Reclaiming Desire: 4 Keys to Finding Your Lost Libido (Hardcover)

~ Andrew Goldstein M.D. (Author), Marianne Brandon Ph.D. (Author) "We are a culture fascinated by sex..." (more)
Key Phrases: reclaiming desire, sexual wellness, low libido, Sexual Wellness Center, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Low libido is the most common sexual disorder in American women, affecting an estimated 22 to 43 percent of the female population. And, according to authors Goldstein (a gynecologist) and Brandon (a clinical psychologist), the problem is more complex than most therapists realize. "A decline in sexual desire seldom has a single cause," they argue. "The collection of factors that influences a woman’s sex drive is as unique as the woman herself." Drawing upon their experience at the Sexual Wellness Center in Annapolis, Maryland, an institution that they founded, the authors advocate a holistic treatment that addresses four spheres of a woman’s life: physical health, emotional resilience, intellectual fulfillment and spiritual contentment. Their book covers all the possible factors: weight, diet, exercise, medical conditions, sleep patterns, testosterone, estrogen, dopamine, emotional arousal, stress, sexual trauma and life passages such as motherhood, menopause and divorce. Understanding the mind-body connection can increase sexual pleasure, they emphasize, and the acceptance of some basics?sexual pleasure fluctuates throughout life; a woman’s experience often doesn’t match society’s "ideal"—can smooth the road to change. Personal stories from the authors’ patients demonstrate the problem’s complexity and help make the book more a practical, open-ended discussion about women’s sexual desire than a definitive medical manual.
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Product Description

4 Keys to Finding Your Lost Libido

Anyone who has stood in a supermarket checkout line has seen all the sexy headlines on women's magazines, touting exciting new ways for readers to drive their men wild in bed or to heighten their own sexual pleasure. These are tantalizing promises, to be sure. But they sorely miss the mark.

The fact is, many women aren't interested in more sex or better sex. They aren't interested in sex at all. They used to be, of course. Over months or even years, their sexual desire all but disappeared. And they can't understand why.

Through years of clinical practice, Andrew Goldstein, M.D., and Marianne Brandon, Ph.D., have worked with scores of clients who aren't satisfied with their sex drives. They've seen how women struggle to open up about this very personal and painful problem. And they've seen how it can erode women's self-esteem and strain intimate relationships.

In Reclaiming Desire, Dr. Goldstein and Dr. Brandon present a self-care version of their highly effective holistic approach to treating low libido.

Inside you'll find:
- An exclusive self-test to assess physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health--the four cornerstones of a healthy sex drive

- Essential information on how major life events like pregnancy, menopause, and divorce can affect a woman's sexual health

- A range of practical measures, from conventional and herbal medicines to mind-body techniques and lifestyle strategies, that can help rekindle sexual desire

- Personal stories that draw upon the real-life experiences of women who once struggled with low libido--and emerged with a greater understanding of their sexual selves

Reclaiming Desire also offers a healthy dose of reassurance and encouragement as an antidote to all of the misconceptions about low libido. As you'll learn, a decline in sex drive doesn't automatically happen with age. And while hormones influence sexual desire and response, they don't determine a woman's sexual destiny. Just as important, low libido doesn't necessarily point to a problem in a woman's relationship with her partner. More than likely, she simply has lost touch with her sexual self.

Unlike those magazine headlines, Reclaiming Desire will more than live up to its promise. With this book, you can reclaim your desire--and make your sex life better than ever.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (June 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579546838
• ISBN-13: 978-1579546830
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,814 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best self-help book ever, June 24, 2004

By A Customer

I bought this book based on the Amazon reviews and I'm glad I did. This book is for everyone; I am most certainly not the average victim of low libido - I'm 24 years old, no children, and in a committed loving relationship. It cleared up so many things for me; so much so that my therapist is buying it to recommend to his other patients. I have since recommended it to all of my girlfriends, even the ones who feel they have no libido problems. Besides getting me to feel more open discussing some of the problems that were weighing heavily on me, I learned some simple relaxation tips to keep me 'in the moment' and focused on the experience, not the grocery list that I used to make in my mind. I could go on and on, but just trust me. It's worth buying.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book Written on Women's Desire Problems, July 12, 2004

By	A. Zoldbrod (Boston, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reclaiming Desire is a gift to women who have lost their libido. Doctors Goldstein and Brandon have created a beautifully-written, comprehensive, empowering and compassionate book, and one I recommend wholeheartedly to my patients. It deals with women's low sexual desire in unusual depth, and in a remarkably balanced way---encompassing the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of womens' sexuality.If you still love your partner and your relationship and you still want to bond, but your sex drive has vanished, this is the best book you could ever read.

Reclaiming Desire is the thinking woman's antidote to helplessness. It gives you the guidemap to pinpoint what is wrong, the courage to take responsibility for your part, the voice of a wise, ingenious, loving guide to cheer you on, and all the strategies you will need to change your libido. The chapter on the "Miracle of Motherhood" is a masterpiece. It should be required reading for all parents-to-be, and the professionals who take care of them.

This is a fabulous book and a first-rate contribution to the literature on women and sexuality.

Aline Zoldbrod Ph.D.
AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Diplomate in Sex Therapy,
Psychologist and Couples Therapist
Author, Sex Smart: How Your Childhood Shaped Your Sexual Life and What To Do About It, and co-author, Sex Talk: Uncensored Exercises for Exploring What Really Turns You On.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, May 16, 2004

By A Customer

Reclaiming Desire is a must read for any woman who finds that her sex drive is not what it should be or what she wants it to be, and is willing to take steps to fix it. According to the authors there is no "quick fix" for low libido. Instead, the authors lay out a comprehensive plan for improving sex drive that makes sense and actially works! Their plan starts out with a self test that helps you identify why your sex drive is decreased. Then they explain how to fix it. For example, some women may find that they need to take hormones like testosterone or dopamine, while other women may need help with emotional or relationship problems. They also give a lot of useful information about some popular aphrodisiacs like ginko and ginseng, and talk about sexual desire at different stages of life (after giving birth, menopause, etc). There are lots of useful bullet points that summarize each chapter. One of the best parts of this book are the stories from actual patients that were treated by the authors. All in all this is good reading and lots of help for those of us whose sex drive is not what it once was.