Guide to Getting It On!: Sixth Edition - erotic book by Goofy Foot Press - review by Becauseiamawoman

Let me start out by saying I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is the most inclusive and extensive sexual health guide I have ever read, and I have read quite a few! Throughout the book, you can find chapters on everything you could think of. Here are just a couple of topics from the 81 different chapters: pregnancy, gender, sex history, kink, contraception, sex when you are disabled, cyber sex, anatomy, and sex toys. Some sections read vaguely like a how-to column in Cosmo (sections on oral sex, etc for example), while others read more like an extensively researched guide for educators.

The scale of this book is almost unparalleled. The only book that comes close is the Good Vibrations Guide to Sex, which is very similar in format. Both have a happy balance between information, quotes, illustrations, and even parts of interviews that the authors have conducted. However, The Guide to Getting it On contains so much more content. The book has more than 990 pages, and it even includes a sex glossary that is equally as comprehensive as the book itself. This is something that every sex educator, sexuality studies major, and everyday person interested in sex should find a spot for on their book shelf.

This is the third version I have read, and from what I can tell (the book is far too long to read cover to cover) it hasn't changed all that much. However, the information is definitely updated and added to as the years have gone by. Since medical information and cultural trends become outdated so quickly, the continuous updating of the Guide is essential. If you have a much older version, it is definitely worth picking up a new one to make sure you have the best and most accurate information at your service.

The only flaw I see in this book is that there seems to be an awful lot of assumptions about gender. Not everyone with a penis identifies as a "he" and not everyone with a vagina identifies as a "she". Using these pronouns without thought, alienates everyone who does not identify within the traditional gender binary. This is something I truly hope the author edits out in the next edition.

If you still aren't sure if the book is right for you or not, the book's website will make you a believer. Head on over and download a pdf of the two or three free chapters available and read through them.

This book is such a great resource. On many college campuses, it is assigned in Sexuality related courses as a main text. On my own campus, our peer sexual health organization keeps several copies on hand because the book is so popular (people are allowed to borrow their copies). There is so much information, and it can apply to anyone!

It is worth noting that the author of The Guide to Getting It On, Paul Joannides, is wonderful and accessible. He is very easy to reach through the website for the book. If you ever have any questions, I would definitely recommend you go directly to him to ask. In addition to this book, he also does incredibly inclusive speaking engagements on college campuses. Look him up if you're in the market for one!

I still love this book! I even bought a second copy to give away on my blog! It is totally worth reading and keeping on hand.