Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide [Paperback]

Rachel Venning (Author), Claire Cavanah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2003

How to Choose Them, How to Use Them

Are you intimidated by your neighborhood sex toy store? Are you baffled by online sex toy shops? Ever wished sex toys came with a user's manual? Well, now they do. Sex Toys 101 is the first fully illustrated, comprehensive guide to the world of sex toys. Practical and authoritative, yet playful and accessible, Sex Toys 101 tells you everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask about sex toys, from vibrators and dildos to lubricants and butt plugs.

Authors Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah, founders of the renowned store Toys in Babeland, offer expert advice about sex toys, such as: what to look for when you shop for one, tips on how to get the most fun out of them, and how to clean and maintain them. Also included are answers to the most frequently asked questions:

Will my vibrator give me an electrical shock?

Is it possible to become addicted?

Could they desensitize me?

Will my girlfriend's sex toy replace me?

Sex Toys 101 presents much-needed information and gentle encouragement to a wide range of readers, both female and male, gay and straight, from the uninitiated and curious to the avid, experienced sex toy aficionado.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah are the founders and owners of Toys in Babeland, award-winning sex toys stores in New York and Seattle. Their work has been featured in Glamour and Maxim, the Learning Channel and HBO, among others. Venning lives in Oakland, California, and Cavanah lives in Brooklyn, New York. They can be reached at www.babeland.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; 2st ptg. edition (September 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074324351X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743243513
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #305,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What did you get for Christmas?, January 9, 2005

By 

girldiver "Enjoy!" (tangled up in blue.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide (Paperback)

Written by the founders of the store Toys in Babeland this book is truly an uninhibited guide to erotic toys. Written in modern day language this book is a great reference guide, especially if you happen to be too shy to walk into your local sexual aid store. If you don't live in a very big town you probably will not find a store with an informed staff that can show you what's available and help you pick out a toy to meet your needs so this book is a perfect guide.

I must confess, in the past I've never been interested in toys so this book was quite refreshing to read. It gives you a great introduction to the toys available on the market. There are ten chapters that cover sexual anatomy (briefly), sexual expression & communication, vibrators, dildos & strap-ons, toys for men, lubricant (a whole chapter, WOW), bondage & domination, SM, and safety. Each chapter gives you, in detail everything you need to know about the highlighted toy pictured from what it's made of, to how to care for the toy. They even tell you the history of such toys and how to use each one featured in the book.

This book is not only aesthetically pleasing to the eye with its colorful still life photographs of sexual toys but its overall design, texture, and feel. It's just heavy enough to warrant the price I paid for it, every page is glossy & smooth, and the writing is forward & fun. Where else will you see a section titled, `Dildos are for everyone'.

Oh, before I forget, my favorite thing in the whole book was the "Wondrous Vulva Puppet" by House O'Chicks. It so intrigued me and it was beautiful.

It's a great book full of fun stuff but with all that great info no where did I see how to use those `ben wa' balls I got for Christmas, but don't let that stop you from reading this book. It's great.

girldiver:)

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Sex Toy Guide Ever, November 2, 2003

By 

Ducky DooLittle "sexologist" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide (Paperback)

I have been a customer of Toys in Babeland for many years and I was so thrilled to hear the owners had written a book. I was even happier to get a copy of Sex Toys 101 and see all of their knowledge put to print - all the amazing tips and techniques that they have been teaching women (myself included!) in their stores for years are packing in there. It's a beautiful book, full of colorful images, and packed full of quality information. I have read every sex guide I could get my hands on and I have to say, this is the best sex toy guide ever.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun AND Informative book!!, August 29, 2005

By 

R - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex Toys 101: A Playfully Uninhibited Guide (Paperback)

I bought this book for my sister-in-law as a gift for her personal bridal shower. She LOVED it!!

I paged through the book a little before giving it to her and I thought it was great as well. Full of fun trivia, great information and tips, and bright and colorful photography. The layout is really nice - modern and eye-catching!

As for the content, I learned things just from the little that I read as I was skimming through it!

I would HIGHLY recommend this for anyone who wants to learn about the different sex toys out there (Who knew there were SOOO many?!) - expecially women, since this book really does strive to make women feel comfortable and welcome in the world of pleasure enhancers that has previously been somewhat intimidating to the fairer sex.

Thanks to the authors, artists, and editors that made this book so fun - both to read and to look at! :)