The Sex Issue: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know about Sexuality, Seduction, and Desire

by The Editors of GOOP, Gwyneth Paltrow (Foreword by)

Overview

A conversation-sparking book that explores the big questions of sexuality, seduction & sex.

The Sex Issue is an informative, revelatory read that gets at everything we've always wondered about sex and relationships. GOOP editors introduce the experts they rely on, and dive into Q&A's on the ins and outs of sexual health, pleasure, and ways to evolve the conversations we have with ourselves, our partners, and each other.
Part 1, Seduction: Mines the deeper layers of seduction-with suggestions for assessing attraction, reigniting the flame once it's gone out, and navigating dating, unconventional relationship scenarios, the sex toy aisle, and more.
Part 2, Sexuality: Different takes on what sexuality means, looks, and feels like today, and options for tapping into sexual power-including a chapter on strengthening libido and tantric practices to up sexual energy.
Part 3: Doing It: Antidotes to bedroom boredom, the psychology behind oral sex, how to figure out and pursue what you want-and play out fantasies that may seem beyond reach.
Part 4, Orgasm: A closer look at enduring sex myths, with expert advice on closing the orgasm gap, doing away with the pressure to perform, and the benefits of self-pleasure.
Part 5, Sex Ed: Covers the essentials (like clean lube and condoms), hormone health, and how to talk to your partner when something is up-all with an eye toward pleasure (as opposed to just avoiding calamity).
Throughout the book you'll find goopasutra-style takes on the reality of experiences ranging from plain vanilla to menage a trois, plus personal anecdotes from the GOOP team.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538729441
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Launched in the fall of 2008 out of Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen, GOOP has grown from a weekly email newsletter into a modern lifestyle brand and an indispensable resource for the very best, unbiased experiences, recipes, products, and advice. Led by Paltrow, GOOP includes a collective of editors who collaborate with a varied group of experts to curate an open-minded, curious approach to health-centric living.

Table of Contents

Foreword Gwyneth Paltrow ix

Part 1 Seduction 1

1 What Creates Attraction 3

2 How to Assess Attraction 7

3 The Desire Disconnect 13

4 Deepening Intimacy 21

5 Aphrodisiacs to Get Your Freak On 26

6 Navigating the Mind-Fuck of Dating 32

7 To (Sex) Toy or Not? 37

8 Friends with Benefits-Is It a Benefit? 44

9 Reigniting Attraction 50

Part 2 Sexuality 61

10 Libido: The Ebbs and the Flows 63

11 Tantric Sex 68

12 Owning Your Sexual Power 77

13 Getting Kinky 85

14 Sexual Energy 90

15 The Art of Open Relationships 94

16 Good Porn 99

Part 3 Doing It 107

17 The Antidote to Bedroom Boredom 109

18 Oral Sex: Giving vs. Receiving 115

19 Behind the Blindfold: Is BDSM for You? 120

20 Exploring Anal 125

21 Asking for What You Want 130

22 Playing Out Fantasy 136

23 Sleeping Around 143

24 Adding a Third 149

Part 4 Orgasm 155

25 Orgasm Equality 157

26 Is the G-Spot a Real Place? 167

27 Orgasmic Meditation 171

28 Experiencing Orgasm 178

29 The Joy of Masturbation 187

Part 5 Sex Ed 195

30 Clean Lube, Condoms, and Toys 197

31 The Gender System 205

32 The Hormone Reset 210

33 Sex and Aging 224

34 The Holy Pelvic Floor 235

35 Sexual Trauma and the Body 241

36 When You Think Something May Be Wrong 246

37 Treating Vaginal Dryness 251

38 The Health of the Prostate 256

39 Sex Addiction: What's Behind the Label? 261

Last Thing 270

Acknowledgments 271

Index 273

Editorial Reviews

04/23/2018
From tantric sex to the joys of masturbation, there’s no topic off limits in this fun and informative compilation of sex advice from the editors of Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog, Goop. The book makes strides towards inclusivity, with advice for people in same-sex and heterosexual relationships, as well as information on polyamorous relationships. The essays come from a diverse array of contributors: a social psychologist explores the varying boundaries of open relationships, an adult filmmaker discusses how to integrate porn into one’s sex life, and a nutritionist gives plenty of suggestions for aphrodisiacs (“ashwagandha­—and really anything that reduces stress—often have results between the sheets”). The expected offbeat Goop-style spirituality tidbits are here, including a chapter on how to cultivate sexual energy using a jade egg and the enthusiastic recommendation to participate in a sacred snake ceremony. Goop staffers share their personal experiences throughout, lending the book the feeling of a non-judgmental group of friends offering advice over a bottle of wine. Enjoyable to browse as well as to refer back to for more serious contemplation, this is a kinkier version of Our Bodies, Ourselves for wellness seekers. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"[A] fun and informative compilation of sex advice from the editors of Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle blog, Goop. The book makes strides towards inclusivity, with advice for people in same-sex and heterosexual relationships, as well as information on polyamorous relationships . . . Goop staffers share their personal experiences throughout, lending the book the feeling of a non-judgmental group of friends offering advice over a bottle of wine. Enjoyable to browse as well as to refer back to for more serious contemplation, this is a kinkier version of Our Bodies, Ourselves for wellness seekers."
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher