Family Jewels - erotic book by Greenery Press - review by Red

If I had to write this review in just one word, it would be “WOW”. What an excellent book, useful for anyone with even a fleeting interest in CBT (aka “Cock and Ball Torture”) - from curious beginners all the way to experts.

The point of CBT is not to torture, per se, but rather to apply and enjoy a range of sensations to male genitalia. At the introductory end of things Haberman discusses the simple cock ring and all its variations, giving useful hints at how to remove them in an emergency, and how to play with one safely (what to watch out for, etc.). At the extreme end of things, advanced CBT can look tortuous (with ball vices, heavy hanging weights and surgical needles), but Haberman does an amazing job of building up information so that even these extreme acts seem like highly erotic (and perfectly reasonable) acts and sensations to apply to a willing cock. He's amazingly skilled at casting a spell on the reader as the book progresses; making hot CBT scenes feel amazingly accessible. I found the information in this book to be highly empowering, and I have come away from this book with an unexpectedly robust foundation of a new skill set.

Haberman spends a chapter discussing the ins and outs of anatomy, which is nice to see gathered together for quick and easy reference. He also spends time discussing the injuries that the cock and balls can suffer, how they might come about, and how best to deal if they have occurred. He does not hesitate or shy away from recommending personal mentorship, for activities that can lead to more serious injuries. He also uses very plain and authoritative language directing the reader to divulge everything to a doctor in case of more serious injuries. Next, Haberman moves onto implements, discussing the various options and, most importantly, how to choose toys appropriate for CBT. This section is chalk full of helpful tidbits; like using the webbing between thumb and forefinger to test clamps, where to find the components for ball vices, and how to properly wash off Icy Hot (if it gets too... icy-hot).

But the real meat to this book is the recipes section. Haberman ties together all the previous information to present a short scene that focuses on CBT. He starts by: listing the “ingredients” needed, then gives a small introduction explaining how the ingredients will be used (the “techniques”), paying particular attention to highlighting safety practices (like holding the cock in your hand while whipping it, so that you know exactly how strong your strikes are), things to watch out for, and finally preparation that needs to be done to make the implements safe and easy to use (like dulling the tip of your knife, or pre-stretching the springs of clamps). Finally he breaks into the scenarios, which are essentially short erotic stories about CBT.

When reading this book, I will admit that I was expecting so much smoking hotness in these recipes, but OH-MY-GOD. Haberman is a gay male top, so a number of the scenarios are man-on-man. Quite a few involve women topping men as well. Haberman does not assume, or insist on any orientation for his reader; all you need is an interest in tormenting someone's cock and balls, and his scenarios stay true to this fact. Also, Haberman avoids any segue into sex acts in the scenarios. The focus is on CBT and CBT alone.

Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. This is a great resource manual that is organized well and contains a wealth of information and also a wealth of ideas. This book would be a welcome addition to any kinkster's library, no matter how experienced.

Since reading and reviewing this book, I have attended a few classes (and also have practiced) on CBT, and I now know that this information in this book is very right on and very complete. CBT is the sort of thing that you may wish to seek out a professional mentor when starting out, but certainly book learners can pick up a lot from this book.