Overview

The ancient Greeks paraded enormous sculptural replicas in annual celebration of the penis; Freud theorized that women suffered penis envy. An undeniable, global symbol of power and virility since the beginning of humankind, the penis has been much discussed, and depicted, yet its place in folklore and popular culture past and present remains an uneasy mix of deprecation and aggrandizement. And despite the penis’s crucial role in human life, or perhaps due to that role, many men seem to suffer in isolation or silence from some perceived inadequacy or affliction. That’s where experienced urologist and sexologist Mels van Driel comes in. In Manhood, he offers an unprecedented history of the penis and testicles - with answers to everything you ever wanted to know, and even some questions you've probably never thought to ask. This book is the past and present of the male sexual organ from medical, psychological, cultural and anecdotal perspectives. Investigating the penis and its functions, from the scrotum to the glans, the author ranges from circumcision to infertility, and from impotence to the speed of ejaculation. Psychological factors that have an impact on sexual experience, as well as contemporary phenomena such as cyber sex, are giving enlightening treatment along the way. With much insight and a lot of good humour, Mels van Driel offers diverse and instructive examples. This informative guide is not just a book for men, but for women too - in fact it is for anyone curious to discover the facts and hard science behind the many myths and stories of the rise and fall of the penis.

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9781861895424

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Reviews

'[A] lighthearted gambol through the uses and abuses of the penis and its unjustly overlooked companion organs ... a marvellous read ... Manhood is an eccentric delight' - The Observer 'The tidbits of information [van Driel] has assembled are really rather wonderful' - Sunday Telegraph 'A stiff assignment ... [van Driel] marshals his material firmly and with aplomb. He says in his introduction he tried to keep the tone light, and he has succeeded, on the whole, ably assisted by the fluent translation of Paul Vincent ... I learned a huge amount from this book. - Literary Review 'Van Driel wants to do two things: to inform readers about the anatomy and workings of the penis, scrotum and the rest of it, doing so lightheartedly and with humour, as though a slightly boozy uncle were instructing you about how machine guns work; second, to entertain ... [Van Driel] wears his learning lightly.' - Globe and Mail, Toronto

Author Information

Mels van Driel is a consultant urologist and sexologist at Groningen University Medical Centre in The Netherlands. He has written widely for scientific publications, newspapers and magazines, and is the author of Manhood: The Rise and Fall of the Penis (Reaktion, 2009).

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