The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment

In order to be licensed to practice clinical psychology in California, it is necessary to take a seminar on human sexuality. That's how I first heard about this book. The organizer believed that this is the foremost text on human sexuality and sex therapy, and now I can see why...This is powerful, valuable stuff. Here's what makes it good:1. I believe that Morin's landmark contribution is his "paradoxical perspective on eroticism." It challenges a variety of widely-accepted theories about attraction and great sex. As Morin states, "this new paradigm acknowledges and embraces the contradictory, dual-edged nature of erotic life. It recognizes that anything that inhibits arousal-including anxiety or guilt-can, under different circumstances, amplify it." The paradoxical view is at the heart of what makes this book special. It isn't just some scholarly, cerebral view, but rather a theory with profound experiential/practical significance. For instance, as one more fully experiences the profoundest subjective erotic rewards, one also experiences more strongly the tension between passion and fulfillment.2. The book unearths readers' own sexual desires and sexual behaviors (or "Core Erotic Themes"), using unique self-assessment tools. Lots of people (including me) feel that this book really helps them see for the first time their sexual essence, which underlies their perplexing historical feelings and behaviors. Somehow, the revelations are more relieving than shocking. As you get to the bottom of what really turns you on within Morin's system, the world may look different! Of course, there's also great value in determining what makes your partner (or potential partner) click.3. The book provides concrete tools for understanding and achieving peak eroticism ("emotional aphrodisiacs"). These include ways to increase sexual and orgasmic intensity, reduce inhibitions, improve validation received and given, and transcend personal boundaries. Additionally, it provides ways to address "troublesome turn-ons" which lead to destructive, repetitive behaviors.4.Morin clarifies how to intensify desire and arousal in oneself and others. Much of the work is paradoxical, and explores eroticism in ways not available elsewhere. Moreover, it provides ways to evaluate sexual well-being from the "paradoxical" perspective ("signposts to erotic health")5. It provides plenty revealing stories of peak sexual experiences. These stories improve understanding, but more importantly detoxify stigma, anxiety, guilt, anger and avoidance. Most people will find their doppelgangers here...6. The author is a well established sex therapist, researcher, and psychotherapist.If I have any criticism, it is that the book becomes repetetive in places. So what?

A brilliant treatment of any subject that manages to be both wide-ranging as well as dense is an achievement in any field ; if it is one which occurs in a field whose mammoth importance is all too often brushed under the carpet, the achievement becomes even more luminous. The author takes on eroticism, which he differentiates from simple sexual arousal by poignantly defining eroticism as the human infusion of meaning into a raw animal urge. The infusion of this meaning, our individual human approaches to the question of our own reproduction, is by and large unconscious ; thus, a sizeable portion of the text is devoted to the deep mysteries of psychological development and how it affects eroticism. It is a fascinating journey that touches upon several arcane mysteries of erotic life e.g. BDSM and self-hate, frigidity and controlling mothers, the different erotic preferences of the genders. This is all accomplished while avoiding being bogged down by dated psychoanalytic concepts, thus making the text clear, current, and excitingly relevant. There's even a self-assessment quiz at the end.I guess the biggest compliment I can pay to this book, and to the author, is that it has completely elevated my respect for the field of sexology and of sex therapists generally. I mean, think about it ; if sociology is essentially psychology, and psychology is essentially sexology, surely sexology is the most fundamental discipline? Of course, that such fanciful impulses have been generated within me is a testament not only to the thought-provoking substance of the book, but also to the sheer audacity of the broad synthesis that the author has managed to pull off here, and which he has hidden under the seemingly limited signifier of 'eroticism'. Very strongly recommended

It's an interesting book, and definitely biased to the allosexual mind. As a demisexual person, I'm frustrated when the author uses words like "everybody" and "of course" to refer to things that directly contradict my experiences. But it's helpful as far as understanding what the allosexual folks I love are experiencing.

I really respected this book and its author.I bought it believing that it would simply be about human eroticism - which it is, and the study, formulation and advancement of individual eroticism - which it is; but then the author beautifully transitions about two-thirds of the way through through a psychological diagnosis of the theme to his work and life: an unhealthy, unopen, incurious, closed, denying individual sexuality is a sign of poor mental health stemming from childhood trauma.Thus the book is actually a powerful self-help book about general psychological well-being through a well argued perspective of sexuality.The author argues that people with the most fulfilling sexual lives are those that also lead the most fulfilling lives in general because they are comfortable with themselves and what they want and do not deny themselves this. Thus healthy sexual lives means healthy lives in general and the attainment of dreams in all aspects of life.A great book and one of the best psychology books I have read.

I was referred to this book from a bibliography of an author whom I don't recall, but thank you to you! Humans are erotic animals, and unfortunately, we are so wrongly prepared in our youth or schools or lives to understand better how much importance it can have on our couple. Because psychology and philosophy are part of our mind than the nature of eroticism transcends the animalistic sexual urges to become part of our personality. Understanding what core to our fantasies is helping us find common ground between them and should become keys in our sexual growth.There was a captivating part of the book talking about long term couples and the necessity to differentiate between closeness and sexual desire. Compromising about each spouses' sexual needs to reach better intimacy will tame the passion. It appears to make sex exciting that it is a good thing to maintain a sane difference in our fantasies. Of course, it will require our spouse and ourselves to be more open-minded and accepting of the differences!

Some how window to human erotism you will find an open range or erotic dreams or fantasies that may give a wide perspective how we are Humans and every head is a world

A brilliant insightful book.

A very good reading to explore your desires and needs, could be very useful to understand yourself and others, good!

A great book about eroticism, love, the weirdness of the erotic mind, its faults and strengths. If you ever wondered what's wrong with you, this is a book that will give you insight and might just help you out.