Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.
What do you enjoy doing?
Healthy Pleasures
Book
Deal- Buy Healthy Pleasures for $.89-$4.50 as
of 9/2/01.Healthy Pleasures, by Robert Ornstein, Ph.D. and David Sobel, M.D. This is a good overview of the wide variety of healthy pleasures that we can enjoy, including good scenery, good scents, music, love, being touched, lovemaking, food, exercise (including walking, sports, and dancing), rest, positive thinking, good stories, hobbies, recreational intoxication, shopping, laughter, friendship, relationships, marriage, parenting, pets, etc. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Wellness: Small Changes You Can Use to Make a Big Difference, by Regina Sara Ryan and John W. Travis, M.D. This positive and upbeat book covers 32 ways you can improve your health by being kind to yourself and self-nurturing. It is a welcome change from many spartan health-improvement programs. (See also healthy living.)
The Pleasure Zone: Why We Resist Good Feelings & How to Let Go & Be Happy, by Stella Resnick, with a foreword by Riane Eisler. Published by Conari Press in Dec. 1998. This book divides pleasure into 8 categories: primal, pain relief, elemental, mental, emotional, sensual, sexual, and spiritual. Reviewed on page 71 of the Nov.-Dec. 1997 issue of Utne Reader under the title "The New Pleasure Principle" with the subtitle "This just in: Pain is not the route to happiness." Also reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Pleasure Zone: Why We Resist Good Feelings & How to Let Go & Be Happy (audio cassette), by Stella Resnick. Published in 1998. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty With a Peasant's Pocketbook, by Shel A. Horowitz. How to enjoy life more while spending less. Includes a 23-page resource list.
Friendship, Love, and Kindness
EmpowermentBooks.com offers a full page of books on this important topic.
Massage
The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Techniques, by Lucinda Lidell, etc. Lavishly illustrated. A Gaia original.
The Complete Book of Massage, by Clare Maxwell-Hudson. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Clare Maxwell-Hudson's Aromatherapy Massage, by Clare Maxwell-Hudson. Published in 1997.
See also bodywork.
Lovemaking
Note for kids: This topic is for grown-ups only. Kids should skip this section (unless you have parental consent).
Note: If for any reason you don't want to learn more about sex and/or lovemaking, feel free to skip this section.
Caution: While lovemaking is a lot of fun, if you choose to engage in lovemaking that includes sexual intercourse be sure to practice safe sex (this means wearing a condom) and use good birth control, unless you're trying to have a child. (3 Notes: 1) Condoms sometimes break, and emergency contraception is now an option. 2) Planned Parenthood offers good information about responsible sexuality (including info for teenagers). 3) Men (and women), please be advised that no means no.) For more information, you can check out our books on birth control.
Before I list the following books, let me note that lovemaking that includes sexual intercourse is very powerful. Sex can create life through pregnancy (planned or not) and it is even possible with unsafe sex to become infected with HIV/AIDS or other STIs. Sex can also create a relationship and/or even destroy a monogamous relationship or marriage if one partner has sex with someone else. Be conscious and be careful. And have fun.
- For Grown-Ups ONLY -
Buy from Planned Parenthood.
Talking About Sex: A Guide for Families, by Planned Parenthood. According to Amazon.com, this is "a complete multi-media package that includes a riveting, 30-minute, animated video with music and celebrity voice-overs, a fact-filled book for parents, and a fun activity workbook for kids." Reviewed by Planned Parenthood, which provides additional info for parents and teenagers. This is the only item in this section intended for parents and children. All of the rest are intended for grown-ups only. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Paperback
edition.
Smaller hardcover edition.The New Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort. You can also buy a less expensive, smaller hardcover edition. The smaller edition is discrete, portable, and has readable small print. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
More Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The New Joy of Sex and More Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort. This book combines The New Joy of Sex and More Joy of Sex into one large book. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Sexual Energy Ecstasy: A Practical Guide to Lovemaking Secrets of the East and West, by David and Ellen Ramsdale. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Art of Sexual Ecstasy: The Path of Sacred Sexuality for Western Lovers, by Margo Anand. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Out of print.
The Art of Sexual Magic, by Margo Anand. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Jewel in the Lotus: The Tantric Path to Higher Consciousness: A Complete and Systematic Course in Tantric Kriya Yoga, by Sunyata Saraswati and Bodhi Avinasha. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Love, Sex and Nutrition, by Bernard Jensen. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Magical and Ritual Use of Aphrodisiacs, by Richard Alan Miller. Describes 16 legal herbs used as aphrodisiacs. For each herb, it very briefly lists its botanical info, history, chemistry, primary effects, preparation, possible ritual use, and cautionary notes. Also includes chapters on hormones, foods, pharmaceuticals, scents, and tantra.
Sacred Pleasure: Sex, Myth, and the Politics of the Body- New Paths to Power and Love, by Riane Eisler. Note: this book is not an instruction manual, but a long feminist historical and philosophical tract by the author of The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Birth Control
Caution: If you engage in lovemaking that includes sexual intercourse, you need to practice safe sex (this means wearing a condom) and use good birth control, unless you're trying to have a child. (3 Notes: 1) Condoms sometimes break, and emergency contraception is now an option. 2) Planned Parenthood offers good information about responsible sexuality (including info for teenagers). 3) Men (and women), please be advised that no means no.)
Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women, by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective. Published in 1998. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Women's Health Products Handbook: Smart Buys for Healthy Bodies, by Carol Ann Rinzler. Describes more than 600 over-the-counter and prescription brand-name products and includes 54 pages of information on birth control products. Published in 1996. You can also purchase a new 2000 edition that should be published soon. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Recreational Intoxication
Note for kids: Recreational intoxication is for grown-ups only. "Just say no" to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs, which are not healthy for kids. (You may even want to reduce or try giving up sugar.) Kids should skip this section (unless you have parental consent).
Note: If for any reason you don't want to learn more recreational intoxication, feel free to skip this section.
Caution: While some have argued that recreational intoxication is fun and a basic human and animal drive (different animals in nature have been observed pleasantly intoxicated), recreational intoxication often carries health and/or legal risks, usually lowers your productivity, and can get expensive as well. Almost all drugs (including sugar, chocolate, alcohol, tobacco, and coffee) have a health cost or risk associated with them. Also, some drugs, such as the nicotine in tobacco, carry a high risk of addiction. Use your own judgment. (At the risk of stating the obvious, let me tell you to avoid all hard drugs, including heroin, PCP, coke, and crack.)
- For Grown-Ups ONLY -
Stoned Free: How to Get High Without Drugs, by Patrick Wells with Douglas Rushkoff. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know About Mind-Altering Drugs, by Andrew Weil and Winifred Rosen. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs, by Richard Alan Miller. Describes 19 legal herbs you could use to change your consciousness. For each herb, it very briefly lists its history, chemistry, primary effects, preparation, possible ritual use, and cautionary notes. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Magical and Ritual Use of Aphrodisiacs, by Richard Alan Miller. Describes 16 legal herbs used as aphrodisiacs. For each herb, it very briefly lists its botanical info, history, chemistry, primary effects, preparation, possible ritual use, and cautionary notes. Also includes chapters on hormones, foods, pharmaceuticals, scents, and tantra.
5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and Insomnia, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. 5-HTP is not an intoxicant, but it can give you enough of a mental boost that I thought I should list it here. This book explains in detail how 5-HTP can increase your serotonin levels and your overall mental well-being. You can purchase 5-HTP online. According to Dr. Murray, "The level of serotonin present in your brain can have a tremendous impact on how you think, feel, and behave. Having an adequate supply produces what is sometimes called the "serotonin effect" -- a feeling of calmness, mild euphoria, and relaxation. Having too little serotonin can lead to the opposite direction -- feelings of depression, anxiety, and other problems associated with serotonin deficiency syndrome...". He further states that "Because low serotonin can result from the stress and strain of our modern way of living, and because its symptoms severely reduce the joy of life to such a tremendous degree for so many people, I consider serotonin deficiency syndrome to be one of the most widespread and debilitating medical problems of our time." Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Aromatherapy
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism, by Julia Lawless. Includes info on over 160 oils. Lavishly illustrated. "A comprehensive and timely contribution to aromatherapy, herbalism and the whole field of holistic health care. An authoritative, reliable guide that will serve its readers for many years." -David Hoffmann, author of The Complete Illustrated Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Encyclopedia of Aromatherapy, by Chrissie Wildwood. This book focuses heavily upon the many uses of aromatherapy, including detailed info on how to incorporate it into a holistic healthcare program, while skimping on describing the essential oils themselves. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The Aromatherapy Book: Applications and Inhalations, by Jeanne Rose.
Complete Aromatherapy Handbook: Essential Oils for Radiant Health, by Susanne Fischer-Rizzi.
Hot Tubs and Saunas
Out of print.
Spas and Hot Tubs, Saunas and Home Gyms, by Tom Cowan and Jack Maguire. Hot tubs, saunas, and warm baths are relaxing and fun. If you're considering installing a hot tub or spa, sauna, and/or exercise room, this is a good reference book. It is a luxuriously illustrated book about an enjoyable but expensive home luxury.
A Portfolio of Home Spa Ideas, by Inc. Staff Cowles Creating Publishing..
The Sauna, by Rob Roy. This book provides detailed instructions for building a sauna from logs in a cement base. It also includes a May 1996 appendix that lists 17 sauna equipment manufacturers and distributors. Reviewed by Amazon.com..
- See also voluntary simplicity. -
- See also healthy living and stress control -
- See also inspirational books. -
- See also friendship, love, and kindness. -