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Xaviera on The Best Part of a Man
Xaviera on The Best Part of a Man
Paperback
First published July 1, 1975
131 people want to read
About the author
Xaviera Hollander
64 books70 followersFormer prostitute and brothel keeper.
She was born in Indonesia to a Jewish father and a Dutch mother. After world war II she moved to Amsterdam.
She later moved to South Africa and New York city where she became a prostitute
She was born in Indonesia to a Jewish father and a Dutch mother. After world war II she moved to Amsterdam.
She later moved to South Africa and New York city where she became a prostitute
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 12, 2013
I picked up this book off the side of the road because I thought it would be hilarious, and it is.
Positives first: Hollander is quite a personality, and her attitude remains fresh even after nearly forty years. I feel a little bad writing anything negative about this book, because Hollander is still alive and I am quite sure I would adore whatever she is doing now.
More positives: She writes about her experiences with sex without a shred of guilt. Towards the end of the book she describes a time that she "fucked and sucked" seven members of the Israeli soccer team in a park, and notes that "This made me very much hornier than I was when we set out". (p. 241-2) She then had sex with the last four back at the house. I admire her enthusiasm.
The book is full of anecdotes from her own life as a prostitute and then a Madam. She peppers the book with these stories to illustrate her points, and they do. These are the liveliest and most worthwhile parts. She seems to be writing for both men and women, which is refreshing. I was especially fascinated by her how-to guide to patronizing a brothel. Also her description of the sex toys available: "Another fascinating item I've come across is made exclusively for oral activity. This is a man's face, complete with facial hairs, eyebrows, and a nice thick mustache, all built out of lifelike rubber. The face has a long tongue protruding from the mouth, and this contains miniature batteries." (p. 143). I want very much to find one of these in a yard sale.
Unfortunately, the points she tries to make in self-help style are otherwise unclear and - yes- poorly written. Granted, I am mostly a lesbian, so I may have glossed over all the really important how-to-stimulate-the-penis tips. But I did just read that book, cover to cover, and I can't seem to pinpoint the Main Ideas. There are lots of Cosmo-style "make him swoon!" tips, which I'm guessing were harder to access in 1975, so I'll credit those as print-worthy. There are lots of great personal anecdotes. There is a section of pretty hilarious astrological penis readings. But the rest of the book? I forget.
Overall, I give this book two stars for writing and cohesion, and an extra star for being way beyond her time. It would be a great resource for historians of the sexual revolution.
Positives first: Hollander is quite a personality, and her attitude remains fresh even after nearly forty years. I feel a little bad writing anything negative about this book, because Hollander is still alive and I am quite sure I would adore whatever she is doing now.
More positives: She writes about her experiences with sex without a shred of guilt. Towards the end of the book she describes a time that she "fucked and sucked" seven members of the Israeli soccer team in a park, and notes that "This made me very much hornier than I was when we set out". (p. 241-2) She then had sex with the last four back at the house. I admire her enthusiasm.
The book is full of anecdotes from her own life as a prostitute and then a Madam. She peppers the book with these stories to illustrate her points, and they do. These are the liveliest and most worthwhile parts. She seems to be writing for both men and women, which is refreshing. I was especially fascinated by her how-to guide to patronizing a brothel. Also her description of the sex toys available: "Another fascinating item I've come across is made exclusively for oral activity. This is a man's face, complete with facial hairs, eyebrows, and a nice thick mustache, all built out of lifelike rubber. The face has a long tongue protruding from the mouth, and this contains miniature batteries." (p. 143). I want very much to find one of these in a yard sale.
Unfortunately, the points she tries to make in self-help style are otherwise unclear and - yes- poorly written. Granted, I am mostly a lesbian, so I may have glossed over all the really important how-to-stimulate-the-penis tips. But I did just read that book, cover to cover, and I can't seem to pinpoint the Main Ideas. There are lots of Cosmo-style "make him swoon!" tips, which I'm guessing were harder to access in 1975, so I'll credit those as print-worthy. There are lots of great personal anecdotes. There is a section of pretty hilarious astrological penis readings. But the rest of the book? I forget.
Overall, I give this book two stars for writing and cohesion, and an extra star for being way beyond her time. It would be a great resource for historians of the sexual revolution.
June 12, 2018
Wow Xaviera should be named a national treasure. I learned so many sex tips in this book, and so many things about human psychology
October 4, 2014
A very entertaining read.
January 24, 2021
1975. Wow! 46 years ago and I think everything she discusses is still relevant. And there is stuff I didn't know about... There is also some medical stuff included (which makes me think she consulted with a doctor).
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews