The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex: The Most Complete Sex Manual Ever Written (Paperback)

by Cathy Winks (Author), Anne Semans (Author)
Key Phrases: dildo portion, battery vibrators, creative touching, First Amendment, Susie Bright, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Good Vibrations is a bright, convivial, women-owned sex-toy store in San Francisco, where customers of both genders and all sexual orientations feel welcome. Their book is as candid, upbeat, and friendly as the store. It is filled with information that customers ask for most frequently, tips for enhancing your sex life, and reviews of a variety of sex toys. Good Vibrations believes that "there's more sexual pleasure available than most people experience" and "achieving this pleasure should not be difficult, dangerous, or expensive."

This is a sex manual of a special sort. It starts with the basics ("Sexual Anatomy 101," "Communications," "Masturbation") aimed at teaching the reader to receive and give pleasure. Other chapters ("Lubrication," "Creative Touching," "Oral Sex," "All About Vibrators," "Fantasies") describe how to enhance the sexual experience. You'll get answers to questions you never knew to ask: how to keep dildos clean, what is "packing," what is the appeal of S/M, for example. A substantial chapter on "Safer Sex" offers techniques both expected (use a condom) and unexpected (put it on him using your mouth). Quotations from real people about their sexual pleasures lend interest and eroticism. Explicit line drawings show sex between male-female, male-male, and female-female partners, as well as solitary acts with vibrators. "In our fantasies, we dream of this book with its cracked spine and well-thumbed pages lying on your nightstand next to your vibrator, lube, massage oil and condoms," write the authors. For education and entertainment, this book is a winner. --Joan Price --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
Winks and Semans, managers of a San Francisco adult "toy" store, Good Vibrations, describe in this well-written, just-right-for-browsing compendium many of the sexual pleasures and practices some people--straight or gay--may want to know more about. But this is not an ordinary "how to have better sex" manual. Instead, it focuses on the importance of fantasy and on many props--"sex toys"--frequently glossed over in other similar books. For the simply curious or the sexually adventurous, the authors describe these toys. They also offer a cornucopia of advice and information gathered from interviews about sexual practices. An in-depth chapter on preventing AIDS is included, along with an extensive shopping guide, a list of erotic videos and a bibliography. Some readers may be repelled reading about S/M practices, power games and body piercing--or by the strong emphasis on the pleasure and "popular mechanics" of sex, rather than romance. But even those not inclined to follow authorial suggestions may find this work an excellent opportunity to look behind the closed doors of other people's bedrooms.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 325 pages
• Publisher: Cleis Press; 3rd edition (November 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573441589
• ISBN-13: 978-1573441582
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,626 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Review, December 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Good Vibrations Guide to Sex (Paperback)

The Good Vibrations Guide to Better Sex must be taken in its context. While it does a fabulous job on philosophy and manages to appeal (and include!) everyone on the sexual spectrum, it is disappointingly light on technique. If you are of the more jaded persuasion and are fairly comfortable with your body and sexual appetites, this is not the book for you (there is not much to reccommend it in the way of new information). I was impressed to see that the sex toy section of the book was of notable length and expertise (but these are the folks who do it best) and to encounter the totally unapologetic enthusiasm for the kinkier aspects of the art of sex. It is a good guide for those starting out, but not of much use to the more experienced participant. (However helping out the good gals of Good Vibes is always a worthy cause!)

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One sex book, lots of Ideas!, August 25, 2003

By	anna rodriguez (los angeles, ca) - See all my reviews

I really liked this book because it didn't make assumptions about my sexual orientation or what kinds of things I should like sexually. It just sort of presented a whole lot of options, and laid them out like a big feast, and then invited me to taste whatever I wanted. I have trouble coming with my partner, so I found the information about using vibrators with partners, and enjoying mutual masturbation, really helpful. I also got some good ideas for better oral sex, which is kinda intimidating to me. I like this sex book because I can go back to it whenever I want to learn something new.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your sex book, not your mother's., October 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Good Vibrations Guide to Sex (Paperback)

This book is packed with real information about the 90's (and beyond) views on sex. There is helpful information on all sorts of activities for all styles, orientations, and pleasures. Not only does it explore techniques to enhance your sex life, it touches on taboo topics that other manuals like to ignore. This book touches on all possible topics. As a therapist, I believe that there is no manual on the market that will be more important for both singles and couples as this one. Read it, learn it, and enjoy!