The Book of Love - erotic book by DK Publishing - review by Mrs. Sparks

The Book of Love bills itself as "every couple's guide to emotional and sexual intimacy." The book is somewhat hetero-centric, focusing primarily on male/female couples, though the advice is great for any serious relationship. The book is also heavily pro-monogamy, but most of her tips are going to apply for polyamorous or "open" couples as well. Really, the advice works for any two people (or more) who want to stay connected and in love. With all this in mind, I'd say this book is still best for newer couples or couples who are having trouble maintaining a successful relationship; healthy couples might find some of the advice--especially the early chapters--to be a bit obvious.

The first third of the book is basic advice for couples who are interested in purposefully strengthening their relationship. Berman puts heavy emphasis on compromise, respect, and communication. She even provides discussion starters and suggested topics to learn more about your partner.

The last two thirds of the book are about sexual intimacy: everything from foreplay advice and how to survive an extramarital affair, to bdsm experimentation and trying new sexual positions. As a happily married wife who's just looking to spice up her bedroom, I found the techniques/tips section to be the most helpful. Berman provides basic instructions and color photos of couples demonstrating the variety of sexual positions. The pictures themselves could be arousing to some; the couples appear to be really enjoying themselves! She doesn't really address couples with exceptional needs, such as persons with disabilities or atypical body types. Some of the positions in her book are definitely for the able-bodied only; tips for modification would've been welcome.

The book itself is hard cover with glossy color pages. There are photographs on nearly every page showing couples of a variety of races and ages. Each couple was depicted in varying stages of undress, including full nudity. The fonts are easy to read, the layout clear. The overall layout of the chapters was logical and effective; the index and table of contents were easy to follow and had crisp formatting.

I would recommend this book to new couples, those who are having trouble reconnecting, or anyone who's interested in picking up a few pointers in the bedroom.

My husband and I had a good time going through the book together. It sparked more than one serious conversation about topics we'd never discussed. More importantly, the sexual positions were rather "inspirational." Overall, we enjoyed reading the book together and I would recommend that any buyers do the same. It was a conversation-starter, a unity builder, and the springboard for some great sex!