Although he dismisses some sexual myths (such as the inherent superiority of a “vaginal” versus “clitoral” orgasm) he does seem to believe most sexual encounters can (and perhaps should) be characterised by simultaneous orgasms. Comfort appears fixated with sexual perfectionism. Today, there is a lot in the book that is dated, outmoded, or incorrect. It’s not just the hair that’s outdated though They also report better relationships overall (perhaps in large part because of the better sex).Īnd it’s not just that people who are better at communicating in general are also better at communicating about sex – rather, there appears to be something special about talking openly about sexual wants and needs that improves both sexual and overall relationship satisfaction. People who really communicate with their partner about what turns them on (and what doesn’t) and who are ready to talk about the often embarrassing nitty gritty of sex, tend to report having better sex. Qualitative research (focused on themes rather than data) shows that many people see sexual satisfaction as reflecting sexual openness and a willingness to act out desires, as well as the more obvious benchmarks like orgasm and sexual frequency. It followed Alfred Kinsey’s books on sexual behaviour in men and women in the late 1940s and early 1950s.īy the early 1970s the sexual revolution was underway, and it is possible that the Joy of Sex both reflected an increased societal focus on sexual pleasure and worked to enhance it.
At the time of publication, the book was revolutionary – perhaps not in its content, but in its popularity. There is liberal talk of grope suits, the buttered bun, the goldfish, and railways (not what you think). Today, this backstory of subterfuge and polaroiding adds to what is already a pretty unusual read. His private polaroids and descriptions of sexual positions served as the basis for many of the sketches in the book, along with photographs taken of colour illustrator Charles Raymond and his wife Edeltraud that Chris Foss used as references for his line drawings. But rather than gently editing the sexual advice and escapades of a happily married couple, Comfort later revealed he had written the book himself, with the help of his long-time mistress (also his wife’s best friend and his subsequent wife). The book’s cover lists Alex Comfort, a physician, novelist and poet, as its editor. Such was the popularity of the book (it has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than a dozen languages) that it became relatively commonplace for people to have it on their shelves or even coffee tables. So keen, in fact, that they had bought, and presumably read, a 250-page erotic guide. Not in the way it was intended, of course (as a gourmet guide to lovemaking), but rather as the transmitter of the awful realisation that not only did our parents have sex, but they were keen to do it joyfully.
The success of the book owes much to its plentiful graphic sketches, as well as its playful and unanxious approach to sex (“unanxious” is a word the book’s author uses a lot).įor many of us born in the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s, The Joy of Sex changed everything. First published in 1972, The Joy of Sex styled itself as a sexual cookbook, with positions and predilections presented as loose recipes.Īs any good cookbook author knows, however, sometimes people really need a picture to be able to get a sense of the finished dish.
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