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A long, cool and entertaining look at sexual attitudes, customs and practices in all the world's major civilizations past and present. Drawing on art, architecture, literature and theology, as well as a whole alphabet of scientific disciplines, the author places that great imperative of humanity - the sex drive - in its widest historical perspective. More than a history of sex alone it is a history of relationships between the sexes and a history of how sex and sexuality have influenced the whole course of human development.… (more)
Stop sniggering at the back there, it's more pop sociology than salacious. Somewhat dated now, it was originally published in 1990. There is some discourse on methodology, but it's more about how sex fits into society from post-glacial hunter-gather tribes to 20th century cities. Given the time-span, it tends to the superficial.
It's as much about how women fit into society as it is about mores, but it does give a good historical grounding in the varying attitudes to women, sex, marriage and procreation, and will help understand pre-pill attitudes.
I won't say recommended, but it would be useful reading for anyone designing a historical game setting.
A fairly balanced look at the biological imperative, as interpreted throughout recorded history, with extensive notes and bibliography for those interested in learning more about the mystery dance.
More of a sociology book than a history book. Interesting, amusing and (dare I say it?) stimulating study of sex, within the context of the history of the relationship between the sexes. No moral stance, just the facts, ma'am. Explicit and definitely NOT for the kiddies (or your grandmother, either). ( )
In interesting, informative, and in-depth look at how sex has changed as history continues. Gender roles, pornography, and religion are all considered in this book as ways that sex has shaped our history, and vice versa. ( )
i suppose the human race is doing the best it can but hells bells thats only an explanation it is not an excuse
Don Marquis Arch says
Dedication
For Patricia Day and Sol Stein in the hope that they will accept the dedication in the spirit in which it is offered
First words
(Preface): The purpose of this book is to place the human sex drive and its social and moral consequences in their widest historical perspective, taking in the whole panorama of sexual attitudes, customs, and practices in all the world's major civilizations from earliest times until the present day.
In the year 4004 B. C. at precisely nine o'clock on the morning of October 23, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female he them."
A long, cool and entertaining look at sexual attitudes, customs and practices in all the world's major civilizations past and present. Drawing on art, architecture, literature and theology, as well as a whole alphabet of scientific disciplines, the author places that great imperative of humanity - the sex drive - in its widest historical perspective. More than a history of sex alone it is a history of relationships between the sexes and a history of how sex and sexuality have influenced the whole course of human development.
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Book description
SEX IN HISTORY chronicles the pleasures- and perils- of the flesh from the time of mankind's distant ancestors to the modern day; from a sexual act which was bried, crude and purposeful, to the myriad varieties of contemporary sexual mores. Reay Tannahill's scholarly, yet accessible study ranges from the earliest form of contraception (one Egyptian concoction included crocodile dung) to some latter- day misconceptions about it- like the men who joined their lovers in taking the pill 'just to be on the safe side.' It surveys all manner of sexual practice, preference and position (the acrobatic 'wheelbarrow' position, the strenuous 'hovering butterflies' position...) and draws on souces as diverse as THE ADMIRABLE DISCOURSES OF THE PLAIN GIRL, the EXHIBTION OF FEMALE FLAGELLANTS, IMPORTANT MATTERS OF THE JADE CHAMBER and THE ROMANCE OF CHASTISEMENT. Whether writing on androgyny, courtly love, flagellation or zoophilia, Turkish eunuch's Greek dildoes, Taoist sex manuals or Japanses geisha girls, Reay Tannahill is consistently enlightening and entertaining.
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It's as much about how women fit into society as it is about mores, but it does give a good historical grounding in the varying attitudes to women, sex, marriage and procreation, and will help understand pre-pill attitudes.
I won't say recommended, but it would be useful reading for anyone designing a historical game setting.