The Joy of Sex
Encyclopedia
The Joy of Sex is an illustrated sex manual
by Alex Comfort
, M.B., Ph.D.
, first published in 1972. An updated edition was released in September, 2008.
. (One might argue, for instance, that the Kama Sutra
provided somewhat similar information over 1,000 years before.) Earlier works, such as the 1966 Human Sexual Response by Masters and Johnson
, were more circumspect and clinical. Conversely, The Joy of Sex is rather circumspect and clinical in comparison to The Guide to Getting it On
, published 20 years later.
The Joy of Sex spent eleven weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list
and more than 70 weeks in the top five (1972–1974).
The original intention was to use the same approach as such cook books as The Joy of Cooking
, hence section titles include "starters" and "main courses". The book features sexual practices such as oral sex
and various sex positions as well as bringing "farther out" practices such as sexual bondage
and swinging
to the attention of the general public.
The original version was illustrated with a mixture of classical Indian and Japanese erotica and specially commissioned illustrations by Chris Foss
(black-and-white line drawings) and Charles Raymond (colour paintings). These two artists based their work on photographs taken by Chris Foss, of Charles Raymond and his wife. The illustrations have become somewhat dated, mainly because of changes in hairstyles. Both the illustrations and text are titillating as well as illustrative, in contrast to the bland, clinical style of earlier books about sex. More recent editions feature new artwork, and added text emphasizing safer sex.
Newer versions have reversed previously-supportive positions on topics such as swinging
as extensive textual changes were made at the height of the 1980s AIDS
panic.
A pocket book version entitled, The Joy of Sex, the Pocket Edition was also published. The book won the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year
in 1997.
The Joy of Sex did not address homosexual sex beyond a definitional level. Though there was a careful (for the day) treatment of bondage, other BDSM
activities received definitional coverage at best. The book played a part in what is often called the sexual revolution.
public library board ruled in favor of removing The Joy of Sex and The Joy of Gay Sex
from the libraries' shelves, making them only available upon request in the library director's office. The books were restored to shelves in September 2008 in response to ACLU
threats of litigation.
More material has been added to the book, and the remaining text has been rewritten from both a factual and psychological viewpoint to take into account social shifts since 1972. The new edition presents a more balanced female/male perspective and also contains 120 completely re-shot photographs and re-drawn illustrations.
The quirky style—and the message of the book, that sex is fun—remain the same. Mitchell Beazley has marketed the New Joy with the subtitle "a thinking person's guide to sex".
Sex manual
Sex manuals are books which explain how to perform sexual intercourse and other sexual practices. They often also feature advice on birth control, and sometimes safe sex, as well as advice on sexual relationships.-Early sex manuals:...
by Alex Comfort
Alex Comfort
Alexander Comfort, MB BChir, PhD, DSc was a medical professional, gerontologist, anarchist, pacifist, conscientious objector and writer, best known for The Joy of Sex, which played a part in what is often called the sexual revolution...
, M.B., Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, first published in 1972. An updated edition was released in September, 2008.
Overview
It was the first illustrated, serious such manual to gain wide distribution—at least in modern AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. (One might argue, for instance, that the Kama Sutra
Kama Sutra
The Kama Sutra is an ancient Indian Hindu text widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature written by Vātsyāyana. A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sexual intercourse. It is largely in prose, with many inserted anustubh poetry verses...
provided somewhat similar information over 1,000 years before.) Earlier works, such as the 1966 Human Sexual Response by Masters and Johnson
Masters and Johnson
The Masters and Johnson research team, composed of William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson, pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions from 1957 until the 1990s....
, were more circumspect and clinical. Conversely, The Joy of Sex is rather circumspect and clinical in comparison to The Guide to Getting it On
The Guide to Getting it On
The Guide to Getting It On! is a sexuality guide by research psychoanalyst Paul Joannides, illustrated by the comic book artist Dærick Gröss, Sr. A 6th edition was released on January 20, 2009, with a 2011 updated version of the 6th edition released in January 2011.-Structure and content of the...
, published 20 years later.
The Joy of Sex spent eleven weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
and more than 70 weeks in the top five (1972–1974).
The original intention was to use the same approach as such cook books as The Joy of Cooking
The Joy of Cooking
Joy of Cooking, often known as "The Joy of Cooking" is one of the United States' most-published cookbooks, and has been in print continuously since 1936 and with more than 18 million copies sold. It was privately published in 1931 by Irma S. Rombauer, a homemaker in St. Louis, Missouri, who was...
, hence section titles include "starters" and "main courses". The book features sexual practices such as oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
and various sex positions as well as bringing "farther out" practices such as sexual bondage
Bondage (BDSM)
Bondage is the use of restraints for the sexual pleasure of the parties involved. It may be used in its own right, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage, or as part of sexual activity or BDSM activity.- Private bondage :...
and swinging
Swinging
Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
to the attention of the general public.
The original version was illustrated with a mixture of classical Indian and Japanese erotica and specially commissioned illustrations by Chris Foss
Chris Foss
Christopher "Chris" F. Foss is a British artist and science fiction illustrator. He is best known for his science fiction book covers and the black and white illustrations for the original editions of The Joy of Sex....
(black-and-white line drawings) and Charles Raymond (colour paintings). These two artists based their work on photographs taken by Chris Foss, of Charles Raymond and his wife. The illustrations have become somewhat dated, mainly because of changes in hairstyles. Both the illustrations and text are titillating as well as illustrative, in contrast to the bland, clinical style of earlier books about sex. More recent editions feature new artwork, and added text emphasizing safer sex.
Newer versions have reversed previously-supportive positions on topics such as swinging
Swinging
Swinging or partner swapping is a non-monogamous behavior, in which both partners in a committed relationship agree, as a couple, for both partners to engage in sexual activities with other couples as a recreational or social activity...
as extensive textual changes were made at the height of the 1980s AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
panic.
A pocket book version entitled, The Joy of Sex, the Pocket Edition was also published. The book won the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year
Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year
The Bookseller/Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year, originally known as the Diagram Group Prize for the Oddest Title at the Frankfurt Book Fair, commonly known as the Diagram Prize for short, is a humorous literary award that is given annually to the book with the oddest title...
in 1997.
The Joy of Sex did not address homosexual sex beyond a definitional level. Though there was a careful (for the day) treatment of bondage, other BDSM
BDSM
BDSM is an erotic preference and a form of sexual expression involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power role-play. The compound acronym BDSM is derived from the terms bondage and discipline , dominance and submission , and sadism and masochism...
activities received definitional coverage at best. The book played a part in what is often called the sexual revolution.
Controversy
There has been much controversy over The Joy of Sex. Many religious groups have fought to keep it out of public libraries. In March 2008, the Nampa, IdahoNampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
public library board ruled in favor of removing The Joy of Sex and The Joy of Gay Sex
The Joy of Gay Sex
The Joy of Gay Sex is a sex manual for men who have sex with men, written by Dr. Charles Silverstein and Edmund White.Publisher: Crown - References :* ISBN 067124079X* ISBN 978-0671240790...
from the libraries' shelves, making them only available upon request in the library director's office. The books were restored to shelves in September 2008 in response to ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
threats of litigation.
Updated 2008 edition
Publisher Mitchell Beazley released an updated edition of the book in September 2008. The new edition was rewritten and reinvented by relationship psychologist Susan Quilliam and approved by Nicholas Comfort, the original author's son.More material has been added to the book, and the remaining text has been rewritten from both a factual and psychological viewpoint to take into account social shifts since 1972. The new edition presents a more balanced female/male perspective and also contains 120 completely re-shot photographs and re-drawn illustrations.
The quirky style—and the message of the book, that sex is fun—remain the same. Mitchell Beazley has marketed the New Joy with the subtitle "a thinking person's guide to sex".
Publication history
- The Joy of Sex: A Gourmet Guide to Lovemaking, 1972
- More Joy of Sex: A Lovemaking Companion to The Joy of Sex, 1973 (sequel)
- The Joy of Sex: A Gourmet Guide to Lovemaking, revised and updated edition, 1986 (revised to include AIDS)
- More Joy of Sex: A Lovemaking Companion to The Joy of Sex, revised and updated edition, 1987 (sequel; revised to include AIDS)
- The New Joy of Sex: A Gourmet Guide to Lovemaking for the Nineties, 1992 (revised to bring the science, especially the sociology, up to date)
- The New Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort and Susan Quilliam, 2008
External links
- The New Joy of Sex (1991) at books.google
- How the Joy of Sex was illustrated (26 October 2011) at the BBC