Nice pictures

I got this book for my wedding. I'm glad I got it. Too many people, especially men, attempt sexual acts like those seen in porn movies, and fail miserably, if not painfully in the process. This book on the other hand, shows the pluses and minuses of various love-making positions. One only wonders how many the auhor has attempted herself.

A book such as this relies on pictures as much as words; and the pictures are quite good. Most of the sex scenes are played out by live couples, except for the explicit scenes of entry, etc... Interestingly, for a book based on an ancient Indian text, all of the models shown in this book are surprisingly light skinned. I've heard that in India and in most of Asia, light skin is prized more highly than dark skin. Maybe this biasness has seeped into this book? Overall a good book though.

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Good in its own way

That way has very little to do with Vatsyayana's classic, but this is enjoyable anyway.

This is really Hooper's own guide to happy coupling. Her advice about the emotional and physical facts of sex is generally solid, but this book stays close to mainstream practices and attitudes. Generous illustration is a real plus - one couple in lots of photos, demonstrating many positions and kinds of embrace. This is very helpful in the places where Hooper quotes Burton's translation of the Kama Sutra, since his Victorian circumlocutions sometimes make it nearly impossible to figure out just which body parts go where. In fact, the photos are so strong and varied that an illustrator might consider using this book just as a visual reference.

This isn't for the serious student of Eastern classics. It may be a fun way for a limber couple to explore different ways of coupling, though.

//wiredweird

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Realistic Take on the Sutra

This is an interesting book genre to review, as there is a LOT of books to choose from. I agree with some other reviewers - Hooper's style generally tends to be big on pictures and short on substance. However, this book does do an excellent job of realistically editing the Kama Sutra. Let's face it, some of the positions are just fantasies for almost everyone. For you Sutra purists out there, get a different book (you probably have three anyways). For those expecting a thorough scholarly analysis of these sexual positions, look elsewhere. For those simply looking to expand their perspectives on sex positions either to rekindle an existing relationship or please a new special someone, this is a good one. You'll probably learn at least a little bit even if you have been adventurous in the past. This is a good Hooper book worth buying.

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