If you want a very well-writen, well-depicted, complete book to teach you how to "give pleasure with your hands", this is definately a book to buy. It describes numerous strokes for each section of the body, and concatenates them into a one-hour-plus, full-body massage.

In the next few weeks (as pay checks roll in), I'll buy Gordon's other books. This one teaches enough strokes for an hour-long full-body massage, and I'm hoping that the other ones teach all different strokes.

I've been disappointed by a lot of the books I've gotten on this type of subject, but this one does not disappoint in any way.

78 of 80 found the following review helpful:


My Personal Favorite Massage Book  Feb 18, 2002 By Peter Mackay "surgeonsmate"
A massage is more intimate than sex. Let me correct that. A good massage is more intimate than sex. Your partner is touching not just every part of your body, but handling your mind, calming, gentling, soothing, pleasuring, stimulating. The fragrance of the oil, the soft light, the low music in the background, all intended to work on your brain while your body is being kneaded and manipulated.

Gordon Inkeles does much the same for the reader. His words and the beautiful nude photography set the stage and work on the senses of the mind. Read a chapter and you'll want to gently remove your partner's clothing and try out the technique explained in words and pictures. If your partner is not within reach, the book heightens the anticipation until he or she is home again and in for a pleasant surprise.

Gordon makes the point that massage has changed since the days when masseurs saw the body as a target for correction, easing sprains, directed towards a specific medical or sporting end. He demonstrates that massage is for fun and shared pleasure, an end in itself.

The book has thirteen sections, covering aids to massage, the various strokes, parts of the body, erotic massage etc. All strokes are shown in detail. Be warned, if nudity is likely to bother you, that this book is not coy or reserved. The models are completely nude and there are no carefully draped towels. The photography is tasteful in both colour and black and white. It enhances the atmosphere, and moves a step away from the clinical approach taken by other books.

Above all, the point is made that massage is an intimate, shared experience, a meeting of minds as well as bodies.

As I say, this is my very favorite massage book, as much for its attitude as anything else. Recommended for enjoyment! Shared enjoyment.

40 of 41 found the following review helpful:


Intelligent, sexy, tasteful  Feb 11, 1999
A book of delicious sensual experiences that you simply can't find elsewhere. Easy-to-learn sequences. Explicit (but tasteful) nudity and lovely anatomical illustrations thoughout (puritains beware!). The massage is sensational. We started massaging the first night...

50 of 55 found the following review helpful:


Okay, but kind of one sided  Sep 08, 2003
This is a great book if you're a man and want to give your significant other a great massage, but it's clear that a man has done all the photography. My husband and I had to laugh when we noticed that all the women are pictured full frontal while all the guys are shot from the back! I have since found that most massage books follow that same philosophy. It's interesting that, given the century and the subject material, a photographed (...) still seems to be taboo. I finally had to order a book aimed at gays in order to get actual pictures and how-tos on giving my partner a sensual massage.

29 of 31 found the following review helpful:


AWESOME BOOK  May 10, 2001 By I. kohlman
This wonderful book provides the reader with a step-by-step guide to the sensual world. It's well researced and exquisitely illustrated. This book works as well for the massage professional, as it does for the novice(my husband). It's Gordon Inkeles' masterpiece.

The book contains easy to follow instructions that cover total body massages with lovely nude photography throughout;like an art book! The massages are all romantic, sexy and very sensual. The book not only explains and shows how to massage the back, head, arms, legs, and body, it also explains how to target certain muscles, tendons, nerves and circulation, as they're being massaged. The book also covers massages for stress control, erotic touching and much more. The anatomical illustrations are breathtaking. Inkeles knows massage better than anyone else. I own all his books; this one is the best. I highly recommend it.

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