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Books and Videos on Swinging |
| To obtain one or more of these items, PLEASE click on the "Order" link following each review. In some cases, doing so will provide us (at no cost to you) with a small referral fee that will help keep this site operating. |
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| The
views expressed herein represent our personal opinions and should not be construed
to reflect the position of any organization or group that we may be associated
with. We believe that legitimate criticism is healthy and necessary for the commercial aspects of swinging to prosper in this era of intolerance and we welcome sincere and intelligent comment on our own works. — Ed and Dana |
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| Books The Ethical Slut: A Guide to Infinite Sexual Possibilities The Lifestyle: A Look at the Erotic Rites of Swinging Recreational Sex: An Insider's Guide to the Swinging Lifestyle Swing: Dawn of a New Era Today's Swingers: The Complete Guide to Successful Swinging Happy Swinging, vol 1: Advice Your Mom Never Gave You! The Lifestyle: Swinging in America |
| For
recommendations on books and videos on sexuality and other subjects related to
swinging, click here. | |
|
Together
Sex by Ed and Dana Allen Momentpoint Media
|
Together Sex
is your guide to more fun and hassle-free pleasure in the swinging lifestyle.
Considered by many to be the finest book ever written on swinging, Together
Sex has recently been updated and enhanced. This "how-to" book's 200-plus
pages cover meeting other swingers, socializing at bars and parties, coping with
problems, handling emotions, increasing your popularity, and hosting the best
parties your friends will ever attend. It's mostly about having fun, but it is
also a must-read statement of what's wrong with swinging, what must be done to
protect it, and why it's worth saving. |
|
by
Ed and Dana Allen
| What's it like? Why should I? But, what about . . .? A truly useful, booklet for convincing anyone, even yourself, to give swinging a try. This booklet is also one of ours. It is available as a printed booklet and can be downloaded directly for printing on your computer. See description. |
|
The
Lifestyle: by Terry Gould Random
House of Canada Paperback, $13.56
| Back
in 1989, on the basis of one evening spent at a swing club and private party in
Vancouver, Terry Gould wrote a typically contemptuous article about swingers for
V magazine. Titled "A Dangerous State of Affairs," the gist of the article
is that swingers are rather gross and ignorant people intent on screwing themselves
to death. A decade later, many people were surprised to learn that Gould had written an entire book on this lifestyle he had previously found to be such a turn-off. And they were shocked when that book began to be promoted by the swinging industry. Having read the 1989 article, it was with some apprehension that we purchased a copy of The Lifestyle. ... We have rarely been more pleasantly surprised! Not only has the author fully redeemed himself, but he actually admits that his previous approach was wrong and castigates the media for continuing to follow it. For example, Gould points out that a perusal of the mainstream media revealed "celebrities still being praised and promoted for behaving like swingers in the same outlets that were labeling middle-class swingers pathetic and ridiculous for behaving like celebrities." On the Down Side Gould writes at times as if his experiences were more in-depth and representative than they actually were and he tends to quote the opinions of the swingers he meets as if they were citations of universal rules. As do most investigative-style books on swinging, The Lifestyle presents numerous interviews with participants, a few of whom offer pithy and insightful observations, many of whom are generally uninteresting, and some of whom ramble on and on in grand displays of ignorance. As a result, the book is a longer read than it should be. And finally, several people who played major roles in the development of "the lifestyle" are ignored by Gould. On the Up Side Despite the few quibbles raised above, we consider The Lifestyle to be the best reportorial work yet produced on swinging. It is better researched than its predecessors, exceptionally objective, and professionally written and edited. In addition to interviewing participants, club owners, and various academic experts, Gould delves deeply into the origins of contemporary morals and ethics, examining how they were developed and preserved as ways of maintaining political power. He discusses the belief that goodness consists of that which encourages the retention of semen, while whatever encourages excessive expulsion of same is evil, and says that such beliefs "may have arisen from sincere faith, but it was a faith that fit in nicely with the agenda of priests and kings who are always anxious to keep the lustful masses guilt-ridden." Gould then gives us a look at fascinating (and sometimes surprising) new findings, facts, and theories in sexual biology. The old school apparently filtered its observations too much through the sieve of cultural expectations. (Scientists saw what they expected to see.) Contemporary biologists, less hampered by sexist beliefs, are coming to a whole new view of human sexuality — a view that Gould believes allows for greater understanding of, and tolerance for, swingers' behavior. Whether or not you concur with Gould's speculations, his tales of female arousal, bonobo love, and sperm wars are sure to entertain and enlighten you. Not only does Gould take the unusual step of including polyamory in his presentation reporting on a Loving More conference and providing a brief history of alternative living styles but he has the insight to say, " the poly people are not as far as they believe from the thinking of playcouples who merely don't make a big deal about proselytizing the truths they personally perceive." In short, this most uncommon book is a must-read for any person who likes to think about or talk about the social, psychological, or cultural implications of swinging. Order The Lifestyle |
| Happy Swinging, vol 1: Advice Your Mom Never Gave You! Sue Gould DVD $19.95
| This
video is essentially a re-staging of the seminars that Sue leads for new swingers
(albeit with a more experienced — and more interesting — audience).
Sue and her husband, Ron, operate the Chicago Adventure convention and three swing
clubs in the Midwest. They have been in the lifestyle longer than God and almost
as long as we have, so she speaks from extensive experience. She also speaks well
and with humor and compassion. Every viewer will get valuable information and insights. More than that, they will get a sense of the fun, friendship, and warmth available in our lifestyle — a sense that is much easier to convey in video than in print. We do take issue with some of Sue's descriptions of the "old days." In our experience, swinging has always been about finding friends to share our lives. But, this simply reflects differences in our experiences. Altogether, this is not only the best video out there, it is really good. Get it, watch it, and show it to anyone interested in the lifestyle, especially those with doubts. Our highest recommendation! [Note: There is no nudity or sexual activity in this video, but the language is explicit.] |
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by Steve and Cathy Marks M.S.W.
Publishing Co. |
The insights that Steve and Cathy offer are good and their advice
is sound. But, those insights make up only a small portion of this "true
story", which is predominantly a string of tediously detailed sexual encounters.
Most of this detail must be imaginative, as no one could precisely recall how
deep the thrusts, how copious the emissions, and how salty the flavors were at
every encounter over the past twenty years. And their prosaic descriptions do
not even have the redeeming value of being erotic. Another bothersome trait is
their tendency to self-aggrandizement, as in the book's title — whatever
this "New Era" was, Steve and Cathy give no evidence that they helped
it "Dawn" — and in their unsupported claim to be "pioneers
in a brand new lifestyle." If the chronology presented is accurate, Steve
and Cathy were "swingers" for almost 20 years before they ever attended
a club or held a party. |
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The Ultimate Swingers Guide by Tia Minell © 2001 | Small book, huge print, 59 pages for $17.95 is more like the ultimate rip-off than the ultimate guide. The shallow approach, authoritarian tone, and often silly advice don't help much either. |
