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The Massage Book: 25th Anniversary Edition
 
 
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The Massage Book: 25th Anniversary Edition [Deluxe Edition] [Paperback]

George Downing (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998
Published in 1972 and continuously in print since then, The Massage Book introduced Swedish massage to American culture.

Still current and well regarded, The Massage Book was listed by National Health magazine as the first of twenty-five best books that have changed our thinking about our health and our world.  Today, as alternative treatments are being discovered by mainstream health plans, massage is still going strong.  In the last twenty-five years, countless books on massage have been published, but none rivals The Massage Book.

Frequently Bought Together

The Massage Book: 25th Anniversary Edition + The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Technique + The Art of Sensual Massage: 40th Anniversary Edition
Price For All Three: $38.73

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  • The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Technique by Lucinda Lidell Paperback $11.56

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  • The Art of Sensual Massage: 40th Anniversary Edition by Gordon Inkeles Paperback $13.57

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This fine book is a classic.  No collection of books on bodywork, relaxation or health would be complete without The Massage Book."  --Bon Anderson, author of Stretching

"The Massage Book is the best single book on massage ever printed."  --Mac Fry, H.H.P., Clinical Director , Mueller College of Holistic Studies, San Diego

From the Inside Flap

Published in 1972 and continuously in print since then, The Massage Book introduced Swedish massage to American culture.

Still current and well regarded, The Massage Book was listed by National Health magazine as the first of twenty-five best books that have changed our thinking about our health and our world.  Today, as alternative treatments are being discovered by mainstream health plans, massage is still going strong.  In the last twenty-five years, countless books on massage have been published, but none rivals The Massage Book.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Random House; 25 Anv edition (December 1, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 067977789X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679777892
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.5 x 10.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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› Visit Amazon's George Downing Page
George Downing
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"The Massage Book" is a classic for good reason. Everything you need to know in order to give a truly outstanding, tension-releasing full-body massage is covered in the book. It begins with concise information on practicalities such as what type (and how much) oil to use, and how to work at a massage table without becoming sore or tired. Don't have a table? No problem. This book shows how to use the floor, or build a basic portable table if you're so inclined. The author does not cover specialized techniques such as deep tissue work or shiatsu, which require professional training (to avoid injuring). The style presented in "The Massage Book" is one which is used by a large percentage of professional massage therapists to produce a deeply satisfying, relaxing massage. The main body of the book is a well-written and illustrated set of instructions covering approximately eighty massage strokes. The instructions are exceptionally clear and easy to follow. Important: you'll learn how to hold your friend's body so their limbs do not flap about as you lift them to move through the strokes. You can apply the strokes in the exact order they are presented, or mix them differently. The techniques presented have served me well for the past fifteen years. My massage therapist friends beg me to work on them. Learn from this book, and you too can have the power to make otherwise rational humans beg and drool for your attentions.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Indispensable companion June 16, 2005
Format:Paperback
* Reviewing the 1978 British Penguin edition *

Short version -

This is a book you can take anywhere and use on just about anyone with ease and effectiveness.

Long version -

I bought this book years ago in a second-hand bookstore and it has since followed me and my partner around the world. I have filled bookshelves in 3 continents and this book has accompanied me on every move, along with my $5 traveller's health book that is indispensable.

This is a book I constantly dip into, and I've used the techniques described on various people very successfully. It is written simply and well, with tips like "use your weight rather than your muscles to apply pressure" which have been very useful for a small person like me. It also shows you how to prepare yourself and the person you are massaging, which I find paramount to giving/ getting a good massage wherever you are.

One of my favourite things about this book is the design and layout - the book falls open easily without threatening to close on you, and with its large font and simple illustrations, you can easily read and then follow the instructions on the pages. As such, our book is smeared with massage oil from flipping the pages as we go along.

I have not managed to find another book that is this compact, useful and practical. There is no weight/ space lost on large glossy photos or describing redundant strokes that you will never use. If you are interested in massage, there are sections on making up new strokes, easing tension, foot reflexology and further study as well.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have a read a lot of books on massage and in my opinion this is the best general book on the subject, despite the lack of glossy photos and other special extras that often don't add much value when push comes to shove.

This book emphasizes techniques, how to connect different sequences to each other and important general principles. In a short space, it gives you what you really need to know to give a great massage.

The specific techniques presented are the most important ones and they are explained clearly. After reading this enjoyable book, you will be able to give an excellent massage with confidence in what you're doing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Well done and easy to learn
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn a massage technique. It is easy to understand and the techniques work great. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A
My favorite book of all time!
This book is great entertainment. It's also has historical significance. Anyone who appreciates massage will appreciate this 1970's insight. A great find!
Published 22 months ago by S.
Good read for the layperson
I had hoped this book would help me as a professional, as in something I could keep on my shelf as a reference, but its mostly geared for the layperson with no training trying to... Read more
Published 22 months ago by TaterTot
My first and one of the best massage books!
I have loved massager all of my life. When I decided to learn more - I found this book at the "YES" Bookstore in Washington DC in 1971. Read more
Published on January 30, 2010 by M. R. Chamberlain
Good, but probably could have found something better
Maybe I'm just too young to appreciate the style in which this book was written, but the dated typewriter face used for the text of the book make it looks old, unappealing, and... Read more
Published on May 18, 2009 by Ijano
The great Esalen Massage classic
George Downing and Anne Kent Rush, The Massage Book (Berkeley, CA: The Bookworks, and New York: Random House) First printing, January 1972 (Paperback), 30,000 copies, price $3. Read more
Published on January 7, 2009 by birthrightuuc
Massage book
I know the world is changing, but this is sufficient for those learning the fundamentals.
Published on October 12, 2008 by Melinda D. Schultz
love this book
i lost my first copy and had to buy a second. that's how good this book is! yes the drawings are a little outdated, but the information is timeless and helpful!!! Read more
Published on June 13, 2008 by be the tree
An oldie but goodie
I purchased this book years before I was a licensed massage therapist. The pictures are somewhat basic (drawn nudity is shown) but the techniques learned are very straight forward... Read more
Published on October 19, 2007 by K. Mauzy
Best book on massage
I came across this book in a thrift store about 20 years ago, and since then have given out many copies of it. Read more
Published on July 6, 2007 by Never enough books
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Until the January 1972 publication of The Massage Book, massage in the United States was practiced only by medical therapist, sex-parlor workers, and professional trainers. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ordinary massage, doing massage, main stroke, complete massage, zone therapy, erotic massage, being massaged, massage work
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Tai Chi, San Francisco, The Massage Book, New York
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