Talking Cock [Paperback]

Richard Herring (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2004

The self-proclaimed foremost authority on the penis, Richard Herring decided to stand up for the humble willy, worshipped in ancient times, now consigned to a standing joke. Talking Cock combines answers to questions about sexuality, circumcision, and strange behavior with a deeply researched history, poignant true-life confessions, and insights from the hilarious to the downright obscene.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Man's answer to the Vagina Monologues' The Guardian 'Richard Herring's male answer to the Vagina Monologues is... an impassioned and thoughtful disquisition on masculinity, cultural identity and sexual anthropology. But don't let that put you off; there are still lots of jokes about porridge guns and weeing.' The Observer. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Richard is best known for his collaboration with Stewart Lee in shows like BBC2's Fist Of Fun and This Morning with Richard, Not Judy. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (May 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560256087
• ISBN-13: 978-1560256083
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #695,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I have never felt better about owning a penis before!, July 5, 2004

By 

Brian Watson "brian from studiomomo.com" (New Westminster, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Talking Cock (Paperback)

I suspect that it was mere whim that drew my eye to the spine of this book in a local bookseller's shop, but once I had seen it, I had to buy it. I'm certain I startled more than I few people as I began to read it in the Ikea cafeteria, laughing out loud often and uproariously as I did.
Mr Herring has done the world a great service in this book. As he has noted, it is far too easy for others to merely note the differences between men and women, but Mr Herring not only notes our differences, he goes on to convince the reader that all people, men and women, gay and straight, should start caring less about the size and other particulars of a favorite organ, and more about what we share in common. Men and women need not stand on separate sides of a wall erected by penises. We can exult in one another and in so doing, make the world a better place for us all!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious but Not Just a Comedy, April 18, 2010

By 

@FallenDepths - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Talking Cock (Paperback)

Richard Herring is a stand-up comedian but he is clearly a gifted writer as well. In Talking Cock he discusses some of the most off the wall topics with empathy and humor. I actually learned from this book while laughing my ass off. We are so enslaved to stereotypes and yet we are all so unique and different. Richard Herring takes a stab at stereotypes and challenges us to allow men to be who they are instead of what society says is typical and normal. I came away from this book loving men even more than I did before.

There seems to be no topic he is unwilling to take on and he does it with style. I absolutely love Richard Herring and am anxiously waiting for his new book How Not To Grow Up to come out in the US.

My copy of Talking Cock has been lent out and will probably not be back in my library for some time. This is definitely the kind of book that is fun to talk about with your friends...and lover.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars bought in error but very good, May 6, 2008

By 

hugh troy (Cambridge,UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking Cock (Paperback)

I happen to work with a talking cock and all to often have great trouble understanding what the hell Phil is talking about. When I saw this book I thought to myself "great an aide memoir in Philism's and Phil'o'babble" so snapped it up without reading a page first. However buy in haste and repent at leisure I did not. It's actually quite good, a balanced look at the myths, social standings, science and humour surrounding the penis, an honest look at a sensitive subject. Although a book to help understand Phil would be great, I am happy to read this whilst waiting for the nice folks at Linguaphone to publish a set of books and tapes in Philistani.