THE NEW
SEX BIBLE
The Complete Guide to Sexual Love
JESSICA OREILLY, PH.D.
A QUIVER BOOK
2014 Quiver
Photography 2006, 2014 Quiver
First published in the USA in 2014 by
Quiver, a member of
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
100 Cummings Center
Suite 406-L
Beverly, MA 01915-6101
www.quiverbooks.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
The Publisher maintains the records relating to images in this book required by 18 USC 2257. Records are located at Rockport Publishers, Inc., 100 Cummings Center, Suite 406-L, Beverly, MA 01915-6101.
Digital edition published in 2014
Digital edition: 978-1-62788-044-2
Softcover edition: 978-1-59233-603-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available
Cover design by Burge Agency
Book design by Burge Agency
Photography by Ed Fox, edfox.com, and Allan Penn
Dedication
TO BRANDON.
YOU ROCK.
Contents
Introduction: About This Book
Welcome to The New Sex Bible, your in-depth lovers guide to all things sexual. Balancing science and anecdote with theory and sure-fire techniques, this handbook is designed to leave you with the knowledge to impress your friends and the skills to astonish your lover. From the latest research findings on orgasm and brain activity during sex to advanced approaches designed for full-body pleasure, Ive got you covered.
3. From learning to flirt and keeping your lover guessing to mastering the Spider Pull massage move and the Twist and Shout blow-job trick, you can rest assured that these techniques are grounded in both science and real-life testing.
examines its many permutations.
Moving on to more taboo topics, and offer practical tools to set you on the path to a lifetime of hot sex in the final pages.
Throughout, youll also find key information highlighted in various sexpert boxes, which include answers to frequently asked questions, sex tips from the pros, real-life stories, facts for sex geeks, and expert advice based on my experience working with clients both one-and-one and in large group settings.
A note on gender: Throughout The New Sex Bible, I alternate between male and female pronouns to describe instructional techniques and scenarios. Because sex and gender roles are fluid, these references are intended as examples only. You can choose to play a variety of roles and switch them up as you see fit, regardless of gender.
From educational programs with special-needs youth to rowdy poolside parties with swingers, I owe the bulk of my expertise and perspective to my clients, who courageously share their most intimate stories, concerns, and revelations. It is from their diverse amalgam of experiences that I draw much of the information contained herein, and I am grateful for their willingness to include me in their process of sexual discovery. Each of our sexual journeys is complex and highly personal, and I am humbled by the fact that you have selected The New Sex Bible to be a part of yours.
Read, explore, and practice with pleasure.
The Science of Sex
Sex is an integral component of our social interactions, relationships, and spiritual identities. It shapes the political landscape, informs legislation, and even inspires creative innovation. And, of course, it feels good, too. An intensely physical and undeniably emotional experience, some people consider sex to be the ultimate indulgence of mind and body and the most powerful of human drives. However, despite its central role in our day-to-day lives and our ongoing engagement in sexual activities, many of us know little about the science behind the multitude of sexual experiences in which we partake.
WHY SCIENCE MATTERS TO SEX
In the heat of passion, you probably dont think about why you get an erection or how an orgasm impacts your brain patterns. However, understanding the science of sex can be useful to help you create new sexual scenarios, fine-tune novel techniques, and cultivate sexual relationships that stand the test of time. Science may also offer insight and reassurance when things dont go exactly as planned, as well as help you to generate effective strategies for overcoming common sexual hurdles. For example, some basic understanding of the clitoriss full anatomy might shed some light on why most women dont orgasm during intercourse and help you to discover positions that stimulate the sensitive clitoral bulbs. And as you learn more about the role of contractions in orgasm and ejaculation, you may develop a better understanding of how to intensify pleasure through simple pulse sensations.
You obviously dont want to flood your mind with thoughts of hormones, chemicals, and physiological processes while youre having sex, but as your knowledge of sexual science increases, so too will your sexual self-esteem. This confidence boost will not only broaden your horizons but also inspire you to explore sex and experience pleasure in new and exciting ways.
YOUR BRAIN ON SEX
The pituitary gland lights up. The nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental areas are activated. The hypothalamus goes into overdrive. And the center of reasoning and behavior shuts down as you spiral into the euphoria of sexual pleasure! All this activity might sound like sensory overload, but this is actually your brain on sex.
Though the heart is often thought to represent matters of love and sex, this vital organs involvement in sexual processes is minimal in comparison to that of the brain and the nervous system. PET scans of the brain during sexual activity and orgasm reveal that its reward circuit lights up with a flurry of activity during sex. These scans confirm that sex is both a physical and emotional experience, as the amygdala, which controls emotion, as well as the area that manages muscle function, are activated.
Brain studies also explain why sex is so pleasurable from a chemical perspective, as the areas related to dopamine release become hotbeds for sexual activity, resulting in increased levels of this feel-good neurotransmitter. And as the pituitary gland is activated, the release of endorphins, oxytocin, and vasopressin promote pain reduction, intimacy, and bonding. These observable brain reactions may not help you to perfect your sexual technique, but they might help you to understand your emotions before, during, and after sex.
The power sex wields over our minds and bodies is also evidenced in our brain activity. Sex is so overwhelmingly exciting, pleasurable, and rewarding that our brains during orgasm look almost identical to a brain on heroin. According to neuroscientist Dr. Gert Holstege, there is only a 5 percent difference between our brains observable reaction to sex and heroin, which may explain the euphoric high we experience after a passionate sex session. And since the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, which is the section behind the left eye responsible for sound decision-making, turns off completely during orgasm, we often toss reason to the wind when the prospect of sex presents itself. Though it may seem risky to allow our animal instincts to take over as we set logic aside in favor of pleasure, a degree of letting go and losing control is essential to desire, arousal, and orgasm.