Threesomes: Studies in Sex, Power, and Intimacy [Hardcover]

Arno Karlen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Karlen follows his classic Sexuality and Homosexuality with this report based on a 20-year study and interviews with approximately 200 people. Surprisingly uninhibited male and female respondents provide data on their sexual triads: two women erotically engaged with one man; less often, the reverse and other variations. Describing several sexual occasions with two men, a teacher explains that they're great for her, but, "to fulfill my husband, I really want to get him two ladies . . . "; an author delights in his "beautiful, three-way, live-in marriage." Readers will wonder at the lives of the children of parents who revel in threesome sexuality, yet the objective Karlen makes no judgments: he merely states that he is not sure that these youngsters are worse off than those in a traditional home. He adds, however, that very few of the interviewees would talk about their children. Controversial as it may be, the study is a significant contribution to the understanding of sexual behavior.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This book is probably the only one that is totally dedicated to sexual threesomes. Based on 50 interview subjects, 200 informants, and 150 swingers, Threesomes provides anecdotal descriptions of sexual threesomes. In addition to the anecdotal material, there is some discussion of antecedents to a desire for this type of sexual expression. The scant literature on this topic is reviewed and a bibliography is provided, as is an appendix with details on research method and data. For libraries with extensive collections of human sexuality. Susan McBride, Northeast Texas Community Coll., L.R.C., Mt. Pleasant
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: Beech Tree Books; 1st edition (May 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688065368
• ISBN-13: 978-0688065362
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,309,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insight into Desire and Longing, January 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Threesomes: Studies in Sex, Power, and Intimacy (Hardcover)

Well, this book should be considered a companion piece to, "Threesome: How to Fulfill Your Favorite Fantasy" by Lori Gammon and Bill Strong. It does a very good job of describing how some of these situations come about, what it's like sexually and emotionally to be part of a threesome, and what the variety of motives are that may lead you to fulfilling this desire. I'm glad that I had a threesome before reading this book, but I think that it's given me insight into why it still stands out as one of the most amazing, memorable, and joyous experiences of my life. It totally blew my mind.

That said, be warned, going after this experience can test even the strongest relationship. I recommend reading ...for advice on having open and honest communication.

Good luck!

Thomas Aquinas

...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unbiased? No. Important? Yes., January 29, 2007

By 

J. MacAyeal (libertyville, illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Threesomes: Studies in Sex, Power, & Intimacy (Hardcover)

If you consider that since most books on threesomes seem to be biased towards either the sex itself or a sense of achievement on the part of participants, this is a good complimentary study of threesomes for people seeking not so much advice on how to proceed but rather a series of interviews that lay bare the nuts and bolts of successful and failed threesomes. The potential for this book as a launching pad for studies into threesomes in many arenas of humanity speak for itself. Are threesomes the same for upper class, middle class, lower class? What about race? Do people's religious or non-religious views affect threesome outcomes? What paradoxes and boundaries exist between groups of people who participate in threesomes? Are prostitutes who participate in threesomes considered for lengthy study? What varieties of threesomes seem to be most popular? Least popular? Does a threesome generate more selfishness or selflessness? If connecting to one other person in mutuality of sex and love is a challenge, how difficult can it be for three? Does a threesome increase a sense of taking another person's perspective in sex? Beyond sex?
If nothing else consider reading this for insight on human sexuality and human emotional needs in general, not specifically on threesomes.

4.0 out of 5 stars the essence of californication, November 27, 2008

By 

Clint Kempster "Celtic Breathe" (Mesa, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Threesomes: Studies in Sex, Power, and Intimacy (Hardcover)

There's alot of strange half thought out logic out there, and I've had my share in my time, but this timeless study in human sexuality stands beyond it all.. mostly because it is not so much about endorsing a particular frame of mind, approach, or even lifetyle, but frankly chronicles the expereinces and observations of individuals trying to sort out their sexuality in this way. Like Thomas Moore's Dark Eros, and the Oniell's "Open Marriage," Arno attempts to get into the workings of the mind in various scenarious, and make some sense of it. Is there room for misinterpretation, like many took "open" for, or merely to have as a ready excuse for indulgence, of course, but this is clearly not the intent of the writer, if one is to look at it honestly. Sexuality is a sticky subject, and like Moore puts in both Eros and SOul of Sex, there is something else being looked for in these alternates (I apologize if my paraphrase doesn't meet with the author), and if this is the intent, great, but if not, Arno and Moore seem to both point at we should maybe not be looking at things and turning our noses up, or excuses, but rather, why and what is really being looked for in these materializations of the personal struggles with intimacy, dominating and transcendant thought and action, and the sacred feminine. (the last being more of Moore than i see Arno's inquiry here)