I was really disappointed especially because I had read so many positive reviews of the book. It very boring and the only exercises there actually were was one little chapter. The book was more of an autobigraphy of the author as well as about the history of the acceptance of women's masturbation which I could have read online if i wanted to. I wouldn't consider this a self-help book at all.

And to think I thought I had "written the book" on this!

A caveat: Why no chapter on vacuum cleaners?

In the midst of the abstinence-only education I was receiving in high school at the time, this book was my saving grace. It had been reinforced in me, both directly and indirectly, that girls don't (or rather shouldn't) masturbate, and sex was always rigidly defined as penetration between a man and a women (when it was defined at all). Therefore I had always felt abnormal coupled with a tremendous amount of guilt whenever that showerhead just happened to hit just the right spot. However, Betty's similar stories of her own journey with masturbation have begun to break the stigma and silence surrounding female pleasure.

I can only imagine what great healings could occur if just a fraction of the one billion dollars in abstinence-only education America that has spent since 1996 was instead allocated to assure that every high school had a plethora of "Sex for One" books floating around. How much safer of sex can you teach than sex with yourself? Instead, we are left with most sex-education courses leaving out even the mentioning of masturbation, much less such a detailed, encouraging, and supportive guidebook that Betty presents.

"Sex for One" is an absolute essential place to start for sexual growth. It demystifies sexual pleasure and cultivates a safe haven of sexuality knowledge that gets better with a second and third read. But don't lend this book out, unless you are prepared to never get it back. I have given Betty's book to many friends, my mother, and look forward to one day giving it to my daughter.