♥♥♥♥♥♥: Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions: The Tantric Art of Love by Kenneth Ray Stubbs

Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions: The Tantric Art of Love
Kenneth Ray Stubbs, Ph.D.

Page Count: 64
Release Date: July 2001
Publisher: Secret Garden Publishing
Source: Vibrator.com is an online store that sells not only sex toys, but also other sensual products such as massage oils, love games, and lingerie. I received The Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions from its adult bookstore for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!). Check out Vibrator.com's blog for exclusive deals, tips, and information!

Over 100 images of lovers in sexual embrace—the best from:

• Kama Sutra

• Ananga-Ranga

• The Perfumed Garden

• Ishimpo

• Song of Songs

• other traditions and other times

Kama Sutra comes to us from fourth-century India. Written by a holy man, this "love scripture" has become known in the West as a "bible of sex". As such, Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions presents many facets of sexual embrace from many cultures where the sexual and the scared together are the weaver of the tapestry of life.

What Stephanie Thought: A variety of  illustrations as well as vivid descriptions of each of the positions are both demonstrated in Kenneth Ray Stubbs's full-color depicted sex guide. Combining the Indian Kama Sutra and Ananga-Ranga, Arabic The Perfumed Garden of Sensual Delight, Japanese Ishimpo, and Hebrew Song of Songs, this book covers an expanse selection of sex positions that any and all lovers can try.

It was wonderful how all of the ancient expert advice was combined into one book, facilitating the search for an ideal position to try. I only wish the descriptions were illustrated accordingly, rather than just being placed on random pages throughout the book. Some of the positions are worded strangely, making it hard to imagine what they should look like.

The pictures are well-drawn, I'll admit, but many of them are ancient drawings or just modern sketches: a bit awkward. Rather than turning me on while reading, they sort of decreased my libido—you can't really be aroused by looking at unattractive pictures. 
I didn't dislike reading this one, but I definitely have seen better Kama Sutra guides. If you want variety, this one is perfect. If you want more detail (and are actually looking into trying new things in the bedroom with a partner), Kama Sutra of Sexual Positions may not be the best for you.

And though the positions are diverse, not many of them seem very conceivable or possible, for that matter. Here's a ridiculous example that made me laugh a bit: 

Stephanie Loves: "'The camel's hump: The woman, who is standing, bends forward till her fingers touch the floor; the man gets behind and copulates, at the same time grasping her thighs. If the man withdraws while the woman is still bending down, the vagina emits a sound like a bleating of a calf, and for that reason some women object to the posture.'"

Radical Rating: 6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Kama Sutra by Madelyn Carol Dervos

The Kama Sutra
Vatsyayana and Madelyn Carol Dervos

Page Count: 176
Release Date: 2000

For the first time in 120 years, a refreshingly modern version of Vatsyayana's Kama Sutra. This 176-page book keeps the wisdom from centuries ago, but in the language of today.

Included in this Japanese silk-bound edition, are 21 graphic, hand-painted illustrations of the original Kama Sutra love-making positions. This brand new edition makes a beautiful gift for couples who want to learn about the ancient art of making love and provides a perspective on lovemaking that is often lost in the west.

Considered one of the great works of ancient Indian literature, the Kama Sutra offered the people of that time a complete approach to one of their pillars of life; KAMA, the principle of love, pleasure, and sensual gratification. It is a timeless message—those same principles apply equally today.

What Stephanie Thought: Okay, honestly, I don't think the blurb or the book cover really does this book any justice. I got the opportunity to read and review The Kama Sutra Book, which typically in our society is said with a small gasp, or in means of taboo. I know it's a sex book, you guys, but it's not just smut or pornography or anything. It's a book about love and relationships too, not solely the physical stuff.

The Kama Sutra is divided into eight convenient chapters: Love Principles, which describes dharma, artha, kama, and the types of women; Intercourse, which details on sexual union, embrace, kissing, contact, positions, gender roles, and other circumstances; Acquiring a Wife, which lists the ideal marriage and the confidence of women in relationship to men; About a Wife, which explains the virtues of women and conducts of wives; About the Wives of Other People, which analyzes gender characteristics, states of mind, and authority; About Courtesans, which is the "woman's" chapter of the Kama Sutra; Attracting Others, which construes aphrodisiacs, personal adornment, desire, and conquering hearts; and The Illustrated, which displays 20+ original love-making positions in exquisite and breathtaking detail.

So really, the only explicit stuff in the entire book was one chapter out of the complete eight, meaning it was an important, but not a fundamental portion of the book.

With an interest in relationship psychology, I found it really fun to be able to read about the feeling of attraction men have towards women. I loved being able to establish "love" principles, and the end with the detailed illustrations were helpful too ;)

The only thing that irritated me was how it was clearly originally written in a patriarchal society, demeaning women and referring them as "courtesans" often. I understand how in ancient India, that was the social norm, but it was still, from a girl's point of view, slightly insulting. For instance, there was a list from "Acquiring a Wife" containing the types of women that were ideal wives because they were easily won over (whatever that means); these women included women who hated their husbands, women who looked sideways at a man, sociable women (read, sluts), widows, poor women, women fond of sex, vain women, women with many younger brothers, jealous women, cowards, lazy women, and women neglected by their husbands. Ancient India was probably a polygamous society too—but still, that list was just awful to read. A lot of the material in The Kama Sutra was like that, purely macho and undermining, but overall, it was an informative, enjoyable reference read.

Where Stephanie Got It: Vibrator.com is an online store that sells not only sex toys, but also other sensual products such as oils, love games, and lingerie. I received The Kama Sutra book from its adult bookstore for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Check out Vibrator.com's blog for exclusive deals, tips, and information!
 
Radical Rating: 9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥