The Lifestyle: A Look at the Erotic Rites of Swingers

Rating:
Summary: Not what I was looking for....
Review: As a couple contemplating the lifestyle, we were told this was the best book to read on the subject. Now, I would agree if I were interested in knowing all the historical facts regarding swinging, and if I needed a lot of facts to help me rationalize my decision and why it would not be wrong to swing. What I really wanted to know were about the emotional aspects that I could encounter, how to initiate contact with people, what to expect my first time, etc. Instead I found most of the stories with "real people" to take place at a resort, not a situation I am likely to be in. I think this book would be for somebody already involved in the lifestyle rather then somebody curious about it. It was very well written and researched, though.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I needed...This reads like a history book and
Review: Despues de leer este libro y otros, espero que muchas personas puedan hacerlo, es una libro que narra entrevistas, investigaciones serias y documenta un comportamiento sexual, que nos hace mas libres ahora. Ayuda mucho a entender nuestra conducta sexual y las razones, describe algunos eventos, reuniones y convenciones de Lifestyle, donde uno descubre que las personas son tan normales como cualquiera y que la vida sexual se puede disfrutar mas, siendo conciente. Como dice en el libro el Lifestyle no salva matrimonios, los hace mejores. Se pueden imaginar una pareja donde uno u otro goza cuando su conyuge disfruta mas y al regresar a su hogar comparten el mas intenso momento? Mas o menos es la actitud que se descubre en este libro, lo que mas me ha gustado es todo el trabajo de investigacion y documentacion. Describe varias teorias de conducta sexual y hace algunas confrontaciones interesantes, saca a la luz que la mujer esta mas reprimida por toda una historia de imposicion machista que geneticamente. Refiere a los trabajos de varios sociologos, biologos, sexologos y antropologos, en fin de los cientificos que estudia el comportamiento humano. Algunas teorias presentadas son en contra y otras justifican una sexualidad mas abierta, tambien cita aspectos historicos. Es un Libro Analitico, para entender mas y reflexionar, no es novela.

Leeanlo, vale la pena!

Rating:
Summary: Not what I needed...This reads like a history book and
Review: I was looking for more info on the emotional and psychological impact. I also didn't see enough negative information; in other words, I don't think ANY of the books I've read on swinging are properly balanced with both positive and negative feedback from participants.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent intro to a misunderstood part of our culture
Review: The Lifestyle is a well-written, fascinating, evenhanded look at swinging in North America today. If you've ever wondered, as I have, what makes these folks tick, this is the book to get. Very insightful, well-researched, and complete. Gould is remarkably objective for writing about such a sensitive subject. He is not an apologist for swinging, nor is he on a witch-hunt; rather, he seems intent on discovering the truth and communicating it clearly to the reader.

Rating:
Summary: On The Mark...A must Read
Review: The subject is, on the surface, swinging - sharing sexual partners. A closer look shows that the subject is the dynamics of close relationships. There is much written about the subject of relationships, so, you may ask why I think swingers have something to say? My answer is that swingers removed the taboos and discarded the 'already known facts' before examining the subject.

The book is not, I say, a definitive work. It is more of an investigation. It is far more complete, accurate, unbiased, thoughtful, and provocative than anything else I have seen on the subject. It will be quite valuable to anybody who reads it. I do not mean that whoever reads this book will see that swinging is the way to go - not at all. You don't have to be a swinger to benefit from what swingers have learned just as you don't have to be an astronomer to benefit from what astronomers know.