“You deserve, and should feel entitled to, sexual pleasure.”

Dr. Hilda Hutcherson says it all right there. In her latest book, Pleasure: A Woman’s Guide to Getting the Sex You Want, Need and Deserve, Dr. Hutcherson gives women some guidance on how to relax and find a way to get the sexual pleasure they desire.

From the very beginning, this book feels different from other “how-to” manuals, and that is because it isn’t. This is not a guide on how to please your partner. Surely, that is in there, but the focus isn’t on how you can please someone else. It is how to please yourself, how to create a connection with your partner, and how to enjoy that connection. It is centered on the idea that if you are having fun and enjoying yourself, your partner will to. To misquote Field of Dreams, “If you enjoy it, they will cum and so will you.”

Dr. Hutcherson’s approach is quite refreshing. It is simple; learn about your body, take care of yourself, and do what you feel is comfortable. Pleasure deals with sticky situations without being overly clinical. The problems addressed are real concerns for many women, such as appreciating one’s body, learning about your partner’s body, communicating your desires and concerns, expressing your fantasies and even using toys and other supplemental “props” for enjoyment. There is even a section on health hygiene, which I think can often be overlooked by many sexologists when offering sexual advice. She even includes a recipe for an all natural homemade exfoliator for softer skin, and exercises that will help with sexual excitement and pleasure. The message is clear. If a woman is not comfortable in her skin, she won’t relax and enjoy the sexual side of her being.

Each of the sections directly relating to sexual acts such as performing fellatio or sexual position begin at…well…the beginning. She starts with the most basic descriptions, easy to follow instructions and sometimes even pictures. From there, she gives tips on how to take the basics and bring them up a notch. I even learned a few new moves that I would like to try out. In addition, Dr. Hutcherson takes the taboo of certain positions or sexual acts away. In her descriptions, she tells you why certain movements/gestures produced pleasurable sensations.

I think it is worth mentioning as well that the pictures are even different from other “guides” or “manuals”. I am often upset when I see the pencil drawings in similar books. The expressions on the faces of the participants always seem a bit flat. There is nothing sexy about them. But, in Pleasure, it is very clear that the participants in these drawings are having a good time. First, they have smiles on their faces. Second, they are generally making eye contact. The participants are touching each other in sensual ways. You can tell that these acts are fun, that they will make you feel good.

I give this book five stars because it is truly a great guide for the beginner and the not-so-beginner. Dr. Hutcherson has created a fun, yet sexy guide for women to get what they want.