Sex Relationships Books

This is a pretty good volume. A good mix of quality photography as well as interesting prose. It is much better than traditional "kama sutra" books as it is geared toward modern readers and not limited to strict translations of original kama sutra text. About half the prose consists of new material that is relevent and interesting to the chapter themes.

Great book I recommend everyone to read it don't waste your time with the ones you don't need. This is the book to get it gets to the point.

Read the book and it has a lot of excellent ideas straight to the point.
I thought I knew it all with my experiences (been married four times) and yet I learned a lot from this book. Being single again I definitely will apply the suggestions Dr. Warren made in his book.
Good reading,
Dr. Charles Langeberg (ret.)

A must for anyone who is serious about finding the best person to marry. There is a method to the madness. It's not just luck. There's a right way and a wrong way to do everything even in choosing a mate. Too many of us have come from dysfunctional backgrounds and need someone to steer us the right direction in the area of relationships and marriage. Socrates said an unexamined life is not worth living and this book helps you examine yourself before you even think about sharing your life with another. Good advice. Never leap before you look. Read this book, do the exercises, then PRAY.

Great book. A must have for everyone. I think if people read it when they first started dating, there would be many more successful relationships. It's already helped me "nip a couple relationships in the bud."

The whole premise of the book is that everyone has the same definition of honesty, financial stability, spirituality ect. If you acknowledge different people have different interpratations of these things the book falls fat on its face.

I found this book while going through a box of old books to throw away, re-read it, and decided to keep it. I first read it years ago when grappling with the decision of whether to end my marriage, but unfortunately therapy had failed and I already had one foot out of the door, so its practical, wise advice on revitalizing a marriage fell on deaf ears. I am keeping it because of its clear, simple, no-nonsense advice, its great fun little drawings, and its descriptions not only of what should be avoided in a marriage but of what should be cultivated. Just in case I get another chance! Here's to second chances!

My therapist turned me onto this book many years ago. It was so wonderfully written and helpful that I found myself turning to it again and again. This book gives you hope that your relationship is so valuable, even when you feel like running away. It is very easy to read and understand. She gets right to the point and really helps you to see what areas in your relationship need to change in order to form positive and happy relationships. After all, who's relationship is not a challenge? If you want to save your relationship, GET THIS BOOK and read it with your partner!

This book goes a little too far in denying differences between the sexes but on the whole it should be read by anyone who, like myself, finds sociobiology/evolutionary psychology an exciting new area for understanding ourselves.

The fault in the sociobiology/EP argument is that it can come across as creationist in that it makes human nature appear fixed today just as if it has been created by God. This is a serious misunderstanding and miscommunication.

In the example of height differences between the sexes used by Monica J Kern, the problem is that we can see those differences and can see how tall some women are and how short some men are. With brain differences we cannot see the variability and it is too easy to make the wrong assumptions about people based on their sex which in turn constrains their behaviour.

Regarding evolution, we could look at gibbons and see that the males and females are virtually indistinguishable in body and behaviour yet we share a common ancestor with them. There has never been a FIXED body and behaviour for any species and the human species could evolve into one where males and females converge in body and behaviour - it will depend on environmental factors and what traits are better at surviving and reproducing.

Both sexes have a vast range of skills and srategies that have simply been used in different contexts for most of the past.
Barnett and Rivers are right to remind us about the similarities and the overlap between the sexes and, most importantly, how studies can be used to create myths about sex differences.

My point would be that there are differences that are a result of the different ways the sexes successfully reproduced in the past but that these differences are not immutable. From the variation that exists within the sexes today the future humans will be selected - and it just might turn out to be that this future human is drawn from the middle-ground of the male/female divide and is the only way our species and planet turns out to have survived into the future.

It could turn out to be a great tragedy if we limit the potential of each sex to what we believe is some fixed way of being - after all, isn't it said that insanity is not realising that if you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you always got? Add nuclear weapons to the traditional male and we'll end up with nothing at all - along with all the other species that became extinct because they were unable to adapt and change.

This book was a breath of fresh air for me, as I will bet it has been for many others - both male and female.

I must respectfully disagree with those who would say that the authors of this book are trying to minimize the differences between men and women. They agree that there are, indeed, differences. But the point they make - and I feel eloquently - is that the differences are not as sharply drawn as we think and they do not need to hamper communication between the genders and/or limit what life choices either gender "must" make.

Before I go on, let me state that I am a feminine acting woman. I have a lot of interests that fit the image people have of women "should" be like. I'm a certified bilingual elementary school teacher, I teach piano lessons, I love children and pets. I even knit teddy bears. However, as I now look over this list, I realize that my interests are not just limited to the female of the species. Perhaps more men will choose certain careers and more women will choose others; it could very well be. Perhaps we will always have more female kindergarten teachers than male and more male engineers than female. Maybe more women than men will knit and crochet and more men will tinker with engines and motors in general and automobiles in particular. But steering either men or women away from certain careers because of gender can be damaging to an individual. Somewhere we need to understand that each person is an individual and that trying to stuff people into arbitrary categories hurts individuals and the possible contribution they can make to society.

Perhaps the difference in physical size and strength (a very real one) could account for more men going into certain professions and more women going into others. But there are others such as engineering into which more women are entering. I had an enlightening talk with an older female friend who was a math teacher who said that when she was a young woman studying math she could not go into engineering because she, being a woman, was not permitted to go out into the field. The authors of this book tell about a school counselor who guided girls away from studying math - and I could bet that there are many examples of this.

I feel strongly about this because I was, at one time, struggling with it myself. For many years I thought that I as a female could never be logical. Consequently, I didn't study the wonderful subject of logic. When I finally did, I was surprised to find out that I did quite well. In fact, my logic professor (a man) told me that in his classes, women actually outperformed men! While this was just his classes and didn't include statistics from other logic classes, it was certainly food for thought. The same thing held true for mathematics. I often had trouble in algebra (a trait I've since found out that I have in common with a lot of men, including author C. S. Lewis) but later on I found out that with extra study, conferring with people who knew more about it that I did, and a big dose of self-discipline, I could do it, too.

I also feel strongly about this because in spite of my "feminine" activities, I still did not fit the stereotype of women. I married late in life - in my 50's. The drive and desire that makes many women want to have a home and family was left out of my makeup, and I lived happily as a bachelorette for many years before meeting the man who is now my husband. I put up with a lot of verbal garbage from people because I stayed single for so long.

I have wondered if men who don't fit the stereotype feel the same way. I think about my father who is a very nurturing, caring person who is at his happiest and most vital mindset when with his grandchildren. How about a man who is not good in math? (And there are many) How about a tenderhearted man? (And there are many)

The differences between men and women should not have to hamper the communication between the two genders. A good dose of listening skills and old-fashioned good manners can eliminate a lot of communication problems.

As a transgendered person, I am particularly sensitive to gender roles and the double standards that come along with it. I am glad to see books like this blow away all the cobwebs and myths of gender related behavior. Yes sometimes it is possible to measure mean differences between genders but even these measureable differences are minor in the bigger picture of life. I have realized how much our society has become muddled in the politics of gender warfare particulary that from gender femininsts who have been the most active over the last few decades propagating lies about the systematic oppression of women, patriarchies, uneven pay, glass ceilings etc which have only resulted in angry, delusional women and confused, apologetic men. So I wholeheartedly love to see books which demonstrately prove that we are all just individuals all capable of exactly the same types of behaviour no matter what gender you belong to.

It is about time that we revert back to an individualistic approach and abandon ideas that gender defines who we are. This book may not be the greatest insight nor is it the most scientifically balanced but if it encourages others to take up the fight to prove once and for all that gender is an irrelevant tag in an individualistic society then this book will be remembered as an important milestone.

Very good points in the book about how every aspect in our society is run by gender stratification.We not only find it in
relationships but also in every other part of our lives.If we do not see people as individuals then we as doctors,teachers,
psychologists,parents and partners are forcing those we care for into forms which fit a form without any substance.It gets
dangerous when the world is divided into two sexes without anything in common.Individuals fill the gap because in reality
there is no gap.There is an area though which must be more
touched on,the area of health care.I had what some call heart
attack symtoms for women.Strange thing is I have had a thousand heart attacks if I go by the symtoms they set up for women.This area needs to be looked into as well,because not all women are
the same,biologically nor are all men.A major health threat could be missed because a doctor is looking for different symtoms according to gender and not the individual.This could be
life threatening.The need for books like these are great.Without them we get sidetracked into theories instead of
real life situations.

As the wife of a trans person, and the author of a book about crossdressing and relationships, I feel like I'd lost track of what a 'gender neutral' universe looks like. This book has been a breath of fresh air (as well as excellent, documented ammunition for when I'm told 'what women are like'). It not only documents the critical studies about innate gender difference (or lack thereof), but how those studies are interpreted and reinterpreted in our culture. Additionally, the authors talk about the influence of the media in promoting 'sexy' headlines about how girls are bad at math - since any more ambigous findings are often ignored.

That said, the writing gets a little dull, and there are a few examples used more than once (which makes it seem like the argument - or evidence for it - are weak.)

Helen Boyd
author, My Husband Betty

Dean Sherman's Relationship-book (formerly titled "Love, sex and relationship") is an excellent book.

Without any doubt this is the book that helped me the most in my early twenties when I was wrestling to find out what godly and good relationships look like. Reading this book helped me see that the main thing for ALL of us is to have our relationship with God in order! When I'm whole and fulfilled in God, then, and only then(!), am I ready to enter into a relationship with another person.

Far too many relationships and marriages for Christians (and non-Christians!) consist of two lonely people trying to suck out a sense of purpose and love from the other person. Shermans points out that we were always meant to get our true sense of purpose and love from God, not our spouse or any other human being.

There is no way that any spouse (how wonderful he or she may be) can fulfill your deepest desires. There is a God-shaped hole in all of us, and only God can fill that. A beautiful relationship comes when two whole persons (in God!) come together and form a strong union with God as a natural center.

The book is brilliant, and it's obvious that it helps a lot that Sherman didn't meet his wife when he was 16 or so. He met her when he was 28, and it adds a lot of strength to the book that Sherman knows firsthand how it is to be single and to feel desperate for a spouse.

Five thumbs up for this beautiful book that I keep buying and giving away to people!

Torben

Dean has tackled one of the most difficult, and often times most misunderstood, areas Christians face- How to handle relationships and sex as a Christian. His biblical insight and application on this subject helps shed much needed light on these topics. The book is for every Christian, and for many non-Christians as well. It is very down to Earth in its approach, and very solid in its message. It isn't the "typical" message your parents or pastors may have taught you. A MUST READ for any single- young or old- considering dating and relationships.

A good friend recommended this book as a "fun and funny" read with some interesting points. Honestly, I find it hard to believe that the original article it started out as attracted the attention of a publishing house. Yes there were some funny points (See "Quirky together") but it was distracting to read and a little light on content. I'm not even convinced some of my Quirkyalone friends wouldn't be offended by it.

You're not likely to be reading this review to find out what the book is about, so I won't go there. If you've come here from Sasha Cagan's QuirkyAlone website, you already know the basic premise - there are a bunch of intelligent folks out there that don't buy into the "I'm nobody without a (very) significant other" meme, and some of them are feeling a bit isolated. If this book is not exactly the bible for a QuirkyAlone support group, it is at least a watering hole.

Thus, if you're definitely a QuirkyAlone but comfortable in your skin, you don't need the book. If you're not a QuirkyAlone, you likewise won't have much interest in the book unless you are close to such folk and want to better understand how they think, in which case the book may be overkill.

Cagen doesn't explore the connection between QuirkyAlones and artsy-fartsy personalities, but they seem to merge in this book. Its overall design with a multitude of page layouts and typefaces may be a manifestation of this; I wonder whether it might also bespeak a graphic representation of attention deficit. It certainly is distracting and, at least for me, does not compensate for overall thinness of content.

So how does one assign a star rating to such a sui generis book? For those who need it as a validation of the legitimacy of their own quirkiness, five may not be enough; for a general audience, one might be too much. I'll take a middle-of-the-road three with the understanding that this book has one of the largest standard deviations you're likely to run into.

This book articulated what I have felt and believed my whole life: love is important, but it is not always romatically focused. And when it is, it should never be a sellout or settling. This book is for anyone who has never aspired to the status quo of coupledom, but would welcome it when they met the right person. Insightful, playful, cutting edge, inspiring, fun & grounded at different turns... It revolutionized my world bc it gave me a label and a group to identify with. THANK YOU SASHA!!!

A funny, insightful and right-on look at how being single & alone is better than together & lonely; a nice reminder that loving thyself is a prerequisite for the possibility of loving others.

As you probably have guessed, my review cannot be completely objective. This book is the only book in my life that has been completely applicable - every single sentence is absolutely accurate for me, and I'm not exaggerating. I have been wondering all my life why I am so different from all the other people, and I have finally received proof that I'm not utterly unique. It is very reassuring to know that there are plenty of others who have pondered serious issues as much as I have and have reached the same conclusions.

This is not a self-help book, per se. It is a philosophy book. It describes the views of a quirkyalone from all sides. There is, however, also a self-help element to it. First of all, it lets you know that your reactions to things are completely reasonable, which is a huge relief when you sometimes end up feeling like you belong to a different species. Second of all, it does contain good tips. There are not many of them at all, but the ones that are there are excellent. This book also has good lists of things you might enjoy (movies, books, etc.) and many excellent quotes.

If you would like to work out your long-term relationship then I would suggest that you give this book a try.

It really opens your eyes/mind to things that you would never think about.

I rarely write reviews, but I felt misled by the other review available for this book. The review is both well-written and encouraging. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Ms. Berzon's book. It's full of relationship clichés familiar to anyone who has watched daytime TV in the past 15 years, "alcohol can affect your sex life," "self-esteem issues can lead to infidelity." There are a few gay cliches to distinguish this from the trite of the self-help books available for straights, "gay men are less likely to assume that monogamy is an integral part of committed relationship" etc. These are not exact quotes, but they're accurate enough. Read the sample pages available here. The book doesn't get any more insightful. I'm sure we're all intrigued by the possibility that we may only be touching the surface of our relationship potential, but this book isn't going to help you.

the format of this book is some advice from betty berzon (author) backed up with related examples from her counseling career and her personal ltr. this book touches on different areas of gay life but doesn't seem to nail down any real suggestions for improvement and the book left me feeling unfulfilled. maybe i was expecting too much, i think the problem is that the book isn't very focused. i did pick up some good advice but it took me a while to get through the book.

This book is great! I have read a large number of gay relationship books lately - trying to figure out why my partner of 8 years wanted to all of a sudden break up. We had never had an argument and got along just fine (or so I thought). After reading Ms. Berzon's book, I realized that we were only touching the surface of our relationship potential. Realizing this, finding out why, and what I could do about it has given me hope to save our relationship. Thanks to Ms. Berzon for this insightful and useful book.

This is a well-written, informative book. The author is insightful and understanding, at times penetratingly so, often drawing observations from both her personal, extended experience, and from the lives of those she counsels. She has the wisdom of one who has seen many social and cultural shifts over the past decade, and this is well-reflected in her work. No book is a magic bullet; this one inspires, encourages, and lends persective. Lesbian and Gay relationships are often targets of disruption because usually, nobody wants them to succeed; sometimes not even those who are in them. The author does an excellent job of tempering one's vision and supporting the need for building respectful boundaries in a loving, healthy relationship that nurtures and protects both people. I highly recommend this book; it was well-worth my time, attention, and investment.