Product Description

A revealing, intimate and liberating portrait of the vagina.
Comprehensively explores the female sex in terms of culture, history, anatomy, medicine, psychology, and anthropology.
Blends references from art, literature and science with a light, humorous approach-the result will inform and entertain women and men alike.The Origin of the World is a fascinating study of female sexuality. Sexologist Jelto Drenth believes that sex is pleasurable and fulfilling, but that to enjoy it to the full you must know how it works. The author describes the workings of the vagina in simple language, giving an illustrated "guided tour," but this book is not merely a workshop manual for the bedroom. Drenth examines female sexuality historically, anatomically, anthropo-logically, and biologically, drawing on many sources including medical texts, myth, science fiction and fantasy, and feminist and lesbian literature, with illuminating critical observations. The book goes back to the Middle Ages, examines non-Western cultural practices, including clitoridectomy and virginity checks, tests Freud's theories on coitus, and deals at length with sexual desire, lovemaking, and orgasm. It explains how the vagina has been -worshipped-and also feared-throughout -history.

The Origin of the World brings together insights from the most diverse quarters, blending references from poetry and romantic literature with historical, anthropological, and medical data. A well-illustrated, truly encyclopedic work, it is at the same time a lightly written, humorous exploration of a subject close to us all. Women and men alike will learn a great deal, both about themselves and the opposite sex as well.

Jelto Drenth works as a sexologist at the Rutgers Foundation in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #735004 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

Review
'A wise and sympathetic view from a knowledgeable male professional who has really been listening to women. Drenth's book is full of intriguing anecdotes, both personal and historical.' - Rachel Maines, author of The Technology of Orgasm: Hysteria, the Vibrator and Women's Sexual Satisfaction (1998)'This is an important, well-written book, which deserves to become a classic.' - De Volksrant'The book reads like a novel one can't put down.It is extremely well written, lucid and stimulating.' - Psychologie Magazine

Review
"A wise and sympathetic view from a knowledgable male professional who has really been listening to women. Drenth''s book is full of intriguing anecdotes both personal and historical."--Rachel Maines, author of The Technology of the Orgasm: Hysteria, the Vibrator and Women''s Sexual Satisfaction (Rachel Maines 20050423)

"Entertaining and illuminating."--Lucy Ellmann, The Glasgow Herald (Lucy Ellmann The Glasgow Herald 20050503)

"An engrossing read: amusing, frightening, and informative in turns. Drenth has provided an excellent basic resource for thinking about women''s genitalia as more than flesh and function."-Virginia Braun, BMJ Journals (Virginia Braun BMJ Journals )

"A highly satisfactory collection . . . fascinating accounts of the physiology of vaginal response, thoughtful readings of literature, films, and works of art, and a surprising range of trivia. The erudite book displays a brisk and slightly demented sense of humor."-Village Voice (Jenny Davidson Village Voice )

"Straddling the genres of popular science, literary criticism, how-to, and cultural studies, this 289-page tome is packed with fascinating facts and provocative analysis, all delivered in a quirky, thoughtful voice."- Bitch (Feminist Response to Pop Culture) (Bitch )

About the Author
Jelto Drenth works as a sexologist at the Rutgers Foundation in Groningen, The Netherlands.