Psychopathia Sexualis

Reading Psychopathia Sexualis is a fascinating experience – the sheer multitude of forms human sexuality can assume is at once wonderful and grotesque. But aside from the obvious entertainment value of such a work, I was moved by an unexpected feeling of profound pity for Krafft-Ebing's unfortunate subjects, inescapably trapped in an age almost completely intolerant of any deviancy from 'normal' heterosexuality. This was undeniably an important work when first published, yet equally undeniable is its continuing relevance today – these 'sexual deviants' still exist, shamefully hiding their bizarre fetishes from a more tolerant yet ever-ridiculing society. Although Krafft-Ebing's explanations may now be outdated, his willingness to simply acknowledge and attempt to understand deviant sexual phenomena is laudable.

Yet another fine example of how humans have long been deviant, that sexual fetish and anything beyond the missionary position for procreation is not a product of modern society. This will help you realize that everything is "normal". ( )

Gorgeous accounts of the long train-wreck of the human soul. The thinking person's "Cops". ( )