The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos: How to Watch Adult Videos and Make Your Sex Life Sizzle

Book Description

The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos is the first complete resource to enjoying adult videos and DVDs. With wit, expertise, and an enthusiastic approach, sex specialist Violet Blue reviews the newest films as well as cult favorites and classics from the golden age of adult film. More than an indispensable viewer’s guide, the book also provides helpful advice for couples, including how to introduce adult films into your relationship; tapping into sexual fantasies; and the best sex positions for maximum viewing pleasure. Over 300 adult videos of every genre are reviewed. Also featured is a resource section listing books, magazines, and websites.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Newbies! Porn is So Much Better Today!.......2006-08-07

As someone who has been recommending intimate videos to my girlfriends for years, I was anxious to see what I might learn from Violet Blue's, `The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos.' As it turns out - if you're an experienced porn watcher - not much! (More on why not later.) But if you're a newbie, this book actually has a lot to offer!

For those of you who might be hesitant to watch porn, this book offers many reassurances, such as - people who watch porn are NOT compulsive masturbators, or - porn watchers DO enjoy regular sex with their partners, and, most significantly - watching porn will NOT affect your ability to have a meaningful relationship but, in fact, it might do just the opposite! (Hear, hear!)

On the positive side, the book also provides many GOOD reasons for watching porn, such as - to satisfy one's curiosity (and to expand one's horizons), as education, as entertainment before (or during) sex, or quite simply - to get off! On this last point, Violet offers a lot of encouragement particularly to women - to allow themselves to masturbate while watching porn - which, for men, is only second nature (like breathing)! Lastly, for couples, this tome does review the sensitive issue of how to view porn with a partner - especially when one partner is reluctant. (Luckily, my husband has never had this problem!)

Violet also reassures us - that it's not always necessary to attempt (in one's own bed) everything we might see in porn - and that it's ok for certain types of action to remain in the realm of `fantasy.' In fact, one of porn's strongest roles - is to dimensionalize (add realism) to our sexual fantasies. So even if your boyfriend watches some of the raunchiest porn imaginable - that doesn't require you to try it (or even admit to liking it, even if you do) - so long as he's able to separate fantasy from reality (which most men are surprisingly able to do.)

Probably the most useful sections of the book deals with the types of porn available, such as - feature films, educational videos, all-sex videos (all sex, no plot), to name just a few - as well as my favorite, girl/girl -- which is sometimes called lesbian videos, even though most of the performers are not true lesbians. So if you're unsure of what to watch, this book can add structure to the sometimes bewildering array of porn that's available.

On the downside, this book was published in 2003 -- just a few years ago - but a long time, unfortunately, in porn years! As a result, most of the movie titles it recommends - which make up about 2/3rds of the book - may be difficult, if not impossible, to find today (unless one looks in the classics or marked-down sections). Fortunately, some of the directors, studios, and series listed -- may still be around in some later incarnation.

There's also very little mention of one of the hottest new genres - gonzo -- in which the director interacts (verbally) with the actors -- which saves cost, since there's no script and no rehearsing - but results in some of the hottest, most spontaneous action you'll ever see on screen.

For the experienced porn watcher, this book also seriously dates itself by pointing out that the most prevalent and brazen type of (male) climax available at the time - were facials (an ejaculation served across a woman's face) - which are as useless and degrading back then as they are today! (Ladies, honestly, how often have you asked your lover to do this for you? If you're like me - how about NEVER!) Let's get real!

Fortunately, achieving a climax within a woman's body (on screen) is much more accepted and commonplace in porn today - which makes the action more realistic, more romantic - and much more emotionally satisfying to watch! (It's about time!)

As another nit, the book sadly has only a brief chapter on lesbian and girl/girl videos, which is a shame. And it mixes them with bi-videos (where the men do it with both men and women) which have an entirely different audience and a much more limited appeal.

Luckily, the author, Violet Blue, has a new book coming out, `The Smart Girls Guide to Porn,' which sounds well targeted - since its women who will probably seek out this type of info, especially in a book!

As a happily married (bisexual) female, here are my suggestions for what I'd like to see included in her new book - which this present edition was sorely lacking:

There are now genres of porn - which explore the lovingness of every orifice (such as oral and anal) - and the creative after-climax uses for a man's output (such as swallowing, swapping, and cream pies which is the oozing of ejaculant out of the orifice where it was deposited, plus other combinations of the above).

The natural eroticism of girl/girl should be more strongly highlighted - especially for women. In my own experiences, I've yet to meet a girl who doesn't like to watch two cute babes making love to each other. And I've also found that a woman's enjoyment of porn will increase tremendously - after she discovers girl/girl, which only makes sense since porn is about women - and women have always had an appreciation for the beauty of the fairer sex. (Said differently, it's harder to believe that porn exploits women, and to restrict one's own enjoyment - when pretty girls can now be an object of desire - for both men and women!)

Needless to say, a section of the book should be added to reassure MEN - that watching girl/girl videos will NOT turn their girlfriends or wives into lesbians! (Take it from me -- they won't!) Unfortunately, the most common reason I've found to explain why some women DON'T watch girl-only videos - is because their men don't (yet) approve. Fortunately, that attitude is quickly changing.

I didn't say this earlier, but back in 2003 - it was also taboo to mix boy/girl and girl/girl action - in the same scene. The thinking was (and still is) that guys will be turned off. But one of my favorite type of videos today is girl/girl/boy threesomes, where the girls are free to make love to each other early on (usually in the segment's opening) - and later all throughout the scene - even after their guy has joined in, which is pretty heady stuff!

As further expansion, the nastiest and most romantic of these girl/girl/boy threesome titles are probably more easily recognized under the `swapping' genre where the girls do just that orally with their lover's output - which, for me, is a great heterosexual reassurance - which allows the intimacy of the girl/girl action to go even higher! (As a watch-out, these videos are probably better suited to the more advanced porn watcher - but they are items which I suggest quite often - to my girlfriends who really enjoy porn!)

In conclusion, Violet Blue's `Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos' offers some timeless advice to overcome one's hesitation when it comes to watching porn. The plethora of videos it recommends, though - are hopelessly out-of-date! Fortunately, porn just keeps getting better and better - for both men and women! Enjoy.

more than just a review book.......2004-06-08

This is the ultimate consumer guide to porn and it's perfect for women and couples. The female perspecitve is utmost here and it shows you how to steer clear of low quality and female degredation while still finding really hot porn. This is an encyclopedia of modern adult film and nothing has been left out. History, backstories, profiles on interesting people in the business, lots of women-made erotic films and even softcore and mainstream titles are covered here. Nice sections on finding and selecting porn to suit individual's tastes. This book is a welcome relief and is intelligent, funny and free of the usual judgement and stigma in other porn writing. Blue treates porn like an independent film genre, and it's about time.

Great Book!.......2003-10-08

I had no idea the spectrum of videos available until I read this book. It's also the perfect book if you want to get a video to watch with your lover and tells you how to introduce the idea to them. Plus it tells you who the good filmmakers are. Comprehensive and highly recommended.

Refreshing.......2003-10-01

I always thought I would watch adult movies if only there were any good ones! I was never very excited about adult movies but I am a fan of the author, and the video guide is not only her best book to date but made me want to go out and rent some of these movies. As a woman I am used to being insulted by adult movies, but the guide is written by an intelligent woman and she's pointed the way for me to find hot movies, and her recommendations have been right on the mark. She gives the reader a guide with which they can make informed decisions about what they do and do not want to watch. How refreshing.

funny and smart.......2003-09-30

This is a great book! My girlfriend and I love it, and she's now happily put herself in charge of renting our videos. Violet Blue's tone is warm, funny, and excited about sex and adult videos, and she takes no prisoners in her hilarious video reviews. There are hundreds of films in this book and she explains how to find the good stuff. My girlfriend liked where Blue explained how to avoid seeing things that are offensive and we cracked each other up reading the "porn glossary" out loud to each other. It's nice to see a guide that takes us readers and porn watchers seriously. It's a great book for us couples. Don't read it alone! Thank you Violet Blue!

Book Description

In music, digital technology is used in every facet of production from preparation of scores to recording, editing, mixing and mastering. While many books do an excellent job of explaining technological concepts such as sequencing and synthesis, few provide insights into how to actually use new technology to create music. This book teaches students, hobbyists, multimedia specialists and professionals both the technical and musical aspects of computer-based music production. Concepts such as sequencing, synthesis, and digital editing are presented in a holistic, approachable way that is applicable to products from a wide range of vendors. Musical concepts such as compisition, arranging and orchestration are explained in a way that can be easily assimilated and applied to a wide variety of projects ranging from traditional acoustic ensembles to synthetic orchestrations.

Customer Reviews:

Digital editing, sequencing, setting up a studio and using MIDI, and more.......2006-07-04

Brent Edstrom's Musicianship In The Digital Age, for example, goes beyond simplicity to delve into what it takes to be a musician in the digital age - which involves computers, production savvy, and technical skills beyond playing an instrument. Computer-based music production is the focus here, with chapters addressing digital editing, sequencing, setting up a studio and using MIDI, and more. There is a section on musical concepts such as scales, chords and composition; but it's the focus on technological enhancements that makes for an invaluable guide.

Digital help for ANY musician.......2006-03-01

No matter what level you're at, this book will aid you in composing with the latest music technology. This is an approachable book with understandable explanations.

Book Description

From one of the world's premier practitioners of classic magic, with years of experience instructing younger readers in the magical arts, comes this new revision of his complete guide to learning and performing fantastic feats of prestidigitation. Acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times as "the text that...young magicians swear by," it's full of step-by-step instructions. More than 2,000 illustrations provide the know-how behind 300 techniques, from basic card tricks to advanced levitation, along with advice on planning and staging a professional-quality magic show.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have.......2007-05-08

Wonderful step by step book. Well illustrated and easy to understand. Was able learn and perform numerous tricks in a matter of one day..A must have for any beginner

Should be on everyones shelf........2007-04-01

This book truly is phenomonal. It has every type of magic you can think of, coin, cards, stage, mentalism, self working, impromptu, gimmicked. It even goes as far as to give you tricks for things like jumbo cards and sponge balls.

Not only this but at the beginning of every chapter Mark Wilson reminds you of what magic is all about, he writes two or three paragraphs about the specific type of magic and how wonderful it can be. Mark also has a biography and an essay on magic at the beginning which is fantastic, and after years I still find myself going back and reading it just for a reminder of what got me into magic originally.

All of the descriptions to the tricks are well written, have accompanying pictures for EVERY move. He even gives secondary ways to do several of the moves and has an Notes and Reminds section after the tricks putting in personal notes about specific parts of the trick. Its obvious how much effort and work went into this book. In closing, this is a book that every magician new or old should have in his shelf, right next to Bobo's Modern Coin Magic, and Royal Road to Card Magic.

Cheap and Comprehensive.......2007-03-20

This book is a treasure trove of tricks, which the author explains in a clean, concise fashion. Highly recommended over other books, which tend to include fewer tricks, occassionally with a glossier, but not superior, presentation.

Plenty of material for all levels of magicians.......2007-02-19

This magic book runs the gamut from beginners tricks to tricks many professionals use. I've been performing as a part-time professional magician myself for several years now, and I still found things in this book I hadn't seen before or new twists on things I was familiar with.

The biggest drawback to this is the sheer volume of information it contains. If I'd come across this book when I was first getting into magic, I would've been absolutely overwhelmed. It's still a lot to digest now. But if you read through it and pick and choose tricks here and there that fit your style and personality, you'll find it very useful. It's like a cafeteria -- go down the line, picking out the things you want and skipping the things you don't, then go back to your table and chew on them and enjoy them.

Awesome price for a classic........2007-01-20

I was browing Amazon checking out some other books, and up popped Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. I have seen it years ago, and it's a great manual of all things magic. The bargain price was my best buy of this year, a one inch tear in the binding shaved more than 50% off the price of my copy. (Now if only I could get more books in this shape). The closest book would be Tarbell's at $20 a book, my full collection of Tarbell covers more items, but Mark Wilson's is easy to digest and the photos just make it a super book. This is a must buy for anyone with interest in performing magic.

Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia of Magic: A Complete Course

Average customer rating:

Good for Interested Amateurs (like me)
Useful if somewhat limited book
a very good book !
The best there is
best Magic Book

Mark Wilson's Cyclopedia of Magic: A Complete Course
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1561386138

Customer Reviews:

Good for Interested Amateurs (like me).......2006-07-09

The book is clumsy to handle, due to its thickness and small pages. Nonetheless it contains innumerable card tricks, and a few mind-reading and illusion tricks as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover anything you're likely to see in Las Vegas.

Useful if somewhat limited book.......2005-10-28

Mark Wilson is certainly a name in magic and has been around for a very long time. It was on the strength of that name alone that I bought this book, but it wasn't really as comprehensive as I would have liked. Many of the presentations are useful to beginning and intermediate performers as they are. A full time professional like me can fall back on these presentations as well, but over all this is second string material for me.

[...]

a very good book !.......2005-06-07

Mark Wilson is no doubt a master magician and a master of all magicians. This is reflected in this volume. The tricks in this book are a mixture of classical as well as new tricks....both entertaining and mystical. Mark Wilson has dealt with every possible branch of close up magic, conjuring and some basic stage illusions.They are easy to do. Some close up tricks require basic sleight of hands which are worth learning. If you are really serious about magic as a hobby, then this book should be in your book shelf. And if you are planning to take it up as your profession, then nothing can be a good book to start with. Some of the basic sleights are still used by many magicians. The illustrations are really gems. The copy which I got from Amazon was a brand new copy though I purchased a used one.
I wish I got this book when I started out on the mystical world of magic 15 years ago.

The best there is.......2003-12-27

I recommend without hesitation this book for beginners or intermediates alike. It contains card tricks, sponge balls, cups and balls and even some stage illusions that you might find suitable with a little creativity or modification. It has card tricks that are pretty much already 'public knolwedge' to layman, but you might use them too using the way Mark Wilson teaches you to present them. However, there are also some advanced sleights on cards that beginners can learn easily because of the illustrations and the amazingly, EASY to understand text. Mark Wilson's Cylopedia of Magic. 5 out of 5.

best Magic Book.......2003-04-21

This book is not good, great, or awesome, but it's UNBELIEVABLE. The illustrations are very descriptive. When I first got this book I could learn a trick just be looking at the illustrations. (Though you should still read). There are over 17 types of magic listed and taught in the book. Some of these are, Sponge ball magic, Card magic, Cups and balls (the FULL routine), Stage magic, illusions, and more. This is the book to start up on for beginning magic. If you had to get only ONE book of magic, I would suggest purchasing this one. God bless you, and may your future in magic go well.

Average customer rating:

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Courage Books/Running Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KVFTRS

Average customer rating:

Complete Course in Magic
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Bookmart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Magic & Illusion | Performing Arts | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1856050114

Average customer rating:

Magic: A Complete Course
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Bounty Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Magic & Illusion | Performing Arts | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0753700387

Average customer rating:

Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic
Wilson Mark
Manufacturer: Courage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDL7GS

Average customer rating:

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Running press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LZHS22

Average customer rating:

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic
Mark Wilson
Manufacturer: Courage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLTJ48

Book Description

Tracks Hill's career through the landmark Independent Television specials, early parody sketches for the BBC, film appearances, radio shows and recordings. The ultimate guide to the most widely recognized funny man since Charlie Chaplan.

Customer Reviews:

I was disappointed too.......2004-11-24

Like one of the previous reviewers of this book, I was disappointed. I found it tedious and repetitious. It's a sad let down for fans of Benny. Key players in Hill's shows, like Jackie Wright were all but ignored. But if you must have everything about this beloved British comic, go for it.

The Lad himself, Benny Hill!.......2003-03-04

It is quite obvious after reading this book that Mr. Ross is a genuine fan of "The lad himself" from not only the depth of research but also the personal take that he puts on the book in the last few segments. The ONE thing that kept me from giving this book a 5 star rating is that, although he mentions co-stars such as Jack Wright, Sue Upton, Louise English, and Henry McGee, he neglects to put pictures of them in the book with Benny. For fans of the show they know who these people are but not so the occasional viewer who might buy the book hoping to find out a bit more about Benny and his show. Despite this, it's a great book and well worth the money.

A BIIIIIG disappointment:.......2001-09-11

I'm really SURPRISED at my reaction to this book. I LOVE Benny Hill (I have some of his videos and watched his syndicated show for years). I am now a fulltime ventriloquist and read and collect books on comedians and comedy. I have re-read many of the comedy/comedian books in my collection. I could not WAIT until I got this book!

But I found this book incredibly tedious.

At first I thought it was due to the fact that I'm American and Americans haven't seen as much of Hill's work as his British audiences. But I've read bios of comedians that detail work they did that I never viewed and I loved those books. This is a book crammed with research, whether it's about his early years -- how his comedy style came together -- or his years as the King of British TV, then American syndicated TV...and his sad fall as a victim of the relentless armies of political correctness.

The book reads like a collection of detailed research notes and staid business articles. There seems to be little passion (and when there seems to be passion it's a weird dispassionate passion!) for the subject, unlike the GREAT books done by authors on Laurel & Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Chaplin, and most certainly, The Three Stooges. Those books make you want to go out and see more of their work, even if you don't like them. This book summarizes and informs -- and can bore a diehard fan.

It's so very sad because Hill was so incredibly funny. As an American I didn't like many of his verbal skits -- and certainly NOT his songs -- but his silent segments bordered on comedic genius a la Ernie Kovaks or (I know some will be furious at this) Chaplin.

This book is so clinical it took me a LONG TIME to finish it. I'm talking about MONTHS where I had to read other books to get back to and through it. Ross, who wrote a critically acclaimed book on Monty Python's Fying Circus, certainly did excellent research. There's a ton of info you can't get anywhere else -- inside information about each step of Hill's career and why he did what he did at pivotal times; who was in his corner, keeping him on t.v., and who didn't like him.

But I can only recommend this to die-hard Hill fans who want every single thing available on him -- NOT to anyone seeking a book that tells about Hill and communicates the joy and (until the end)uncensored craziness of his comedy. Today his comedy lives on in video tape, despite the enemies that ended his career and, some say, finally broke his heart.

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