# The Joy of Sex Edited by Alex Comfort **URL:** **By** Karl T. Pflock **Published:** January 1, 1974 --- “The first of these is a portfolio of 16 superb double-page watercolors.” The sexual revolution is striking off the shackles of Victorian prudery, lifting the mask of sexual repression. It is setting us free to indulge our sexuality without the burden of guilt, shame and fear borne by our parents and theirs before them. However, like the French Revolution, the sexual revolution is in danger of being betrayed by self-proclaimed leaders, the purveyors of the Playboy "philosophy" and "sensuous" this and that, who are forging the chains of a new orthodoxy. The old Puritanism swept sex under the covers and confined the action to the missionary position; the new self-conscious sensuosity declares it _de rigueur_ that everything be oùt front and kinky. Neither orthodoxy fits human reality. Adult sex information books have, with such rare exceptions as the works of Albert Ellis, reflected this problem. Until _The Joy of Sex_ came on the scene, they were confined to dry, clinical manuals with catalogs of by-the-numbers positions and proper prose which provides no answers; fantasy-laden near-porn by "J" and Co., with wet-dream-acrobatics and dollops of whipped cream; and the "problem" books with their one-legged lady and raincoat hangups. Now there is _The Joy of Sex_. It is, as its subtitle proclaims, "a gourmet guide to lovemaking." It is for those who have a working knowledge of the subject at hand, the "adventurous and uninhibited lovers" who enjoy sex as they have it now, and who want to go from there to explore fully their ability to enjoy it. It assumes a solid foundation in the basics, just as does a gourmet cookbook. _The Joy of Sex_ is based on the original work of one couple, one of whom is a physician. It incorporates the suggestions of other couples and the elaborations of several experts, including the editor. It is singularly free of up-tight pedantics and contrived with-it-ness, and is presented in a delightfully light-hearted, intelligent style. The authors begin with a presentation of their basic assumptions: contrary to vulgar opinion, common sex needs are not weird; "the whole joy of sex-with-love is that there are no rules, so long as you enjoy"; the only guidelines in good sex are "don't do anything you don't really enjoy," and "find out your partner's needs and don't balk at them if you can help it"; sex at its best is play; and sex at its best requires love. And they point out that _The Joy of Sex_ is not a rule-book, but rather, a menu from which to pick and choose. There is no compulsive admonition here. The book is arranged in five main sections. The first of these is a portfolio of 16 superb double-page watercolors. They fully capture the book's mood of honesty, directness and humor, and are erotica of the highest order, expressing with great sensitivity the passion, tenderness and sensuality of sexual love. (In addition, the text of _The Joy of Sex_ is lavished with over 100 excellent line drawings as well as 16 full-color plates selected from oriental erotica.) The next selection is "Starters," in which are covered the basic ingredients, from "beds" to "woman (by her for him)." This is followed by "Main Courses," from "bidet" through "mouth music" to the "x position." Then comes "Sauce and Pickles," which includes such intriguing tidbits as "railways," "Viennese oyster," "foursomes and moresomes," "bondage," and "jokes and follies." The wrap-up section is entitled "Problems," and touches on age, "hairtrigger trouble," smoking—yes, smoking—and other bothersome matters and what to do about them. _The Joy of Sex_ is a gold mine of mature, humane good sense. It is practically, aesthetically and erotically head and shoulders above anything in the field. It is the modern, Western _Kama Sutra_. Buy it, read it, savor it; _The Joy of Sex_ is truly a joy! _Reviewed by KARL PFLOCK / Applied Psychology (256 pages, indexed) / BFL Price $12.95_