Making Love: An Erotic Odyssey

The number one lesson I learned from this sexual memoir is the extensive role that an industrial-made lubricant could or perhaps even should - who knows ? - play in man's approach to a woman.

Richard Rhodes thinks about sex--a lot! (Well, who doesn't?) This book is one-of-a-kind in that it is an in-depth, thoughtful and frank essay on everyone's favorite topic, and it doesn't veer into the pornographic or the clinical. In the hands of a less-skilled writer, this book could have become silly or creepy. Rhodes, though, doesn't shy away from observations that put his most intimate experiences under a microscope. This is not a gossipy book; it's a sincere exploration of sensuality. His first sexual encounter, masturbation, issues of sexual identity: it is all here. Rhodes doesn't exploit these subjects, and he doesn't offer them for the reader's approval. Instead, he describes his sexual history in the context of his life, which has had its ups and downs. It's a pretty brave book. The most shocking part, to me, was not what he did sexually, but the fact that his daughter commented on it, which means she has read it! Well, I guess she is under no illusions that her parents were Rob & Laura Petrie!I'd like to see a book of this calibre told from a woman's perspective.

A friend (that's you, Jack) sent this book to me. Otherwise I would have never voluntarily purchased it. I had already read his Pultzer prize winning "Atomic Bomb" book and was thus willing to give this one a go. I am glad I did. I read it in two days. I would recommend it to anyone interested in widening their sexual perspective. This is not an instruction book, it is a partial overview of human sexuality at its most emotional level. Rhoades respects no boundaires -- everything is fair game. Personally, I thought the last 1/3rd of the book was the best.

In connection with preparing to run a conference on sexuality, I have read a number of books in the area, ranging from scholarly to popular relational junk. This is one of the most honest, open and best-crafted books in the area, by a brilliant writer who cares and thinks about what he feels, who he is and why, and explores what it is to be a man who wants both the deepest intimacy in his personal relationships and is also completely turned on by just plain old mind-bending sex, but knows that's nothing to be ashamed of. I understand Rhodes got a lot of criticism for writing this book; instead, he should be praised to the heavens for his bravery. I think it's a terrible thing that it has gone out of print.

Very frank and open discussion of the author's sexual history. Especially helpful for male readers. First 2/3's is the best. Highly recommend this book if you are not offended by frank discussions about sexual preferences and behavior.