What do you think?
Rate this book
On Sex and Human Loving
The internationally acclaimed sex researchers William H. Masters, Virginia E. Johnson, and Robert C. Kolodny produce here for the first time for a general audience a comprehensive, warm, and highly readable survey of their most current findings on the remarkable range of complexities--biological, psychological, and social--that make up human sexuality.
With the insight and authority that have made them leaders in this field, Masters, Johnson, and Kolodny suggest that by being well informed about sexual matters, people can better contribute to their own sexual satisfaction. Through the voices of hundreds of people they interviewed, complemented by their own practical advice, they introduce and update the issues that can help sexually active adults of the 1980s enhance their own personal relationships. They explore current research on the nature of love, the meaning of sexual fantasies, and common problems people have in attaining and maintaining intimacy. They also address topics as diverse as sexual burnout, sex education, sexual victimization, and low sexual desire, offering numerous, easy-to-follow suggestions about such anxiety-provoking dilemmas as how to deal with sexual boredom, how to prevent sexually transmitted disease, how to communicate with your lover about sexual matters, what to do if you're the victim of incest or sexual harassment, how to evaluate a contraceptive's safety and effectiveness, and how to find a sex therapist.
Best of all, the authors discuss how to use the information in this guide to heighten the quality of your own intimate relations. Finally, they provide fascinating--and sometimes startling--forecasts about trends that will define our sexual attitudes and behavior as we move into the twenty-first century.
With the insight and authority that have made them leaders in this field, Masters, Johnson, and Kolodny suggest that by being well informed about sexual matters, people can better contribute to their own sexual satisfaction. Through the voices of hundreds of people they interviewed, complemented by their own practical advice, they introduce and update the issues that can help sexually active adults of the 1980s enhance their own personal relationships. They explore current research on the nature of love, the meaning of sexual fantasies, and common problems people have in attaining and maintaining intimacy. They also address topics as diverse as sexual burnout, sex education, sexual victimization, and low sexual desire, offering numerous, easy-to-follow suggestions about such anxiety-provoking dilemmas as how to deal with sexual boredom, how to prevent sexually transmitted disease, how to communicate with your lover about sexual matters, what to do if you're the victim of incest or sexual harassment, how to evaluate a contraceptive's safety and effectiveness, and how to find a sex therapist.
Best of all, the authors discuss how to use the information in this guide to heighten the quality of your own intimate relations. Finally, they provide fascinating--and sometimes startling--forecasts about trends that will define our sexual attitudes and behavior as we move into the twenty-first century.
598 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
30 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
William H. Masters
27 books39 followersWilliam Masters and research assistant Virginia Johnson pioneered research on human sexuality. They observed participants in various sexual acts and identified four stages of sexual response. In addition, they treated a variety of sexual disfunctions. The two married and stayed together for 22 years before divorcing.
The Showtime program Masters of Sex is based on the research of Masters and Johnson.
The Showtime program Masters of Sex is based on the research of Masters and Johnson.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 7, 2017
Свое первое исследование секса Мастерс и Джонсон провели еще в 60-х, наблюдая секс 382 пар и исследуя происходящее с помощью датчиков и научного анализа. В то время их работа произвела взрыв, а методичный подход и желание разобраться многих пугало. Поразительно, но описанные уже 60 лет назад выводы для кучи россиян настоящего времени покажутся революционными, как и результаты опросов Кинси. Это грустно. А книжка - ок.
August 30, 2010
I read Masters & Johnson in 1988 before I had heard of the Kinsey Report. It is amazing that this hugely important work has received only 11 ratings and no reviews. Then then, Americans don't "do" sex very well. The results this study publishes were only slightly less shocking (and repulsive to the orthodox) than Kinsey's. Only those who desire to be educated should read it.
September 3, 2013
A classic in the sexuology department. I read this book cover to cover in about 2 days. It has some interesting view points, but definitely needs a review in my opinion.
June 20, 2023
William H. Masters, Virginia E. Johnson, Robert C. Kolodny. Masters & Johnson on Sex and Human Loving. New York: Little Brown,1988.
The book is 586 pages of text in 20 chapters and an epilogue, with 16 pages of selected bibliography, mostly research from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and what appears to be a pretty good 19-page index. I am not sure I ever thought I would read this whole book, straight through, cover to cover, but I am sure I expected to find parts of it interesting and informative. It reminded me of a title from the early 1970s, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Buy Were Afraid to Ask. There certainly are things I’ve been pretty clueless about and have wanted to know but, I suppose, I was afraid to ask. But since I am now officially in my 80s, I thought it was high time to try to satisfy my curiosity. And maybe now that I am in my 80s, I feel free enough to admit to having many of the questions that I have had and see what I can learn.
Once I got started, I found it very readable, even for an ignorant lay person.
The back cover promo says it is “a comprehensive, warm, and highly readable survey that includes the most current findings on the remarkable range of complexities—biological, psychological, and social—that make up human sexuality.” I endorse that summary. The only word I might quibble with is “warm;” the authors certainly might be warm people but I just wouldn’t have thought of that word on my own. I was thinking more along the lines of “matter-of-fact, not salacious, careful and humble when expressing opinions or guesses at significance/meaning of available data…worthwhile, academically/scientifically respectable, trustworthy.”
Keep in mind that the book was first copyrighted in 1982 and the last time in 1988. You might be concerned that it is a bit dated, but on the other hand it provides probably reliable insight into thinking and attitudes just a few years into the AIDS epidemic. And in the Epilogue, the authors predict the trends in sexual for the next 25 years—which makes an interesting read.
Subsequent to this book, the only additional publication by these authors I have found is entitled Heterosexuality, published in 1994.
The book is 586 pages of text in 20 chapters and an epilogue, with 16 pages of selected bibliography, mostly research from the ‘60s and ‘70s, and what appears to be a pretty good 19-page index. I am not sure I ever thought I would read this whole book, straight through, cover to cover, but I am sure I expected to find parts of it interesting and informative. It reminded me of a title from the early 1970s, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex Buy Were Afraid to Ask. There certainly are things I’ve been pretty clueless about and have wanted to know but, I suppose, I was afraid to ask. But since I am now officially in my 80s, I thought it was high time to try to satisfy my curiosity. And maybe now that I am in my 80s, I feel free enough to admit to having many of the questions that I have had and see what I can learn.
Once I got started, I found it very readable, even for an ignorant lay person.
The back cover promo says it is “a comprehensive, warm, and highly readable survey that includes the most current findings on the remarkable range of complexities—biological, psychological, and social—that make up human sexuality.” I endorse that summary. The only word I might quibble with is “warm;” the authors certainly might be warm people but I just wouldn’t have thought of that word on my own. I was thinking more along the lines of “matter-of-fact, not salacious, careful and humble when expressing opinions or guesses at significance/meaning of available data…worthwhile, academically/scientifically respectable, trustworthy.”
Keep in mind that the book was first copyrighted in 1982 and the last time in 1988. You might be concerned that it is a bit dated, but on the other hand it provides probably reliable insight into thinking and attitudes just a few years into the AIDS epidemic. And in the Epilogue, the authors predict the trends in sexual for the next 25 years—which makes an interesting read.
Subsequent to this book, the only additional publication by these authors I have found is entitled Heterosexuality, published in 1994.
September 13, 2021
A thorough examination sexuality aspect of human. Not only it looks at sex in biological perspective but also in an emotional landscape. It explores a more profound way to understand about human sexual desire throughout childhood and adult development.
June 6, 2018
Must read book
I am dr amit joshi sexologist in Jaipur, it is very good book. Its basic book must read before starting Sexual health practice.
I am dr amit joshi sexologist in Jaipur, it is very good book. Its basic book must read before starting Sexual health practice.
March 5, 2019
Parents had this book ... yeah.
June 6, 2019
Best book about sex and other physical and emotional issues related to it...
January 2, 2015
This is a readabale book by the pair of "sex writers". It makes sense out of the research they have done. Some of their research may sound unusual to us but it certainly helped us understand sex.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"
Read
October 11, 2015I feel embarrassed to say I haven't't really finished it yet. I just haven't touched it in months. I know that now, without pressure, I'll definitely finish it, though.
January 9, 2016
Lots of interesting statistics and studies as well as quotes from various people. Informative. Some things I already knew as well as some I didn't. A good read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews