Anal Pleasure & Health - book discontinued by Down There Press - review by Lady Evyl

I just finished reading “Anal Pleasure and Health” by Jack Morin, Ph.D. It was very enlightening on a subject where, well... the sun doesn’t shine. Although I have not practiced anal play (in a regular serious manner) in some time, it is an activity that I enjoy and fascinates me. So I thought taking on this book as a challenge would be a great way to learn more about how to do it safely and in an enjoyable manner.

It is written by a therapist who specializes in anal health. He has led researches for decades and knows his, pardon the pun, shit! The book is well written and it is in layman’s terms. But it can be a bit dry. It reads like a therapy book which just happens to refer a lot to anal health and play. At no time will you take this book to bed with you for a masturbation session.

Had I been the editor I would have skipped a few chapters about some research analysis and sociological theories. But the progression of the self-help chapters is excellent. He discusses the beginnings of anal exploration, experimenting with butt toys, and all the way to full anal penetration. All steps are divided into chapters that include exercises to learn to relax and explore you asshole. Every chapter’s exercise pushes the previous one a little bit further, but only if you are ready. There is a lot of emphasis that you should only do the exercises if you want to and if you are ready. Also strongly suggested is writing in a journal. I actually thought it was an excellent idea considering his approach.

The author covers almost everything you may ever want to know about the ass. He even claims his exercises can heal medical problems if not interested in the sexual aspect. So try it to cure your hemorrhoids, fissures, constipation, etc. There are however 2 things I believe he skipped over. He talks a lot about the complexes we have towards the cleanliness of the ass but he could have gone more into details. He sort of says “get over it, it’s not dirty”, but lacks in giving proof. Second thing I would have liked to have info on is if there is any harm in overdoing anal penetration. A gay friend of mine is very anxious of losing control of his anus in later years. I think it’s a genuine concern that should have been addressed. Although the book was updated, it could be reviewed a bit more. It was written in 1998, so it talks about AIDS a little too much. Don’t get me wrong, AIDS and HIV are huge problems to this day, but you can tell it’s outdated as the book was written during the crisis. Other than that, he covers safe anal sex perfectly.

You will learn a lot about your body and your mind when it comes to yours and your partner’s anus.

When men ask me…and it’s the funniest when they are vanilla and clueless to my BDSM side…if I like anal, I always say I love giving. The look on their faces is precious, usually it’s confusion. If they’re smart it leads to understanding and avoiding me, or they are into it and have a million questions. But for me I am not a fan of receiving…but a bit curious.

After reading this book I realize I have chronic anal tension; meaning my anal muscle is always tense, obviously not good for anal sex. If I had one regular partner that was truly patient and gentle, I might be open to trying.

I am really happy to have this book and keep it handy as a reference. I have consulted the book a few times since I read it. Sometimes is for health reasons and sometimes for anal play. I really think it is a must for anyone with anal health complications or someone who takes anal play seriously.