For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality

I just finished reading this book last night. When I first picked it up and read the first few chapters, I was so engrossed that I couldn't put it down. Within the first few pages I felt like the author was addressing me personally. Before this book I really thought I was the only woman on planet Earth that couldn't have an orgasm and I felt very uncomfortable sharing this problem with anyone for fear that I'd be told that I was a freak of nature and would need to be shot to be put out of my misery. I was so relieved to find that there was actually a whole book written about this problem and that I was not alone.Some readers here have commented that certain sections of the book are outdated, especially the parts that deal with the distorted ways that women are brought up to view sex, but believe me, there are still a lot of us out there that were brought this way and I'm only 28. Cultural and religious background may have a big impact on this. I had a Hispanic, Catholic upbringing. But this book never speaks to a specific type of woman, it speaks to ALL women, in a warm, straighforward manner. The concept is that physiologically, we are all the same.Indeed the one and only thing that I found quite disturbing about this book is in the Chapter on how to bring your children up to be sexually healthy. It straight up says it's okay to have sexual feelings and fantasies about your children, just don't act upon those feelings. I'm not a psychologist but that doesn't sound right to me. I think someone who has those thoughts and feelings towards a child, no matter whose they are, probably has some other sexual issues and should seek some professional help!Other than that, I can honestly say this book changed me. I gradually felt a difference in my attitude towards sex, which has made me a happier person in general. I don't feel angry and resentful towards sex as I used to. I would recommend this book to any woman who feels anxiety or stress towards sex. At the very least you should give it a shot, it's an easy read. I'm not done going through the exercises in this book but I am grateful just for the fact that it has changed my views on sex and has made me so comfortable with my sexuality and femininity.

I read this book in the late 1970's and because of it have gone on to lead a "normal" sex life. She tells it like it is; the title got me because of an abusive partner--abusive emotionally and uneducated in the ways of sex. I decided that I could "do this for myself" as the title indicated and DID! If it had not been for the information in this book, we might have been divorced--or worse I would have been in some institution!! It is a great book for achieving the female orgasm. It may not be needed by all, but probably IS needed by more than most men will admit AND by more women who don't even KNOW their lives can be changed. Believe me, honey, you are NOT frigid as you've been told! Read the book!! Thank you, Lonnie Barbach!!

I thought this book was wonderful. It made me realize I was not alone. Reading womens' magazines and talking to friends had me convinced I was the only woman in her twenties not having orgasms. This book helped me understand my body better, cleared up many of my misconceptions, and allowed me to achieve orgasm. I would recommend this book to anyone and have shared it with all my friends (who said they now have even better orgasms). My sex life can be divided into before this book and after, and the after is great!

There's a reason this book continues to be reprinted and available 27 years after its first publication! For women who have never connected with their own sexuality, who see sex as something they do for their partners and not for themselves--and, yes, there are still many women with these attitudes in 1999, despite the sexual revolution--this is just the best book available. In my 20 years as a sex therapist, I have never recommended this book to a sexually inhibited woman who has not found it thought-provoking.

This is a wonderful self-help book on how to become comfortable with your own body and how to share that with your partner, if you have one and even if you don't. It's very informative, interesting and helpful on something that has been taboo to discuss or find information about for many years. This book has helped me immensely in my relationship in the principle that if you don't know how to love your body and yourself, how can anyone else? And, if you don't know, how can they? A rare find in a book with a warm helpful feel for any woman.