Ask Dr Ian About Sex

"Ask Dr Ian About Sex" is unique as a book. It is not a text book, it is not a novel, it is not a history or a political book. It is a book about sex. It is not prudish, pornographic or distasteful in any way. Dr Banks uses mirth to write this book. This is a very common method used in our society to talk or discuss sexual matters and is used in a cultural, social and clinical settings. The content page is baffling to say the least and not for the faint hearted, for instance "Pick a number, any number" gives 5 pages on group sex and "Greener Grass" deals with gender conflicts and dysphoria. The index is more straight forward. It lists clearly group sex and gender conflicts. Page 214 gives a useful list of addresses and phone numbers where those in need may find help. Relevant addresses in Northern Ireland are indented and could be very helpful to those reading the book in Northern Ireland, not so if one is in Southern Ireland or in any other area of the world. It is skilfully illustrated by cartoons, which again uses mirth to illustrate intimate parts of human sexual behaviour. The longest chapter is on orgasm. There is a chapter on libido, masturbation, gender conflicts, sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, the breast, the cervix, the menopause, the testes, the penis, the prostate and erectile failure. There are chapters which deal with pseudo-masochism, group sex, anal intercourse, fetishes, sexual aids and the loss of a sexual partner. A very comprehensive list but maybe over ambitious in 221 pages. Each chapter begins with a very short introduction on the topic to be discussed. There is then a short problem vignette, followed by a suggested solution. This is a very superficial look at the problems and their solution. This could be misleading as the reader could generalise from the presented problems to problems that appear to be similar, but are clinically and otherwise very different. A very large part of this book deals in a straight forward friendly way with topics which are only dealt with by the pornography industry. It will find many interested readers as the topics covered in the book are very widespread among the general population. One word of caution; I think it would have been helpful to advise the readers if they identify with …