The Pornographer's Grief: and Other Tales of Human Sexuality

by Joseph Glenmullen

An intimate and thought-provoking collection of case histories covering a range of sexual symptoms--where they come from, how they are treated, and what role social forces play in them--from a Harvard psychiatrist. Dr. Glenmullen explores addictive sexual behavior and the influence of drugs, trauma, and repressive religious backgrounds on human sexuality.

Foreword / Robert Coles
The Pornographer's Grief
The Woman Who Thought Her Orgasm Was a Gift
The Acrobat's Stocking
Don Juan's Regret
Sexual Appetites
Noxious Balms: The Mysterious Sexual Inhibitor and the Disappearing Sperm
Ancient Rites: A Reversal
Who Would Have Ever Thought It Would Be Difficult to Get Pregnant?
Traumatic Juxtapositions
The Woman Who Wanted to Seduce Her Father
Afterword: Sex as Metaphor

Genres: Sexuality, Psychology

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Edward Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for people who have never broached the subject of psychoanalysis! It’s my first time ever reading anything like this and I learned tons from and the various stories made it very easy to visualize how childhood and traumatic events can cause dysfunction in our sex lives and relationships.

[Judy]

A well written presentation of case histories by a pyschiatrist attempting to illustrate the metaphor of sexuality on the rest of our lives.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very well written and interesting account of psychoanalysis and how it works. I picked it up because the title was intriguing, but I learned a lot about the process of psychoanalysis and how some therapists do their jobs.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed it because I'm getting rid of it. Mildly interesting pop psychology book of anecdotes about sexual problems.

[Jenn Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing revolutionary here. Interesting, but I didn't learn much.