Sex for Dummies [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

~ Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer (Author) "The English language is a rich one because it has borrowed heavily from so many different tongues..." (more)
Key Phrases: good sexual functioning, premonitory sensation, psychogenic erections, United States, Making Connections, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Go ahead and laugh at the title of this book, but admit it--do you know what a cytomegalovirus is, or how to get rid of one? (It's a little-known sexually-transmitted disease, and there's no known cure.) Dr. Ruth Westheimer has written a valuable reference for those who think they know it all--and for those who admit they know nothing. Westheimer covers male and female anatomy, masturbation, birth control, and the ups and downs of orgasms, along with many other very sensitive subjects--such as how to come out when you're married and have children. For parents who are having trouble talking with their teens about sex, this book could break the ice. It's especially worthy reading--for young and old alike--for Westheimer's candid discussions of the often-ignored emotional and psychological aspects of sexuality, from the effects of losing one's virginity to having cybersex to handling premature ejaculation and other sexual problems.

Product Description

Considering how much practice humanity has had with sex, it's surprising how little most of us know about it. In Sex For Dummies, world-famous sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer sheds light on talking to kids and teenagers about sex, keeping romance alive, planning a family, protecting yourself and others from sexually transmitted diseases, achieving greater pleasure from your lovemaking, dealing with impotence and infertility, and maintaining an active sex life in the face of medical and physical disabilities. Demonstrating her singular charm, Dr. Ruth shares here the wisdom she's gained helping thousands of people in matters of sex and romance. Sex For Dummies is one guide you can trust in this all-important area of human life.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc; illustrated edition edition (August 18, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568843844
• ISBN-13: 978-1568843841
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #464,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sex for Dummies (for Dummies), August 10, 2001

By	David L Bransford M.D. (Grand Rapids, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex for Dummies (Paperback)

As a medical doctor specializing in adolescent and adult Psychiatry, I have found Dr Ruth's book extremely valuable as a non-threatening resource. Having met with her in May 2001 in New Orleans at the Annual American Psychiatric Association's meeting May 5-10th, I was amazed at her insights about Human Sexuality. Masters and Johnson brought to the Field of Medicine the Physiology of Sexuality, but Dr Ruth carries it to the next level of important knowledge re: Human Intimacy. It is not a "how to" book with the misguided concepts of the Hugh Hefner "Sex is a Triumph of Mechanical Engineering". Instead, she is down to earth, practical, and non-threatening...so that her readers learn and enjoy the basic realities that human sexuality need not be a "competitive sport" nor do couples need to adhere to their culteral expectations of the "Myth of the Mutual Orgasm"....I have had so many individuals and couples leave my office...seeing the book on my bookself...and perhaps at first laughing, only to purchase the book and devour it in the privacy of their own home. I have found it a valuable springboard in working with individuals and couples with sexual dysfunction. As for the person - Dr Ruth - she is delighful, empathic, great sense of humor, and is extremely well informed with the current scientific knowledge of Human Sexuality David L Bransford MD

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you are looking for techniques, look elsewhere, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

A good book for people with very little sexual experience or knowledge. If you are looking for a hands-on guide for techniques to practice on your partner, then this is NOT the book you want to get.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a "how to" book, but a "what is" book, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

If you want a book which teaches you techniques and offers constructive suggestions on how to improve (or, I suppose, get started) in your sex life, you'll want to skip this one. Go grab a copy of the Kama Sutra or Joy of Sex for this kind of reference.

On the other hand, if you're a complete newbie to sex and/or would rather focus on the technical aspects such as diseases, pregnancy, and topics of a similar nature, this might be a good book for you. There's probably nothing here that you won't find on any free web site or even in the Johns Hopkins Family Health Book (which, for twice the price, you get everything under the sun instead of focusing only on sex-related topics).

So save yourself some time and money and avoid this book altogether.