Product Description

"Pleasure: The state -- or feeling -- of being pleased, gratified, delighted. A source of enjoyment. Sensual gratification. What's your pleasure? However you define it, pleasure is vital to every woman's life -- to your life -- especially in today's hard-driving, hard-working society. Yet most women have lost sight of their vital need for pleasure, and feel guilty for taking even ten minutes for themselves -- they don't want to seem self-indulgent, or they can't afford the time, or they're too busy taking care of other people instead of themselves. For your own sake -- and ultimately for your loved ones -- it's high time you dropped the guilt and took back your pleasure. In It's My Pleasure, Maria Rodale, the dynamic leader of a powerful lifestyle corporation who successfully revolutionized her own business, and Maya Rodale, her talented writer-daughter, show you how to create a pleasure revolution in your own life -- to stop hiding your pleasure and incorporate it fully into everything you do, no matter what your age, situation, or religious background. In the Rodales' exciting vision of every woman's potential, pleasure is not a simple, momentary experience to be segregated into a few minutes a day. It's endemic to women's bodies, minds, and experiences on Earth. And it's essential for your health and success. Drawing from their years of research into women's history -- including the suppressed ancient Goddess religions -- as well as the latest scientific findings, the Rodales prove that, for women, pleasure is the path to freedom, happiness, and self-fulfillment. To show us the myriad ways to find satisfaction and become the heroines of our own lives, they conduct lively interviews with ""Pleasure Revolutionaries"" including scientist Helen Fisher, historian Riane Eisler, writers Julia Quinn and Ruth Reichl, and gourmet pioneer Alice Waters. They also profile inspiring heroines from history -- adventurous, colorful women from all over the world and all walks of life -- from the fictional Nancy Drew and Dagny Taggart and powerful mythic figures such as Inanna and Mary Magdalene to popular artists Georgia O'Keeffe and Madonna, romance novelists George Sand and Nora Roberts, and activist Victoria Woodhull, who was the first woman to run for president. These Pleasure Revolutionaries also prove that change, self-discovery, and self-improvement don't have to involve suffering. Synthesizing their findings into a practical, affirming philosophy, the Rodales spice it with their own experiences, fun tips, and lists, and fuse it into appealing, realistic guidance for life, love, friendship, and romance. It's My Pleasure celebrates women's voices, insights, and experiences in a format that any woman can use to take action, create positive change, meet the highs and lows of a demanding world, and develop confidence, optimism...and lasting pleasure. "

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #613236 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-19
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In this unconventional dual-memoir/self-help book, Maria Rodale, the vice-chairman of Rodale Inc., and her daughter Maya tell women how they focus on their own pleasure, from spending time alone to the use of a vibrator (which college-age Maya prefers to the boys she knows). Maria's and Maya's stories make for a compelling and honest pair of case studies that illuminate the different experiences of the two generations; in a discussion of following one's heart, Maria details how she reshaped Rodale, while Maya shares her decision to transfer from a small Connecticut college to bustling New York University in the wake of 9/11. How readers can translate these inspiring examples into their own lives is less clear. The advice included is simple; for example, sleeping naked, dining alone in a restaurant. The 30 short chapters also include profiles of "Pleasure Revolutionaries," women through history (from Mary Magdalene to Madonna) who the Rodales say demonstrate that pleasure-seeking "is an ancient, sacred path." Profiles based on interviews with contemporary women, such as romance writer Julia Quinn, are stronger than the minibios of historical figures. Emphasis on their strong beliefs in the power of ancient goddess worship and romance novels won't resonate with everyone, but their vivid personal stories could inspire many readers to seek their own pleasure. (May 3)

Customer Reviews

I have looked for this book for two years!!
I am not sure how anyone could give this book such a poor review. As a matter of fact, I was so disgusted by the one star reviews on here, I just had to respond. There are many, many badly written pulp fiction and nonfiction books out there, but this is most assuredly not one of them. I loved the words of wisdom from Maya and Maria. I loved the mother/daughter perspective. I had first picked up a copy of this book in a NYC library and loved it. I meant to buy my own copy, and forgot. Gradually, I lost the title and author names, and have been wishing for two years I had bought the book when I meant to. Last night I was going through old journals and there was the book information. I bought two copies form amazon immediately, and will also put this on my shelf of favorite reads. The authors understand the questions and guilt women must deal with everyday, and their insight and solutions are dead on. A great read! If ever you see this, I thank you Maria and Maya. Great work.

How to get past the guilt and find the pleasure
Why do women feel guilty for the typical things - romance novels, chocolate - which give them pleasure? Maria Rodale is VP of Rodale Inc, the family publishing business she effectively reorganized and expanded. In It's My Pleasure, she and co-author Maya Rodale tell women just how to get past the guilt and find the pleasure. Their personal stories come from two generations and tell how they overcame guilt impulses to embrace this pleasure in their lives, while references to history connect pleasure with strength.

A sad waste of good trees
The writing is sophomoric (complete with parenthetical asides,) at times quite plagiaristic and any thesis is totally non-existent.

It is a collection of pointless self-focused memoirs, out-sourced interviews and slapped together "Do-it!" list, which I assume were to justify the whole "Revolutionary Plan" marketing pitch.
It was so poorly written I want to cry.

I assumed while reading this book that it must have been published by Rodale and was shock to find no nepotism involved. It makes me very sad for the state of the publishing industry.

As far as I can tell, it's a justification for reading romance novels, since this was mentioned at least once in every chapter.