Women on Top [Mass Market Paperback]

Nancy Friday (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Nancy Friday's phenomenal bestsellers My Secret Garden and Forbidden Flowers broke new ground, revealing for the first time the complexity of women's secret sexual fantasies. In Women on Top, she returns to the subject that made her famous, examining the erotic fantasy lives of more than one hundred and fifty modern women. Drawn from Friday's personal interviews and letters, Women on Top contains transcripts of real sexual fantasies that will change your mind-set about women and sex. A revolutionary exploration of female eroticism, Women on Top reveals the powerful and astounding sexual attitudes that are forever changing our intimate lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Friday's absorbing update of her 1973 classic My Secret Garden demonstrates the intervening empowerment of women by exploring the changes in their sexual fantasies.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Oh, that bathtub faucet. Only the Water Pik shower massage gets more kudos from Friday's respondents in this sequel to My Secret Garden (1973)--though dogs come in for considerable praise. Friday reports that, while this project was underway, a friend asked her whether she was writing ``another of your masturbatory books, Nancy.'' Friday was affronted, believing that her books open up discourse on taboo subjects, break new ground in exposing the inner lives of half of the human race, help people feel they're normal, promote understanding between the sexes, etc. And perhaps they do--but it cannot be denied that fully 75% of this book consists of women's first-person X-rated fantasies. Friday's role as commentator on the fantasies may prompt irreverent associations with the impassive, analytical doctors once used to introduce porn films and lend them an air of legitimacy. Her conclusions are: that the generation of women now in their 20s are less abashed about their sexuality than the women in My Secret Garden; that they are comfortable with masturbation; relish their power rather than seek to be overpowered by a man; and sometimes are so angry and fed up with men that they turn to other women. Some of Friday's sweeping generalizations may cause controversy, such as her analysis that feminists hate porn not because it victimizes women but because they can't accept that other women actually enjoy flaunting their power so flagrantly. One thing is for sure: Women have made no progress, judging from these accounts, in finding an erotic language of their own but are relying on the same old blunt, aggressive, consonant- constricted terms of men's porn. Women speaking of ``getting their rocks off'' just doesn't cut it--but maybe that's a subject for a future Friday project. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671648454
• ISBN-13: 978-0671648459
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Women's Studies > General

More About the Author

NANCY FRIDAY is the author of eight books: MY SECRET GARDEN, FORBIDDEN FLOWERS, JEALOUSY, MEN IN LOVE, MY MOTHER/MY SELF, WOMEN ON TOP, THE POWER OF BEAUTY and OUR LOOKS, OUR LIVES. She lives in Key West, Florida, and in Connecticut.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as great as it could be, August 19, 2000

By 

Jonathan J. Casey (the twin cities) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women on Top (Mass Market Paperback)

Buyer beware: there is a LOT of sex with animals in this book, and you're never warned ahead of time: the dogs just come out of nowhere and the average reader gets caught. I felt very guilty when I loaned this book to someone without warning her first and she was not pleased. I mean, don't get me wrong, fantasize about whatever you want...but this is not something I enjoyed reading about. While I admire and respect the concept of this book, it is also marred by Nancy Friday's hamhanded psychoanalysis. I frequently disagree with her theories and find that the best way to read this is to skip all that and jump right into the women's fantasies, some of which are really amazing. While the writers don't stand as representative of women in general (is such a thing possible?), I think the overall scope of the book is such that anyone- whatever sexuality, gender-identity, race, religion, or class- will find something of interest here, be it for education or arousal...and that's what a good book in this field should be, as far as I'm concerned. Negatives aside, I'd like to see a lot more of this out there. If Nerve.com and other such sites would focus less on commerce and big name authors we might start to see a change in the way Americans view sex...but I digress. Take a look at this one, but don't get your hopes too high.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Erotica, Therapy, Sociology--The Most Amazing Book About Sex, June 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Women on Top (Mass Market Paperback)

I first found this book in my Dad's bedroom when I was 15-years old. I am now 21 and I still think it's incredible. The only thing that has changed is my appreciation for it. I now know how rare it is to find such fearless and honest erotica that really turns me on. Some of the fantasies, notwithstanding, aren't for me.

This book is also therapeutic: A friend of mine was recently thinking of seeing a sex therapist. She did, but I also helped by giving her my copy. She hasn't given it back, so this will be my third, counting my Dad's which I read until I moved out.

"Women on Top" is a great reminder or proclaimer of the fact that sex is a natural part of our existence and our everyday lives, and should not be taken for granted.

I think everyone over age 15 (depending on individual maturation) should own this book and be given a sexual education that includes teaching the biology, anatomy, intellect and emotions of sex.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Nancy!, June 25, 2001

By 

M. Nichols-Haining - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women on Top (Mass Market Paperback)

I've owned this book for years, and it hasn't left my beside in all that time. When I bought it, I was in my twenties, and it made me realize that fantasy lives were not restricted to men. And that my fantasies were normal--even (gasp) healthy! Did I learn that from Friday? Nope. I ignored her introductions, as I'm sure most of us did. I figure it out from the numerous women who wrote her and shared their intimate moments. Although our fantasies may differ, they reaffirm that we have every right to relish our own sexuality.

On a side note: the Editorial review really ticked me off. Why is it just fine for men to fantasize using "dirty" words but if we use them, we're no longer feminine? Who declares we must be "dainty" in order to be evolved? Just know when you buy this book that it's not the flowery language you'll find in your drug store romance novel. It's real (sometimes a little out there, but real nonetheless).

I'm not embarrassed to admit that Nancy Friday's books come very close to being a woman's equivalent to Penthouse. We love the words--the men love the pictures. (okay, so I'm not embarrassed unless my mother-in-law reads this) It's all healthy. Go Nancy!