and physically), personal pleasure centers (through step-by-step physical exploration, either alone or with your partner), sex-act education (both basic and advanced), sexual enhancements (toys, exercisers, sensual products, fantasies and games) and last, but not least, how to maintain a satisfying sex life through oft-times frustrating life changes.

We learn that there is much more to "sexy" than what we have been commonly misled to believe; Dr. Hutcherson shares with each reader the key to unlock that special pleasure-seeking energy within herself and exude her uniquely alluring `check-me-out' energy to the world. "Pleasure" is for anyone who is less than thrilled with her sexual status quo and seeks expert advice on how to obtain the sexual fulfillment she deserves.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything (almost) that STILL needs to be said., September 23, 2009

By 

Michael F. Herrmann "MFH" (Albuquerque, New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need and Deserve (Paperback)

Well-written and comprehensive guide to the female and male sexual anatomy, their pleasure centers and outliers.
Nice drawings of positions and good descriptions of wide range of techniques...with insider tips. Includes suggestions and recommendations for toys (by prescription, no less!) and lubricants. I'm curious about her views on polyamory, swinging or friends-with-benefits.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rejuvenate your sex-life!, December 27, 2010

By 

Cindy (San Diego) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need and Deserve (Kindle Edition)

If you've been in a loving, stable relationship for a long time, but the sex has gotten a little routine, rushed, or "boring," this is the book for you. Quite frankly, when you begin dating that special someone, the passion is on fire. You can wait to get together with him and connect in as many ways as possible. Yet, then marriage comes along, a career, a family, and then, the daily stress of becoming a multi-tasking woman who literally drops into bed at night from complete exhaustion. The thought of intimacy is another item on the to-do list. Well, the book Pleasure: A Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need, and Deserve, is a wake-up call to those hard-working women about how life and complete pleasure is passing them by when it doesn't need to at all. The author's philosophy is clear. It's about YOUR pleasure and satisfaction as a woman, as well as your partner's. She gives the reader straight talk about what goes on in a hot sex-life. It's not about performance. It's not about evaluation. It's not even about the Big O as everyone thinks it is. It's really about rediscovery of what makes you both feel terrific. The chapters on male and female sexual anatomy with the corresponding tips on how to fire-up and pleasure your partner get the ideas flowing. The author has done hours of work with couples and it shows in her writing style. She talks to the reader about common fears, thought patterns, and blocks to one's pleasure. Then, she shares tips and techniques that her patients have tried that work for not only rejuvenating a great sex-life, but making an intimate relationship much stronger and more enjoyable than ever. The books is a well-organized, simple read. Get going on living a pleasurable life! You won't regret it.