Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) is a book (1969, updated 1999) by U.S. physician Dr. David Reuben. It was one of the first sex manuals that entered mainstream culture in the 1960s, and it had a profound effect on sex education and in liberalizing attitudes towards sex. It was the most popular non-fiction book of its era and became part of the Sexual Revolution of modern America.[citation needed]
The book was translated into 54 languages and sold in 52 countries and ultimately reached more than 150 million readers.[citation needed] In 1972 it was parodied by Woody Allen in the comedy film of the same name.
[edit] Criticism
The chapter on male homosexuality has received much criticism for perpetuating stereotypes and negative images of gay men as sex obsessed beings, of homosexual expression of sexuality as almost entirely impersonal, and of abusive "butch-queen" relationships as being typical where relationships exist at all. The author asserts very clearly that he considers homosexuality to be a perversion.
Also calling into question the objectivity and usefulness of the book is its assertion that all prostitutes are lesbians and all lesbians are prostitutes.
[edit] External links