this has some decent material, but theres a lotta diff things that r just a little off or wrong. the bioessentialism, binarism, and cishetnormativity is obvi all bad, but its not too hard to get past.

my biggest issue is chia's use of the ancient taoist theory of edging, according to which every instance of ejaculation is a semi-permanent loss. this is challenged ofc by contemporary understandings of the anatomical process of ejaculation, but also by the folk-knowledge collected by networks of kink-communities across the world, and their experiments w edging. it strikes me as a somewhat shame-oriented aversion to promiscuity and fulfilment, filtered thru the taoist framing of medical improvement, and within the framework of lyotards libidinal economy it seems likely to function as a repressive disciplinary technique to restrain the libidinal energy of taoist adherents so as to better mold their manifest ideology

and then theres the issue of drafting, publication, and style. at this point in chia's career one can see his plans unfolding for an unnecessary number of separate books, overlapping significantly in content and filled w fluff to make them each feel worth the separate purpose; chia's commodification of the subject cheapens and strains the integrity of the presentation, as though edging the reader on hints of important relevant information that is abruptly and disappointingly withheld ( )

Even if you don't master every exercise and become an immortal, this book and/or its companion ("Healing Love Through the Tao: Cultivating Female Sexual Energy") will give you concrete practical wisdom that will not only make things *feel* better for longer, but will ground you again in the deeper reasons why you (both) want to feel that way-- beyond nerve endings and pheromones. A word of caution-- a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and the exercises do indeed work, so don't just start messing around; the wires are live. But if you pay attention, keep your heart upright, and continually come back to your breath, it *will* improve your life; and then some. ( )