Anal Pleasure & Health - guides to a better sex by Down There Press - review by ScottA

Anal Pleasure and Health is a unique book. It's not entirely a sex book, it's not entirely a health book; it's not entirely a how-to and it's not entirely a guidebook. It's a mix of all of the above (and a bit more), and almost indispensable.

Anal Pleasure and Health is a book about relationships. It explores how you (and your partners) relate to your anus, and how this relationship often leads to pain, health problems, and dissatisfaction. It then takes you on a journey of rediscovery, learning to reconnect with your anus and listen to it. Even if you decide that anal pleasure is not for you, there are many benefits to enhancing your anal awareness; many of which are hidden away in Appendix A. Here Morin discusses how enhanced anal awareness and relaxation can improve, cure, or prevent hemorrhoids, anal fissures, constipation, and possibly IBS, most of which cite the studies supporting his assertions (none cited for IBS yet).

Jack Morin does an excellent job of guiding the reader to a deeper relationship with their anus and rectum. One of the foundations of his excellence is that the book is mostly comprehensive (there's no way anyone could write a truly comprehensive book on human sexual activities) but not prescriptive. Morin covers the activities in an engaging yet educated way listing benefits, experiences, and hazards, without making you feel that activity is something you must do.

The journey to anal awareness that Morin lays out is well thought out. He starts by a short discussion about the known history of anal pleasure, as well as the most common taboos against enjoying anal sensations. After this the book transitions to guiding your personal explorations, with a general introduction to exploration that includes Morin's key commitment that you should make with yourself: never do anything that will give your anus pain or discomfort.

Morin's training as a psychotherapist comes through in the sequencing of the next steps. Whereas many sex books start with a discussion of anatomy, Morin invites you to explore your anus through sight and touch (always remembering your no-pain commitment) before discussing anatomy, physiology, and ways to tone up and develop control over your pelvic muscles. The exploration continues by learning how to relax, how your thoughts and attitudes affect your anus, and experiencing the feelings of anal touch.

While maintaining a sensitivity to peoples limits, Morin then invites you to explore further inside, discussing required anatomy and confronting common taboos, fears, and mistakes. Once you have become comfortable with your body and your anus, Morin gives suggestions on how to bring a partner into anal play if you desire, discussing common anal partner activities. Line drawings are provided throughout the book to help people visualize ideas.

The next two chapters deal with two different themes: power dynamics and anal play, and ways to have a lifetime of anal health and anal pleasure. Following these chapters are two appendices covering health concerns of the anus and rectum, and a discussion of Morin's study that forms the basis for this book. Appendix A is good for everyone to read, as it gives much more than the common, generic STD info. Appendix B is a bit dry, but interesting, although it will likely be boring if you're not familiar with research methods.

What can be said about Anal Pleasure and Health other than “get it if you're interested in anal sexuality”? It's an excellent book, and even though it's long (275 pages) it encourages reading. And Morin does an excellent job of making the book accessible and useful to anyone interested in anal pleasure or anal health.