Sex Relationships Books

Reviewed by Melissa LaMunyon for RebeccasReads (6/08)

Christian George's provocative title and the stylish cover of his latest book, "Sex, Sushi and Salvation" is a perfect example of the new movement in the Christian faith. Young Christians of all creeds and from every part of the country are seeking far more from their faith and their churches: more depth, more philosophy, more intimacy and more practicality. Apparently, theology and spiritual thought are not just for pastors anymore.

Reflecting on his childhood, mission work, the courtship of his wife, Rebecca, and his world travels, George draws a multicolored, many hued picture of his life experiences for the reader. Using an intense, poetic and descriptive style, George takes the reader on a rambling journey through his life as he demonstrates the universal human needs of intimacy, community and hope for eternal life through the eyes of his faith. Combined within the stories from his life, George waxes theological; drawing on many scriptural passages until he gradually intertwines the bite-sized chapters together at the end.

I appreciated George's fresh and frank approach to this book and to life. A few of the stories stood out to me in particular; one was an encounter with a young Russian girl during a mission trip. When George gently refuses the teenage girl's offer of sex (not without pause, he admits) he finds out that he is the first man who has ever turned this young girl away. After a brief period of awkwardness, the two are able to have real conversations about life and God.

George has a passion for pilgrimages and a thorough knowledge of Christian history. During one of the vignettes, George describes his exploration of the country side around a European monastery and musing over the early monastic life; what it would mean to completely have the focus of ones life being in the pursuit of knowing God. Using his vivid style, George tries to imagine what it would be like to live in one of the caves around the monastery during all kinds of weather and without any modern conveniences. These kind of rambling stories make up the bulk of "Sex, Sushi and Salvation."

My only issue with the book was the occasional over use of descriptive language. While George's style is certainly unique and appealing, it felt as though he was trying too hard to be clever, and a little shocking, in the first few chapters. Another important note; this is directed towards those of the Christian faith. Seekers or spiritualists would be better off looking elsewhere for reading material. Christians, however, of all walks will enjoy this book, and George's fresh approach to theological writing is surely to be well received.

George provides a thick Christianity for a watered down culture. As a prophet, he boldly states what the Bible demands of people. Many times, this seems to take you by surprise forcing you to examine your own life and admit your own shortcomings before you even realize you are agreeing with him. Throughout the book, George's abilities as a wordsmith created memorable quotes that cemented his ideas in my mind. I would recommend this book to everyone, regardless of age or spiritual maturity.

Christian George is a theologian disguised as a story teller. His writing is colorful and vivid, and each vignette contributes to a timeless picture of God for a new generation.

Parents and grandparents, take note. Christian George's book is not JUST
for the younger generation. It is a wonderfully honest book that is full of insights about God and how he is working in the life of an incredible
young man. I could not put it down, and I have shocked my grandchildren
and nephews by giving them a book with "sex" in the title.This is a great gift for birthdays and upcoming graduations, and you will learn a thing or two yourself. I expect to hear great things from this very "real" writer with such compelling writing skills.

This book tackles the tough questions and comes face to face with life's real issues. It leaves no room for fluffy, hollow theology. Where does our deepest pain and our deepest need meet the truth's of Christ and the promises of God? The Author dives in deep, leaving all false sense of security and Christian one-liners behind to make the real connections between the confusing, painful, poverty-stricken lives we live with the risen, redemptive and glorious life of the Savior. In a unique mix of poetic and yet common-place language we find ourselves following Jesus through the twists and turns of a life that in my mind, reflects the beautiful dance that God has orchestrated for the display of His glorious splendor.

Even if this is a good book I would never buy a book published by Planned Parenthood...an organization that supports abortion.

It is a good and useful product for teaching children. The kids can actually read parts of it themselves if they are uncomfortable reading it with you.

I purchased this book for my 10 year old son as a basis for discussion for 'the talk'. I found the information provided therein deficient in several categories. There are actually only a couple pages that are devoted to any kind of description or explanation of the sex act itself, and those are non-illustrated and very shallow. The book is much more geared to describing male and female changes during puberty and of course, as a publication of Planned Parenthood, spends considerable time on contraception, STDs, and other topics which are not perhaps reflected in the book's misleading title. I would have returned the book but the return shipping fee would not have justified that process as it would have been more than one-half the cost of the book itself. I would recommend against this book for any purpose.

I felt good about this purchase and the quality of the book was good. I would recommend this seller to anyone who likes a good quality product.

This book was enlightening, inspiring, and so true to life. I was actually able to adopt many of the reasonings. After I read the book, I passed it down to a friend, and suggested this book for a friends book club.

MS. Juanita Bynaum gives an indepth view on what is mean to be single, saved, and prepared for your destiny. Please not only read this book, but purchase this book with others who are in need of deliverance from lust. This book helps you understand why people have made decisions to get into bad relationships and why they they should be delivered from them. This book is a page turner and with every page you will receive and feel the deliverance from your "sheets." Please read and discover why God led Jaunita to write NO MORE SHEETES.

All I can say is BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to learn how to say no to the enemy and YES to GOD then this book is for you. I recommend this book to every single, married, or dating person in the entire universe!!!! This book will help you understand what sheets are and how to remove sheets from your life so that you can see the vision that GOD has in your life.

This book is exactly what I needed to read during the season that is upon me. I'm tired of compromising with men and giving my whole self to people who are willing to give me only a part of themselves. Reading her words made me feel empowered and to, once and for all, put my trust in God and leave it there! No more toeing the line! This book is OFFICIAL!

I'm biased, because I am an Imago therapist - but this book has made a significant difference in the lives of my couples. This is the fourth in the series, yet can stand on it's own.

I received it in a timely manner. The book was in great condition.

I have read so many books about relationships and by far the manual "Getting the Love you Want" and this workbook, are the best!

What an excellent job of writing a very professional book! This book provides very healthy information for men and women of all ages. And who wouldn't enjoy seeing so many pictures of the beautiful author!!

I bought this book for the title and thought it would be a good way to do yoga with my boy friend. And sure enough it was. We don't know anything about yoga but tried some of the poses meant to improve certain sex positions shown in the back of the book and had fun to say the least. The instruction is clear, precise and detailed with lots of descriptive pictures. While I thought the book would be just a good gag, we actually learned much yoga. The instruction of how to blend yoga into bedroom experimentation helped me and my boyfriend find a new favorite position in bed we never thought possible. Which actually motivated me try the routines in the book, which I find more helpful in feeling sensual than I thought possible. Good for yoga beginners and up and those looking to get over their stiffness problems.

I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING YOGA ON AND OFF ALL MY ADULT LIFE.I HAVE AN ACTIVE SEX LIFE AS WELL. THIS BOOK HAS ENHANCED BOTH. I HAVE LOST WEIGHT,STRENTHENED MY BODY ,AND ENJOY SEX AS NEVER BEFORE!
I HEARTLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ACHIEVE A FULL AND HAPPY LIFE.

I liked reading through this book with my husband on a weekly basis. We took a long hiatus from it after the birth of our second son, but we finally finished.

It gave many suggestions on how to make things work despite the differences in men and women. Impractical expectations due to present-day media disappoints many in the marital bed. By being able to talk with each other and making your spouse happy, the selfishness we often feel can be overcome.

I only wish there were more Biblical references throughout this book as to how we should regard the other as more important than ourselves.

What a wonderful perspective on the sacredness and divine purpose of sex within marriage. This book is written well and has a good balance between practical knowledge and concepts - it will change your life and marriage if you let it, and I hope you do!

Great book! Information not learned anywhere. Must read if you are thinking of marriage, in marriage or trying to rediscover your marriage!

The McCluskeys understand and speak to the inextricable connection between body and spirit. They view sex as a form of communication, so it's natural that they focus on what's being communicated. It's at this deeper level, they contend, that most sexual problems and frustrations begin. And they can only be cured at the source-in the soul.

They avoid the degrading lingo that most people default to in discussions of sex. Each chapter begins with a character sketch of a marriage from Christopher's casebook, and the stories resonate, touching on issues all couples struggle through. My cheeks flushed as I saw my own mistakes woven through others' experiences. But the book's gentle tone makes this bearable.

With this book, the McCluskeys have set a new standard for the genre. Much more than a manual, When Two Become One speaks to and about the holy longing in each of us, a longing for God in our physical experience of each other.

I am newly married and found this book a bit disappointing. It didn't include anything on STD's, infections, birth control or address problems that you may run into. Because of these missing pieces it is not a book I would refer back to and keep on my shelf. The book does give recommendations for other book that we have read and we found those more helpful. I would recommend "intended for pleasure" instead because it is more complete.

"Men Like Women...." consists of one frightfully banal cliche after another, surrounded by acres of white space. Go read the cards in the "Friendship" section of the nearest Hallmark store - the insights you'll gain will be just as profound as anything you could get from this book, and you won't be out any money.

This book is so simply written, yet very powerful. It gave me the confidence and courage to break off an abusive relationship and start a new! I highly reccomend it to any woman who has low self-esteem. This book will change your life!

After reading "Men Who Can't Love" (which, by the way, is brilliant!), I was excited to pick up another piece by these authors. Unfortunately I was more than disappointed. I should have seen a red flag when I saw the title, so I have no one to blame but myself. Any woman who decides to "like herself" just so that a man can like her is sadly mistaken (you like yourself for yourself, not anybody else!). Generalizations such as "a balding man is a better catch than a hottie" are... simply put, ignorant. Theory that a lengthy first phone conversation indicates problems in the relationship going forward is ridiculous. Half way through the book, I came to conclusion that it was written for teenagers - a couple of valid points surrounded by a whole lot of common sense rambling. Women who want to improve their self-esteem should look elsewhere. And finally, who in the world thinks about babies on the first date???

I did enjoy this book, though I only head half of it. It is written in such a way that the first half deals with you when you're not in a relationship and the second half deals with you when you're already in one. I had trouble connecting with it though. Some things were very true -- they were common sense. I was looking for help on how to deal with my lack of self-worth to help me find the right guy; I did not find it here.
But I must emphasize, the book is still great :)

This a powerful book. I found it to be more influential than most relationship books. Though I was a bit uncomfortable at first with the untraditional layout - the information is not organized into respective chapters and seems to flow from one subject to another continuously - it was that very conversational style that seemed to drive the authors' points home in a most profound way. Some of those points were:

-To get to the end you must start from the beginning; think about connecting with men before you start thinking about marriage/babies
-everyone makes mistakes, so give men a chance
-husband's usually don't resemble magazine models
-abuse is abuse
-behaviors and conversations to avoid on dates

The tone of the book was more practical than spiritual. The authors do not present "following your heart" and "soul mates" as precepts. For a read along those lines I would recommend mystical relationship books by Deepak Chopra.

This book was also quick and easy read without being too wordy and conceptual; great if you're a busy person.

I learned of my husbands sin 2+ years ago. We used this book in support group to help wives heal the wounds inflicted by our husbands sin and begin to journey towards restoration. God has used our marriage for his glory as we are today enjoying a marriage free from Sexual Sin.

I learned after recieving it, that you dont need the workbook as well as the book. It is nice to have both, but not a neccesity. I've gotten about half-way through the book and it has been eye-opening at points.

After my husband read "Every Man's Battle" and found it to be extremely helpful, I bought this book with the hope that I would feel the same level of support. Instead, I often felt as though salt were being rubbed into my wound. In light of several other resources I have used, I feel that this book could be potentially very harmful. It does have some excellent portions. However, I would recommend women start with "An Affair of the Mind," by Laurie Hall.

This woman should be a national treasure. Not only is she smart and witty, she has compassion and common sense. If you want to spice up your love life with your partner after 50 here it is. I highly recommend this book to the man, woman or couple looking for advice.

Hey I read this book for a class I was doing. I just happened to be doing research on this subject. This is a nice add on to a show I saw. My First Time in NYC. Together they complement each other very nicely. Enjoy!

What happens to sexual drive after the age of 50? There may be changes, but it doesn't dry up, so read Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer's Dr. Ruth's Sex After 50: Revving Up The Romance, Passion & Excitement! to find out what physical and psychological changes actually lend to sex after 50. Sex therapist Westheimer discusses romance and passion as well as these changes, providing a focus on how passion can be retained through the years.

Suddenly single in my 50's.....I went back to reading Cosmopoliton magazine thinking older men were like younger men in the sex department. Wrong.....this book help set things straight and understand the changes with sex as we grow older.

I generally enjoyed the read. I thought that it would be better as a "Guide to Better Sex after 60," because today's 50-year-old is yesterday's 40-year-old. Dr. Ruth may be a little out of touch with the baby boomer generation--sexually. It's a little bit geriatric. Even the font was larger, which made it easier to read, was very perceptive, but who me?
Consider using it as an encyclopedia of information, everything included, but clearly not everything is pertinent to everyone. It has an amazing table of contents. Read it once and highlight sections and issues that you think are important to you. Give it to your spouse, partner or significant other to read and have them do the same, but highlight issues with different color highlighters, compare notes and see how your relationship has evolved. If you end up with a rainbow of colors, then you should go to counseling fast!
Dr. Ruth's honesty, sense of humor and folksy personality come through clearly with this easy to read and understand "therapy guide." Exercising naked with your mate and leaving the bathroom door open when you're using it? Women would not find that terribly mood enhancing--in my book. As the "caverject" caught my eye as something no man would find too appealing--even if only to be used if Viagra fails to do the trick. So, trust that we had some differences of opinions. Zero in on the honesty and being truthful, authentic, and most everything else should be fun! If you have not brought your lover to the promise land in 20, 30 or 40 years this may help, but there are no guarantees!

Barbara Kennedy, M.P.H., M.S.W.
Relationship Counseling & Mediation
Scottsdale, AZ

A lot of dating sites today focus on compatibility as the key to a successful relationship. While it is nice to have a lot in common with someone, sometimes a relationship that looks good on paper can be disastrous in real life. I've had this happen to me a couple of times where I'm flabbergasted why I can have so much in common with someone and yet we don't click.

The author explains that it's chemistry, not compatibility, that's the key to a successful relationship. She breaks it down to 5 areas of chemistry that you should look for, which make it easy to remember. And you have to be ruthless when testing for this. The answer is either yes or no, not maybe. Those maybe's are really you trying to force a match, but chemistry cannot be forced. This book has served as one of my go-to books when I'm trying to decide if a guy is right for me or not.

I just finished this book and let me tell you WOW!!! is all I can say. I have been struggling with 3 relationships all at once and the author, Mira Kirshenbaum really helped me sort through all of them and helped me decide who my Mr. Right is. She talks about the 5 levels of chemistry and how to decipher between Mr. Right and Mr. Wrong. I just can't tell you in words how much I enjoyed the book. I took the time to send her an email telling her how much this book helped me, at first I felt a lot of confusion and by the end I knew what to do. I had checked this book out from the library and I am here today to purchase it, it was a tool that I will keep with me.

Sincerely,
Terri F.
Littleton, CO

Face it, if you need to buy a book to figure out if he is Mr. Right, he's not.

This is a fabulous book for single or committed females. It really makes you analyze and understand your past present and future relationships. It helps you to understand why you have made certain decisions and what is best for you! Awesome Book!!!!!

Okay, I'm a straight guy and I don't usually read self-help books. But my sister told me I gotta read this cause, let's face it, my relationships haven't worked out and now I'm getting serious about this woman. My sister just didn't want me to make another mistake. And I'm like, hey, I'm not looking for Mr. Right. She said, stupid, just change the genders -- it works just as well the other way. I have to say the book was amazing. Touched on every area I had concerns about -- like was she an OK person, and was our chemistry good, and was it real or fake. Kirshenbaum is so solid and smart and down to earth. If your a guy looking for Ms. right and you're afraid of getting burned, you've got to get your hands on this book. It's a lot cheaper and a lot more fun than ultimately getting divorced.