Down and Dirty Sex Secrets (titled 
Pucker Up in the hardback edition) is a guidebook to improving people’s
sex life by both facilitating communication between partners and adding to
their repertoires.  Tristan Taormino is author of The Ultimate Guide to Anal
Sex for Women, so readers can expect that she is ready to consider just
about anything as a possibility.  She is enthusiastic about sex toys, G-spot
stimulation, anal sex, role-playing, erotica and sadomasochism.  Most of the
book is text, with just a few illustrations.  Taormino’s writing style is
straightforward, cheerful, and occasionally bawdy.  The author uses colloquial
words rather than medical or scientific language, and it is possible that some
might be offended by the crudeness of her expression.  The book is full of tips
that are eminently practical (the chapter on erotica recommends particular
pornographic movies and the section on masturbation compares different models
of vibrators), and includes full discussion of safer sex.  Each chapter also
includes a question from someone with a query or a problem she or he is
experiencing, and Taormino gives her answer, which sometimes specifies other
books that could be useful.  The end of the book has lists of resources
relevant to each chapter.

As a sex guide, Down and Dirty
Sex Secrets should appeal to those who want a frank and no-nonsense
approach to the basics.  It gives a quick look at most relevant topics, but
does not go into much depth.  While it encourages communication between
couples, (and seems to assume that couples are heterosexual, while certainly
having no prejudice against same-sex encounters), it does not say much about
the psychological difficulties that many people have concerning sex.  When it
comes to sexual technique, her advice seems good but some people might prefer
more pictures or diagrams rather than just words explaining what to do. 
Overall, Down and Dirty Sex Secrets is an unabashed and enthusiastic
manifesto for sexual experimentation, and despite its tacky title and cover
with Taormino pictured leaning forward showing her cleavage, it is surprisingly
appealing. 

© 2004 Christian Perring. All
rights reserved.

Christian Perring,
Ph.D., is Academic Chair of the Arts & Humanities Division and Chair of the
Philosophy Department at Dowling College, Long Island. He is also editor of Metapsychology Online Review. 
His main research is on philosophical issues in medicine, psychiatry and
psychology.

Categories: Sexuality, SelfHelp