Sex Relationships Books

The joy of this book is that it not only has great information but is also highly entertaining and very well written.

I currently work in the psychology field with men and sometimes couples. I consider Jungian psychology an area of strong interest and I have read many books in this genre. Many of them are listed among my other reviews or listmania lists.

This specific author has a unique gift for presenting Jungian ideas and making them applicable to real life. He does not say too much... and he also doesn't cheat the reader on depth. In addition, he has a gift for explaining sometimes difficult concepts in very simple language. For me, this was a two sitting book and I couldn't put it down.

With respect to content, many reviewers have covered Jung's notion of the inner feminine in a male and inner masculine in a female. What the other does with this notion is demonstrate how these contrasexual images get projected or acted out in relationship. This is unconscious, but being aware of what's happening, why it's happening and how it all ties together is curative.

If you look at relationship through the lens of this book, you will understand how in any relationship their is really an anima to animus, an ego to animus, an ego to anima and an ego to ego dynamic. Being aware of these additional layers helps one avoid many pitfalls.

For example, many men have a mother-complex that they are trying to overcome. This theme occurs in many myths and fairy tales in the form of slaying the dragon. The whole notion here is that to have the maiden (embrace the anima/interior feminine) one must first differentiate from the mother complex (dragon). In short, a male must embrace his feminine side and make it conscious before he can relate to a woman as a human being rather than as a carrier of a projection. A similar dynamic occurs in females and that is what this book is all about.

I unreservedly recommend this book to laymen, psychologists and therapists. It is very complimentary to the other self-help literature and extremely practical. I also recommend A General Theory of Love and Jung's Map of the Soul: An Introduction. The latter of these two books is the Cliff's Notes of Jung's concepts explained simply from an extremely credible source. If you get Intimate Partners, I urge you to pick this book up as well. It will serve to deepen your relationship inquiry and make Intimate Partners more meaningful.

This book was a really interesting and thought provoking first contact with the Jungian concepts of projection, anima and animus and the roles (positive and negative) they play in intimate, heterosexual relationships.

It was a really wonderful read with lots of good and easy explanations (theoretical and practical) of the concepts and it's manifestations. And a wonderful outline of a positive and workable approach to dealing with projections and what their purpose is (in a nutshell, first to break through the barrier that exists between to people and secondly and more often than not just a way of your unconscious to tell you what you have to work on with yourself {if you have strong bigger-than-life-women projections --> get in touch with your inner female/emotions. If you have bigger-than-life-men projections --> get in touch with your inner man/creativity/strive; if you have are heavily attracted to artistic partners it might be that your own artistic potential needs to be worked out).

On the more negative side:
It seemed to treat the male/anima side of the whole equation a lot more indepth than the female/animus part. And there is hardly anything about people who don't match their own gender archetype much or to be more concrete match their opposite gender archetype more than their own. Which might be a result of it being a bit dated by now and it's shortness of only 120 pages.

I as well enjoyed the treatment of at the time rather current discussions about if men and women both have anima and animus. Or if their occurence is gendered.

All in all an excellent introduction though!

This book primarily addresses the Jungian concept of the contra-sexual in which men have a feminine archetype (called the anima) in their psyches, and women have a corresponding masculine archetype (called the animus) in their psyches. These unconscious forces have profound effects upon our lives, especially upon our relationships with persons of the opposite sex. This short book, while written some time ago, is still applicable today. It covers a lot of ground in a short space so it can be a bit difficult or even dense in places, especially if the reader is not intimate with Jungian psychology. Nevertheless, the concepts (or model, if you will) are valuable and useful in everyday life-not just with romantic relationships, but also with interpersonal communications and understanding.

In order to get the most out of this book, it is necessary to keep an open mind. This can be challenging; as stated on page 9: "Even the most elemental knowledge of oneself is something that most people resist with the greatest determination. Usually it is only when we are in a state of great pain or confusion, and only self-knowledge offers a way out, that we are willing to risk our cherished ideas of what we are like in a confrontation with the truth, and even then many people prefer to live a meaningless life rather than to go through the often disagreeable process of coming to know themselves."

Thus, recognition of animus/anima interplay can result in "being in love" which we resist analyzing and bringing into the everyday world. From pages 18-19: "Relationship founded exclusively on the being-in-love state can never last...being in love is a matter for the gods, not for human beings...it can endure only in a fantasy world where the relationship is not tested in the everyday stress of real life...To the extent that a relationship is founded on projection, the element of human love is lacking. To be in love with someone we do not know as a person, but are attracted to because they reflect back to us the image of the god or goddess in our soul, is in a sense, to be in love with oneself not with the other person...Real love begins only when one person comes to know another for who he or she really is as a human being, and begins to like and care for that human being."

Projection is not, however, a totally negative process because per page 20: "Each time projection occurs there is another opportunity for us to know our inner Invisible Partners, and that is a way of knowing our own souls." Thus, for example, on pages 53-4: "In learning to relate to a woman, a man also has to come to terms with the little boy in himself...We have no free choice unless we are psychologically conscious persons," and on page 55: "Of the choices every man and woman makes of his or her partner in life; in some way the partner represents something we need to understand about ourselves."

But it's not a bowl of roses either because per page. 83: "Projections can never be withdrawn completely, for they are out of our conscious control; nor can we ever become so conscious of the inner images of the anima and animus that projections do not occur. Withdrawing projections does not mean that they no longer occur, but that we understand them as images within ourselves when they do." But, (page 124) "We get well in direct proportion to the energy we put into our psychological development."

For additional reading on unconscious forces, see: George Weinberg "Invisible Masters: Compulsions and the Fear that Drives Them" Plume NY 1993 and Loren E. Pederson Dark Hearts-The Unconscious Forces that Shape Men's Lives Shambhala, Boston 1991

As one reviewer mentioned, this book is short. It is dense in places, and required a second read of parts of chapter 2.

It's interesting how important turning points in life can be traced back to seemingly inconsequential encounters. I dated a girl just once, and we never saw each other again. While we were discussing self-help books that had been important to us, she mentioned The Invisible Partners. Later I ordered the book from Amazon and it proved to be revolutionary. Finally, I have answers. I understand why/how I'd experienced certain disorienting emotional phenomena since I was a young man. And now I have ways to "right myself". The answers and tools didn't come directly from the text, but indirectly from doing the work suggested in the appendix. (I think the appendix is worth the price of the book.)

If you're open to Jungian thought and have found therapy helpful but maybe unable to answer some key questions, do yourself a favor and read The Invisible Partners. You may not find it revolutionary, but I can't imagine you won't find it helpful.

Author Herman gives us a racy, fun, interesting, fascinating, sexy look at the 'royals' and their lovers of the past. I enjoyed it and thought she did an outstanding job in bringing some of these flamboyant, humorous characters (and sometimes ugly and nasty) to life for us to have a chuckle in the 21st Century. I also liked her dressed up in her royal dress and crown - nice touch! It's obvious that Princess Diana and the Windsors come from a long history of love, lust and romance. There's nothing new between 'boys and girls' but it's still intriguing and fun to read about it from the past. The research was excellent and I'm sure the author's family lost her many days to the archaives and museums. Imagine what the modern paparazzi could have done with Charles II or Henry VIII, or Lola Montez or Lady Castlemaine? The index was very helpful in keeping all the players straight.

one of the funniest and most interesting books i have ever read. i would highly recommend this book. think of it as a sassy history of monarchs.

this author make history something you want to read.i can't wait for her next book.

I couldn't wait to read this book, but when I saw the photo of the author in a costume, I started to worry. Very interesting subject material, but the organization made me crazy - people kept jumping back and forth in time, I felt as if I were reading the same story over and over again. And yes, some of the stories were fascinating, but the book seemed like an overlong magazine article. Very disappointing.

I was very excited to pick up Sex with Kings as a juicy read. It was definitely juicy, and the subject matter was extremely interesting, but Ms. Herman's writing style was redundant and torturous. The chapters are thematic, so you will cover more or less the same king's mistresses in each chapter, again and again and again. I would rather have read this as short biographical sketches of most of these women. The book feels very disjointed to me, but like I said, the material is extremely interesting. I just wish it had been presented better.

There is really not much to this book. It's not very innovative or inspiring. The advice is fairly bland. Pretty much about the same type of information that you might find in a magazine, which is not surprising when you learn that the author wrote for Cosmo.
It's fine but not that interesting if you are even remotely adventurous although, as a woman I found that it had some good instruction on going down on women, the male instructional was not revelatory. Perhaps more for those who have been together for a long time and are looking for some tips that aren't too randy or out of the comfort zone. I won't be keeping this one or making it the subject of any recommendations.

Definitely one of the best books of it's kind I've gotten the opporunity to read. Loved the pictures - and the advice is good, even though some things are near impossible for the average human. Very nice spectrum of information.

I thought this book was great for giving some ideas to things we already do and ways to set the mood, but I wish there could have been more discussion on positions and less emphasis on oral sex. It gave some perspective of what the other person is thinking and touched on the issue of insecurities - all material was presented in an easy to read fashion. My favorite feature was that my sweaty hands didn't warp the pages :) This was a good brief overview book and a quick read.

I loved the layout of this book - very fast reading and great information. I even got my husband to read it and he HATES to read! The pictures are great and the overall feel of the book does not make it seem like your typical instruction manual. I would recommend to everyone!

Once again another pictorial book about sex that thinks it can `pull it off' without showing genitals, much less penetration. I'd hate to see what some of these Authors would produce if they were assigned to write an Operating Procedure for driving a car, shooting a gun, skinning a kangaroo or even playing golf.

I can't find a place for this book. If my kids wanted to learn about sex positions and variations I think I'd sooner watch pornos with them and then have to explain the sanctity of sex and put it in a healthy perspective after that than to try to flick through something like this with them. This is no worse than lots of things out there and in fact better than some. My problem is that I believe sex is absolute intimacy, body fluids, lust ferocity and, ideally, the ultimate expression of Love Trust and Unity with abandon. When it gets to being a sterile, emotionless chore, like a dance or gymnastics class I reckon I'll be off to join the priesthood.

Bless you my children!!!!

Cheers

Lloyd

I've read every word in this book and there is nothing of any use here, very shallow & absolutely clueless.

I wasn't sure what to expect but this is a fun book. Not only is it informative, but this book is entertaining. And it's nice to read a seduction book written by a 'normal' size woman.

This is yet another book that seems to sell tactics to single women for finding a man, and luring him into a relationship the right way, having fun as you go along.

But like many such titles, it is actually a guide for married women to spice up heir love life.

I skimmed the first few chapters, it seemed unbearably religious (I'm an Atheist - just give me pure reason and logic! Sex and religion have never seemed to be friendly bedfellows to me).

There are things about discovering your inner goddess...again, not for me. I'm single, attractive, out there looking for men (and I'll be honest here, women too). I can flirt well online but in person my demeanor is cold and stand-offish.

So I wanted to know how to be a softer woman, how to cajole, entice, and seduce...after reading, I have little or no idea how.

I would recommend this to women in their late 30's and 40's, who never got to cut loose in college, who yearn to bee a passionate wild woman, but don't know how to re-seduce their husbands.

For us twenty-somethings and early 30's singles, I would skip this.

Instead, weird as this may sound, a sex book actually has the best seduction and flirting tips I've ever read.

Check out: Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man [Hardcover]
By: Dan Anderson (Author), Maggie Berman (Author).

I know, seems weird, but if you want to know how to entice a man, who better to ask than a man?

I loved the book so much I bought the other one...releasing the seductress within...unfortunately they are the same exact book! Just different titles...and shame on amazon for offering them both together. Don't get me wrong...I loved the book, just pissed that I got duplicates and it's not worth the shipping to send it back

This was a great book. It lets women know that it's okay to be sexy in the way that suits and is best for YOU. There are many ways to be a seductress and if we follow our own natural seductress, it feels really good, natural and is totally empowering. I am glad I bought this book. Good luck ladies and this book it totally worth purchasing. It's fun. There is a quiz in this book that let's you now what kind of seductress you are and how to further enhance your type and not try to be something that you are not. It has reference books and movies to let you know where you can go to further educate yourself to let your sexiness out.

I just read a sample of the book from my Kindle, but that brief excerpt was enough. This book would probably be better titled, "how to resuscitate a dieing relationship," and marketed to those with relationships already on the decline. Even in that situation, I'd find his writing hard to take. He constantly is trying to sell you on his be-all, end-all acronym, CREATE. Though the relationship examples from his practice were excellent, the analogies were weakly uninspiring.

THis book nailed it with the 6 pillars of a relationship, however, the content was very, basic.

I bought this for my girlfriend and she loved it! I read it and I love it. A very interesting read which will definitely change your perspective on your relationships.

In my experience, this has got to be the single most useful book on the subject of lasting romantic relatinships. Dr. Goulston examines the six pillars of relationship success - Chemistry, Respect, Enjoyment, Acceptance, Trust, Empathy.

Together the first letters of each word spell CREATE. Together, the essence of each word define LOVE.

This book can literally save your marriage or committed relationship. Dr. Goulston uses simple, yet clever analogies to help readers understand the true foundation of a solid relationship. His CREATE approach is direct and easy to understand. The advice is wonderful and it's obvious that Dr. Goulston genuinely cares about helping people grow and solidify their intimate relationships. This should be required reading for all couples or anyone contemplating a romantic relationship.

This book has some really cool and HOT things I've never tried before...
Like downloading hot stories and songs into his iPod as a surprise (he loved it),
Involving a 1-900 operator in your sex games, like a mock menage a trois! (This was hot.)
Having him be your chauffeur...and then buzzing yourself in the backseat. (He almost crashed!)
I heard Georgia and Julie on the radio last week and then I checked out the free game on dominantdiva.com called Parking Lot Passion. Both my boyfriend and I loved it! I'm hooked! I got the book 5 days ago, and have already tried 4 games. I'm a DOMINANT DIVA.

This book has tons of creative ideas I hadn't thought of but that are truly inspiring... I was surprised (and psyched) to see how many of the games aren't just sexy, but also super-romantic. Check out Bed, Bath and Way Beyond, for example--what woman *wouldn't* want to be pampered like that? My boyfriend *loves* this book--it's fun paging through it with him and picking out games to try together. (There are games for him as well as me, so that keeps it interesting ;)...) He was pretty excited when I brought it home, believe me--and it keeps paying off... Not just in making sex more fun, either. I swear my boyfriend is giving me more massages now, giving me more compliments and just generally paying more attention to me in and out of the bedroom. Even if you've never tried anything but vanilla sex, you'll get into this book--the games are called games because they're fun! Everything's rated from mild to wild, so you can start slow if you want--or go straight to the super-spicy... Consider me a very satisfied Dominant Diva!!

This book details exactly how to go about taking charge of your sex life. If you are a woman curious about how to start experimenting with some role play in your sex life, this is the perfect book for you. It details step by step how to set up role play scenes: what to wear, what props you might need, what to say, how to to go about every aspect of spicing up your sex life. And it is full of ideas for the timid to the daring so I can see using this book for a long time. The fantasies are hot, so just reading this book will add some heat before you even start trying it out. Perfect for the woman who wants to take control (or a man who wants his woman to take control to give as a gift). This book is not too wild or severe like some others about power exchange and it really does tell you "how to".

While this guide to adult love making bliss has only 69 games to play in the lover's bedroom, there is plenty of opportunity to add variations and eventually reach a goal of 1001 nights of exquisite sexual pleasure. The authors state their purpose as:
"We want to let you in on a little secret: There's nothing better than taking control of your sex life and your man. It's so empowering to know that you're not only in charge of your own O, but you can easily take charge of his too!"
The two authors were both waitresses when they met but before long Georgia became a dominatrix. Julie became a sex advisor for various media. The women tested each new sex technique, fetish, or position they discovered on their husbands and then "compared notes. If it earned our seal of approval, we'd tell our girlfriends and spread the love." Together they compiled their favorite sex games so their readers can get in on the fun too. They chose the games from their experiences as a very successful Manhattan and L.A. dominatrix as well their magazine sex features and their own kinky love lives.
Unlike most of the books on this subject, this one is jam-packed with detailed sexual role-playing games. The authors take the reader into a world that even the women in "Sex in the City" probably have not even dreamed about, much less experienced.
One only has to read, or better yet, try a couple of the games described in this guidebook to know the authors really do know their subject. Sample games include titles such as "Dirty Dancer," "Naked Sushi," "Master of Disguise," Naughty Nurse," "Sex Spa," "Take Me to the Drive-In," "Boss Lady," and "Caught and Cuffed."
This 282 page book is large format, beautifully illustrated with tasteful, erotic photographs (surprise, surprise), has an interesting, unique layout and the book is fun and if it doesn't make the reader laugh, they will at least giggle while they explore a whole new world of erotic adventures. The book also gives good advice about safe sex, the correct way to do some of the techniques so as not to cause damage to yourself or your partner and the variety of sex toys that can be introduced into many of the lovemaking games. This book is one of the best hands-on guides available on this highly stimulating and desirable subject and none of the games would be classified as extreme or particularly dangerous. The games are designed to give the unimaginative woman step-by-step or move-by-move or orgasm-by-orgasm instruction and hopefully by the book's end, even the formerly shy novice lover will be able to soar on to new heights of sexual satisfaction by adapting these basic games into love games tailored especially for their own tastes.
It's the kind of book that could easily become a modern version of the ancient Chinese and Japanese Pillow books in that couples will keep it under their pillows for saucy inspiration in the bedroom.
This book is so good at what it says, that if the authors had offered a "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" deal to purchasers, it's unlikely anyone would ever have wanted take them up on their guarantee. Honestly, these women know what they write is proven fact, again and again. The readers should prepare themselves to join the authors "on this Dominant Diva journey, and your sex life will never be the same." The authors also suggest that readers of the book "invest in some fire-retardant sheets, because things are gonna get hot. Really hot. And that's a promise!" And they are "oh so" correct!

Forbidden Fruit asks questions about the connection between religion and sex among American teenagers, and the answers Regnerus finds are neither simple nor straightforward. In fact, the author concludes that simple and straightforward answers to questions about sex (like, avoid sex before you're married) have largely fallen flat among American teens, Christians included. There's new material on emerging sexual norms, masturbation, homosexuality, virginity loss, post-virginity sexual decision-making, etc. For these reasons, I think the book could be considered as a standard in the study of adolescent sexual behavior, independent of its illustrative emphasis on religion.

Forbidden Fruit is broad in its analyses of nationally representative survey data and rich in its conversations with real people. The writing is clear, crisp, and engaging, and should appeal to parents and educators alike. It's also fun to read but avoids a frivolous or overly playful tenor. There are many refreshing turns of phrase in the presentation of arguments that make this book enjoyable. In sum, the author talks about serious matters in a disarming way, one that is respectful to religious traditions, and doesn't lend itself to easy politicization or demonizing. The stories about evangelical youth (who seem sexually "traditional" in word more than in deed) and the emergence of a "conservative" middle class sexual morality that has little to do with religion are fascinating. I think the author is right: most religious groups in America don't know how to address adolescent sexuality; in turn they hold out no compelling vision for their teens in how to be both devout and sexual. In sum, it's an outstanding contribution.

This book is for those people who have never been teenagers themselves or are so out of touch with the world that it really will not help them. Alternatively this book could be used by teenagers as a "how to guide" but as such it should be classified in the same section as "the idiot's guide to sex."
While Regnerus puts out some interesting points most of it is well known or obvious. Of course the people who claim to be strongly religious are more likely to do the wrong thing, anyone can see that (this is especially well illustrated in Dante's Inferno).
Regnerus does satisfactorily put forth the notion that the religious parents and priests have failed at their mission of teens not having sex. He does not, however, assess the impact of sexual education in conjunction with religious beliefs as well as he should. Some things are just not satisfactorily explained, though perhaps with the degredation of morality now-a-days those things cannot be explained other than by peer pressure.

Regnerus makes a huge contribution in this book to our understanding of religion and sex in the lives of American youth. Forbidden Fruit is built on solid social science research and is highly informative and challenging. I recommend it to anyone who has, works with, or cares about teenagers.

This book ties together the world of physics and the mind. I have always felt that our thoughts act on the world and here is a book that goes a long way to explaining it.

It is a must have for anyone who believes it is the thought that counts; although especially important for those that don't.

Henry Grayson's ideas were new to me when I read his book. I learned to hold new expectations of my relationships and marriage, learned a deeper understanding of where love comes from, and learned to seek personal responsibility for my own emotions. Reading this book improved every relationship in my life. Highly, highly recommended for those considering marriage or already in one - blissful or rocky.

The author knows his stuff. And if I had NOT been familiar with spiritual writings (or self-help books) I might have gotten seduced by the 'logic' of the arguments or the promises for improving my relationships.

However.

To me, the emphasis of the presentation on the workings of the mind and spirit makes only more obvious its dissociation from the body and emotions. This book will help most people with their relationships the way yoga helps people to be flexible - through dissociation. In both cases a methodical disconnection from the emotional markers held in the body creates a temporary sense of freedom and relief. But, these very markers hold in place personal history and uniqueness of one's life experience - not to mention energy trapped in suppressed emotions.

To say that I found this book pretty useless for me, is unfortunately not enough - I believe this book is dangerous in what it creates through its seductions - a sort of spiritual and emotional brain washing. Sure, it contains powerful techniques for change - so does brain washing. And. Dissociation works quite well at first - that's why people dissociate - because it works. But. Is this a choice I really want to make? No.

I don't doubt that Mr. Grayson has found a way to make the techniques in his book work for him. I also don't doubt that they worked for his clients - over time therapists polarize the clients they draw by the very nature of the approaches they refine. But. That doesn't make such an approach a good thing. The perspective which this book represents is not one I would choose for my own relationships - it would be insulting and hurtful to the people I love. I want to be close to the people I love, not float on a cloud of abstractions, basking in self-satisfied detachment. Neither would I want to attract into close relationships the kind of people this book would attract.

I'm 47 years old, married for 13 years, with two children. I am an illustrator-artist (27 years), organic grower (11years) and a licensed bodyworker (14 years). I've read spiritual writings and self-help books since I was 15, and until about 5 years ago. This book was recommended to me by a well-meaning, casual friend.

This book is the bible for the mind. I read it, began using the practices. Now my relationships are more focused and happy.

Don't let this book fool you ... it's not just for romantic couples but everyone in a relationship to their family, friends, and colleagues. Grayson has lots of action-oriented excercises to help readers get the personal experience of the techniques he advocates. Spiritually-based psychotherapy with some practical examples. Mindful Loving is for those who believe that love must come from within before it can be extended without.

Tommy Nelson is perhaps the best teacher of the Word of God I know. His multiple studies on the Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and other wisdom literature have given me such insight into who God is. The Book of Romance is a fascinating walk-threw of the Song of Solomon. In the introduction Tommy states, "Do you think God would allow men and women to marry and then toss them a grenade called intimacy and say to them, "Well, just fiddle around a little with this and you'll figure out how to work it"? Too many times the church as a whole skirts the issue of sex and romance even though the Song of Solomon hits it head on.

This is an amazing study that my wife and I did while we were dating, while we were engaged, and since we have been married. I have worked in youth ministry for nearly a decade and I have taught this material to youths as well. I credit my good marriage to learning the truths Tommy points out in this book.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

This book goes line by line explaining the whole chapter. I loved it.... Now I understand - it is not only a love story, but instructions - exact instructions - on how you are to treat each other in marriage... it is an exact example on how to date, select a mate, wedding vows and promises, marriage, make love, conflict resolution, it has it all ! I have read so many books on how to make a marriage work... how to argue fair, be loving, be respectful, how to EVERYTHING, but this one is straight from the BIBLE... can't get any better than that !

The very best wedding present !

This book's title is "The Book of Romance: What Solomon Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy"... from the way it is written, a better title might have been "The Book of Romance: What Tommy Nelson Says About Love, Sex, and Intimacy."

While refering to the Song of Solomon in each chapter, most chapters are his own musings on the topics of love, sex, and intimacy. It is of course quite alright from him to write from his own personal experience on these topics, but when the book as presented as what Solomon and his experience can teach us about love, that's where I check out.

Nevertheless, the book does present insight/knowledge that has and will be useful for many, but don't think that what he says will necessarily flow directly from scripture.

This book was a great book in that the author was right on target. I learned alot about marriage and now my husband is reading the book. We have both agreed that our three daughters will read the dating and courtship sections before they are allowed to date. Then as they approach maturity and marriage, they will read the rest. The conflict resolution chapters for marriage gave great insight on how men and women think and how to approach a problem and resolve it. It is rare to come across a book on romance that is so biblically founded and so on target. I highly recommend it for everyone!!!

Tommy Nelson does a great job of dispelling the myth that sensuality is not for us Christians. A really fun read.