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Rating: 
Summary: My Personal Favorite Massage Book
Review: A massage is more intimate than sex. Let me correct that. A good massage is more intimate than sex. Your partner is touching not just every part of your body, but handling your mind, calming, gentling, soothing, pleasuring, stimulating. The fragrance of the oil, the soft light, the low music in the background, all intended to work on your brain while your body is being kneaded and manipulated.Gordon Inkeles does much the same for the reader. His words and the beautiful nude photography set the stage and work on the senses of the mind. Read a chapter and you'll want to gently remove your partner's clothing and try out the technique explained in words and pictures. If your partner is not within reach, the book heightens the anticipation until he or she is home again and in for a pleasant surprise. Gordon makes the point that massage has changed since the days when masseurs saw the body as a target for correction, easing sprains, directed towards a specific medical or sporting end. He demonstrates that massage is for fun and shared pleasure, an end in itself. The book has thirteen sections, covering aids to massage, the various strokes, parts of the body, erotic massage etc. All strokes are shown in detail. Be warned, if nudity is likely to bother you, that this book is not coy or reserved. The models are completely nude and there are no carefully draped towels. The photography is tasteful in both colour and black and white. It enhances the atmosphere, and moves a step away from the clinical approach taken by other books. Above all, the point is made that massage is an intimate, shared experience, a meeting of minds as well as bodies. As I say, this is my very favorite massage book, as much for its attitude as anything else. Recommended for enjoyment! Shared enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Getting the kinks out, and then some
Review: The editorial review says this book has "Stunning illustrations, precisely matched to actual massage photos." I found this reassuring, since you probably wouldn't want to get mixed up and use the wrong massage technique on the wrong part of the body. For example, my partner has one called "the jackhammer," and I can tell you, you wouldn't want to apply that one to the same place she applies one of my other favorites, "the velvet buzz-saw." On the other hand, perhaps in the area of massage it's "different strokes for different folks," just as in many other areas of life. Well, whatever your taste is in massage, I found this book to be full of many useful techniques. Now if someone could just publish a good book on how to massage my bruised ego.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy and informative.
Review: This book tells how to massage every part of the body. Scalp to toe. It's divided up by body section, so if you just want to do a back massage or a hand and foot massage, you can flip to that section and learn in a few minutes. There are beautiful pencil drawings of the inner workings of various parts of the body, where the most nerve endings are in the foot, which muscle is responsible for neck pain and some headaches (it's not in your neck), etc. He also talks about atmosphere and mood, which type of stroke is best used where, and what not to do during a massage (always important). I work with my hands all day and my husband sits in an office chair. I find my hands feel LESS tired and stiff after I give him a back massage, and I usually lose track of time. What starts out as a quick 5 minutes lasts at least 20. I became an expert at back massage after one reading. After my first try, my husband was so relaxed he was fast asleep before I got back from washing the oil off my hands. And he usually tosses and turns for at least an hour!
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but kind of one sided
Review: This is a great book if you're a man and want to give your significant other a great massage, but it's clear that a man has done all the photography. My husband and I had to laugh when we noticed that all the women are pictured full frontal while all the guys are shot from the back! I have since found that most massage books follow that same philosophy. It's interesting that, given the century and the subject material, a photographed (...) still seems to be taboo. I finally had to order a book aimed at gays in order to get actual pictures and how-tos on giving my partner a sensual massage.
Rating:
Summary: Great book, I can't wait to use my new knowledge:)
Review: Very informative book. Sections are well defined, discusses order of massage and also areas just for neck, feet, etc. Easy read, easy to reference. Well worth the purchase.
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