Product Description

The almighty penis has long been an object of adoration, revulsion, ridicule, amazement, joy, pride and even frustration. But does anyone fully understand the penis? Maggie Paley immersed herself in the obsessive world of this most forthright of organs, looking for answers. She pored over scholarly volumes, anthropology text and sex-shop glossies and interviewed sex workers and transsexuals. She attended make strip shows and a Hindu lingham ceremony, visited websites where men share masturbation techniques and she even sought out the current location of Napoleon's penis. In "The Book of the Penis", there are chapters on circumcision, castration, fellatio and the role of the penis in art, fashion, literature, films and much more. Paley even objectively addresses the big question - does size matter? Uncovering the secret world of the penis, the book explores the relationship that men have with their member and how we can make sense of the social and cultural status given to the phallus in communities around the world. Revealing truths and insights from ancient Greece to modern day cyberspace, the author separates fact from fiction. With humorous illustrations, a listing of magazines, websites and tattooists, this compelling book is accessible, approachable, and up front, without being lewd or crude.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #833179 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From the Publisher
Book description
In The Book of the Penis, Maggie Paley seeks to demystify one of the most venerated phenomena of our time. This witty and compelling book dares to uncover the secret world of the most forthright of organs. Revealing truths and insights from ancient Greece to modern day cyberspace, with research ranging from anthropology texts to sex-shop magazines and a Hindu lingham ceremony, the author deftly untangles fact from fiction to debunk numerous popular myths and misconceptions. Interspersed with humorous illustrations, you will also find all you need to know about piercing, tattooing and penis enhancement surgery and much more. Entertaining and informative, without being lewd or crude, this book opens up a universal subject to women and men, gay or straight, in an approachable and light-hearted way. - ground breaking, thought provoking and well researched - certain to develop classic stature

Customer Reviews

Great book, serious, detailed, fun yet not salacious.
This book surveys the topic of "penis" without pandering to salacious interests of any kind. For example, there are no photographs. Paley is a serious writer, and attempts to treat the topic neutrally. Yet it is fun and many details are provided with a light touch. Centuries of penis events, practices, and topics are surveyed in only 200 small (well, 6 1/2 inches) pages.

I read the book fortuitously, not looking for it. But I'm glad I did. You don't have to be obsessed about penises or sex to enjoy the book (though you may feel shy about displaying it on your desk).

Too much information makes the book superficial
"The Book of the Penis" is surely not the ultimative book about the male organ. Maggie Paley collects a lot of information and many curious details, but it's all very superficial. She seems to be picking up things everywhere, but the reader fails to understand why some bits of information are given and others not. There's a very casual quality about this proceeding. She should have chosen a red thread and follow it to give the book a wider scope. The most interesting parts are the interviews: with hustlers, transgendered people and porn actors. Perhaps Paley should have sticked to that, at which she's good ... It could have been a good book, but it isn't. This way it's only a long curiosity article, as it could have been printed in a women's magazine.

...
The Book of the Penis is one of the best books I have read all year! full of information and sensitive and insightful interviews with men from all walks of life it gives me (a straight woman) a valuable insight into the relationship that men have with their penises. It's humorous and informative without being tasteless and when I bought it I read it in one sitting. At the weekend, when my friends came round, they spent more time dipping into the book, which I'd left on my kitchen table than talking to me! I particularly like the cover, which features a ruler on the spine, that's broken down into thirty-seconds of an inch - a hilarious play on the perennial 'size issue'. I 'll be buying copies of this book for a number of my friends for Christmas - male and female - gay and straight.