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Manhood: The Rise and Fall of the Penis
In Manhood, experienced urologist and sexologist Mels van Driel offers an unprecedented history of the penis—with answers to everything you wanted to know, and even some questions you’d never thought to ask. Investigating the penis and its functions, van Driel’s work ranges from impotence to the speed of ejaculation, and from inguinal hernia to infertility. Psychological factors that have an impact on sexual experience, as well as contemporary phenomena, such as cyber sex, are examined along the way with good humor and much insight.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 23, 2024
This is better then his book on masturbation so it gets one more star but as an owner of a penis I can't help feeling that somewhere along the line the Mr. Driel misses out on perhaps the most essential and obvious point - penises are essentially ridiculous. They are essential, they provide a great deal of happiness (as well as way to many worries and neuroses) but need to be treated with care but also levity.
This book has loads of great information, but do we really need this user manual type information? Are those who need that information likely to look for it in a book?
I love the idea of a book about the male genitals but it needs something better then this.
Also I had no idea how to shelve this book and wasn't about to create a new 'penis' category. So it's down as cultural commentary or some such.
This book has loads of great information, but do we really need this user manual type information? Are those who need that information likely to look for it in a book?
I love the idea of a book about the male genitals but it needs something better then this.
Also I had no idea how to shelve this book and wasn't about to create a new 'penis' category. So it's down as cultural commentary or some such.
May 27, 2016
Everything you have ever wanted to know about the male reproductive system — and more! You’ll find it all here, written in a light and friendly tone. This is of much value not only for men but also for women.
The book is intended for the general public. It does have medical information, of course; the author Mels Van Driel is a consultant urologist and sexologist at Groningen University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, so he knows what he is talking about — and he covers both “normal” and abnormal aspects as well as ailments. He also reports on many other issues, such as castration, masturbation, voluntary and involuntary sterility, and eroticism.
All this might sound heavy and maybe even forbidding, but this would give the wrong impression about this book. It is certainly educational, and making this information public in an accessible way does much to eliminate fear and shame, especially for men who might find open discussion on these matters either forbidding and/or secretive, thus preferring to keep any concerns about their “private parts”, well, private. Yet there is little to be fearful or shameful about any of these issues, and certainly airing them will be liberating and conducive to physical, mental and psychological health. What’s there to dislike about that?
Yet what makes this book pretty much a joy to read is the fact that right throughout Van Driel provides many historical facts relating to the matter, covering social and cultural interpretations from societies throughout the world — some shocking, some funny, almost all illuminating on many levels. Untested assumptions, prejudices, superstitions, religious contaminations which influenced societal attitudes (not always progressive or even useful) and making some (usually the more fanatic religious monks) do abominable things to children and to themselves, in the name of “sanctity” and “holiness” — all because of their belief in the so-called sinfulness of sex and sexuality — these are all exposed as fallacies. There will be times, of course, when certain situations might call for more drastic medical (not religious) attention to be called for, but these cases are readily identified, and occur much less frequently than might be thought.
I found myself quite pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable reading this book was. Its information content alone would suffice for it to be compulsory reading, especially for males; but the lightness and delicacy of tone, without any smirkiness or sneering, makes this a most entertaining, informative and illuminating book. Recommended.
The book is intended for the general public. It does have medical information, of course; the author Mels Van Driel is a consultant urologist and sexologist at Groningen University Medical Centre in The Netherlands, so he knows what he is talking about — and he covers both “normal” and abnormal aspects as well as ailments. He also reports on many other issues, such as castration, masturbation, voluntary and involuntary sterility, and eroticism.
All this might sound heavy and maybe even forbidding, but this would give the wrong impression about this book. It is certainly educational, and making this information public in an accessible way does much to eliminate fear and shame, especially for men who might find open discussion on these matters either forbidding and/or secretive, thus preferring to keep any concerns about their “private parts”, well, private. Yet there is little to be fearful or shameful about any of these issues, and certainly airing them will be liberating and conducive to physical, mental and psychological health. What’s there to dislike about that?
Yet what makes this book pretty much a joy to read is the fact that right throughout Van Driel provides many historical facts relating to the matter, covering social and cultural interpretations from societies throughout the world — some shocking, some funny, almost all illuminating on many levels. Untested assumptions, prejudices, superstitions, religious contaminations which influenced societal attitudes (not always progressive or even useful) and making some (usually the more fanatic religious monks) do abominable things to children and to themselves, in the name of “sanctity” and “holiness” — all because of their belief in the so-called sinfulness of sex and sexuality — these are all exposed as fallacies. There will be times, of course, when certain situations might call for more drastic medical (not religious) attention to be called for, but these cases are readily identified, and occur much less frequently than might be thought.
I found myself quite pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable reading this book was. Its information content alone would suffice for it to be compulsory reading, especially for males; but the lightness and delicacy of tone, without any smirkiness or sneering, makes this a most entertaining, informative and illuminating book. Recommended.
November 21, 2020
Whether you personally own one, or have a firm interest in them (or both), this book will teach you a lot about male genitalia and the ills that may afflict them. It is full of interesting tidbits and well-written, making the reader readily forgive the Dutch author for a rather particular sense of humour that might not go down so well in pruder cultural environments. It doesn't help that the translation in English is clunky; read the Dutch original if you can.
November 2, 2021
A bit uninspiring. It's clear that physiology is where the author feels at home so the chapters mostly read like detailed medical encyclopaedia entries. Any discussion beyond that, sociological, historical, or otherwise, is only superficial or present in form of random anecdotes.
May 19, 2010
Everything you ever wanted to know and were afraid to ask
Mels Van Driel is a Dutch urologist and sexologist who has obviously not only studied his disciplines well, but who also has the ability to communicate his depth of information with clarity (due in part to the English translation from the Dutch by Paul Vincent), candor, and a fine sense of humor. Though the 'mission' of this book is to explore the male genitalia in anatomic, functional, physiological, and psychological detail, van Driel also has the good sense/sensitivity to include the history of the response to this primary organ from recorded history to the present. And the differences between Greek perception and contemporary understanding are fascinating to ponder.
The author's description of the anatomy, from primitive unisex function in utero to the ultimate adult stage, is concise and thorough and is accompanied by many drawings and images that illustrate the points he makes. And after introducing this completed embryologic and adult transformation of the origin of life organ, he devotes chapters to cultural anomalies in penile perception and function (the section on Russian Skoptsy sect's rituals is enlightening to the extreme!) - tales of bizarre rituals that alone are worth the price of this book.
But van Driel doesn't stop with urological matters or anatomic variations, but instead opens the book to the very contemporary concerns of psychological nature that now have found their way into conversation, the Internet, magazines, and television commercials for Erectile Dysfunction. This is a solid book for those who want to understand the human anatomy, diseases, and emotional and psychological implications surrounding this topic. It is well written and deserves to be taken seriously by both students in medical school and nursing school as well as libraries of all those who want to understand one of the great mysteries of the human body. Highly recommended.
Grady Harp
Mels Van Driel is a Dutch urologist and sexologist who has obviously not only studied his disciplines well, but who also has the ability to communicate his depth of information with clarity (due in part to the English translation from the Dutch by Paul Vincent), candor, and a fine sense of humor. Though the 'mission' of this book is to explore the male genitalia in anatomic, functional, physiological, and psychological detail, van Driel also has the good sense/sensitivity to include the history of the response to this primary organ from recorded history to the present. And the differences between Greek perception and contemporary understanding are fascinating to ponder.
The author's description of the anatomy, from primitive unisex function in utero to the ultimate adult stage, is concise and thorough and is accompanied by many drawings and images that illustrate the points he makes. And after introducing this completed embryologic and adult transformation of the origin of life organ, he devotes chapters to cultural anomalies in penile perception and function (the section on Russian Skoptsy sect's rituals is enlightening to the extreme!) - tales of bizarre rituals that alone are worth the price of this book.
But van Driel doesn't stop with urological matters or anatomic variations, but instead opens the book to the very contemporary concerns of psychological nature that now have found their way into conversation, the Internet, magazines, and television commercials for Erectile Dysfunction. This is a solid book for those who want to understand the human anatomy, diseases, and emotional and psychological implications surrounding this topic. It is well written and deserves to be taken seriously by both students in medical school and nursing school as well as libraries of all those who want to understand one of the great mysteries of the human body. Highly recommended.
Grady Harp
February 8, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book not only because it was scientifically informative, but because it was funny. There are a multitude of odd stories and hilarious circumstances relating to men's bits. But seriously, this book is a wealth of information relating to the human attitude to and knowledge of male genitalia over the last several hundred and sometimes thousands of years. A good read.
July 15, 2011
What the layperson should know....
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews