My collection of sexual health books rivals those of major metropolitan libraries. My residence is littered with these books and is a source of amusement for my friends and family, who peruse small piles of my books when they visit. I almost always have a book with me, and it is almost always a book about something sexual.
(Side note: When I shop at my local bookstore, I sit down in the sexual health section, make a stack of books that look interesting, and then make my selections for purchase out of that pile. As I am doing this, I have noticed people avoid me and the aisle I am sitting in as if a plague were present instead of one woman on a quest. My advice for people who need a few moments of peace and quiet is to go sit in the sexual health aisle of a bookstore and enjoy a moment of solitude.)
Rarely do I read a sexual health book I think every adult needs to read as well. I have just finished reading an absolute gem of a book called Men Are Pigs And That’s a Good Thing by Ron Sturgeon, who spent four years interviewing men and women for his book.
Sturgeon took the techniques he used to build successful businesses and applied them to suggest ways to create long-lasting, sex-filled relationships for adults of all ages. His book is geared toward the heterosexual male-female relationship, but his suggestions for building intimacy can be used by anyone of any sexual orientation.
Men Are Pigs, published in 2014, is a mere 136 pages, but don’t be fooled by the length as size does not matter in this case. Sturgeon is a word economist and gets quickly to the point. He wrote this book from a man’s perspective and even says some women may be offended by what he has to say.
I approached this book with an open mind and the desire to learn at least one thing to help me be a better partner in my own relationship. I was not offended by Sturgeon’s book in the slightest and am now armed with about seven suggestions for how to be a better lover and a better mate to my own partner.
Sturgeon approaches the differences between men and women as a basic biological difference in wiring and takes time to break those differences down in an easy-to-understand manner. He discusses what he calls Pretty Girl Syndrome, which I think is mainly for the male readers, but I found this chapter to be just as engaging to read as the rest of the book.
Sturgeon bravely brings up how menopause and hysterectomy may affect woman along with ways to tackle this difficult subject prior to its appearance in a relationship. He took what his interviewees told him and turned it into an amazing work of art, filled with humor and positive energy.
In my opinion, there are two sections in this book that are the reasons why people need to read the book right this minute. The first is the chapter on how to make things better, which is packed with all kinds of not so difficult suggestions for putting the politeness back into people who have lost their charm, for rediscovering the good points about yourself and your partner, and for revving up a dwindling sex life.
The second is the usable tokens, one set for women and another for men, at the end of the book. There is an instruction guide for how to use the tokens as they themselves are not self-explanatory. These tokens are designed to stop bad behaviors, such as taking your partner for granted, and to work on correcting those behaviors and/or replacing those behaviors with something more positive.
I have selected the first token for me to work on and am looking forward to using Sturgeon’s blueprint to building a stronger, happier relationship with my partner. I think my partner will definitely enjoy what is in store in the weeks and months ahead. To be fair, I am giving my partner a copy of the book to read as well. I may just wait until my first token is completed so my partner doesn’t figure out what I am up to before I am ready to tell all.
XOXO,
