Product Description

This comprehensive reference book, lavishly illustrated and extensively cross-referenced, encompasses all eras and cultures in exploring the meaning of sexuality.

* Revised and Expanded Edition of The Encyclopedia of Erotic Wisdom * Updated and expanded with over 150 new or revised entries, along * with a vast array of new color illustrations * Contains the most recent scientific knowledge of the brain, mind, * and body as it relates to the erotic and sexual * An exceptional reference--including Internet resources--that * explores the farthest reaches of this fascinating subject * Over 25,000 copies of the first edition sold This fully updated and expanded edition of The Encyclopedia of Erotic Wisdom contains more than 1,200 entries--150 of which are either new additions or were extensively revised for this edition--and a vast array of new illustrations, many in full color, from the author's recent travels to the Far East. The encyclopedia explains how to integrate body and mind, love and sexuality, and spiritual exercise and inner alchemical techniques in the practice of sacred sexuality. It also contains the most recent scientific knowledge of the brain, mind, and body as it relates to the erotic and sexual. Extensive cross references, quotations from sacred erotic scriptures, Internet resources, and 28 indexes to related topics within the book take the reader on an odyssey from almost any point of departure to the farthest reaches of this fascinating subject.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #731407 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-01
• Released on: 1999-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
A highly readable, nicely illustrated, cross-referenced guide book. -- Libido

A treasure house of esoteric lore and delightful tidbits of erotica . . . well illustrated and intricately cross-referenced, it is a useful companion for the researcher, aficionado, dabbler, or just plain interested [beginner]. -- The Journal of Divine Ecstasy

An elegant, unsentimental, and extraordinary book. From photographs of African fertility dances to full tantrik instructions, from French phallic ancient stone monuments to a discussion of pheromones, this is the best of its kind I've seen. Highly recommended. -- Yellow Silk

Review
"A highly readable, nicely illustrated, cross-referenced guide book."
(

Libido

)

"A treasure house of esoteric lore and delightful tidbits of erotica . . . well illustrated and intricately cross-referenced, it is a useful companion for the researcher, aficionado, dabbler, or just plain interested [beginner]."
(

The Journal of Divine Ecstasy

)

"An elegant, unsentimental, and extraordinary book. From photographs of African fertility dances to full tantrik instructions, from French phallic ancient stone monuments to a discussion of pheromones, this is the best of its kind I've seen. Highly recommended."
(

Yellow Silk

)

About the Author
Rufus C. Camphausen has studied the religious and sociosexual mores of cultures throughout the world for more than 25 years. He is the author of The Yoni, The Divine Library, and most recently Return of the Tribal: A Celebration of Body Adornment. He lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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Customer Reviews

Great pictures; questionable research
There is one really good reason to get this book: the pictures. Almost 50% of the pages have coloar photographs of primarily Eastern art. However, pictures aside, Camphausen states his goals early in the book then does not see them through as well as he could. While there are many rare facts covered there are also very commonly known terms, deities, and objects included. Most terms do not have references so we can't tell where the information was found. The bibliography is done well but without references how can one truly do extra research? The index is completely worthless because it just lists things under general categories but not the pages they appear on; yes, the terms are alphabetically done but really, is putting a page number too much to ask? So if you want some great pictures, this is a good way to get them. Luckily the price is good just for the pictures themselves.

A great book
This is one of my favorite reference book on sexuality, hence its location on my desk in my study. Worth every second turning its pages!

Good General Reference
The previous reviewers are far to hard on this book. There are a lot of interesting facts and images here that you won't find all in one place anywhere else. I could easily spend an hour or more jumping around to the different cross references that are provided with each entry. Within each entry he points the reader to other entries within the book by placing a asterisk beside the word. This denotes that you can find the entry listed separately in another location. All entries are alphabetical so finding things is no problem at all. Do you know what a Shiela-na-gig is? Or, how the Taoists viewed female sexual secretions? You'll learn this and more if you get this book. The bibliography is quite extensive and you'll get many ideas from there. Make sure to place a little mark beside them, because there are so many references, you won't remember which one you liked. If you get this used, you can't go wrong!