Regena Thomashauer

Whoa. This book was a revelation. I found myself nodding along with so much of the information within. Thomashauer put into words concepts I've long believed but couldn't voice. This book goes beyond just being a typical feminist tome and into the realm of spiritual awakening. The author beautifully elevates a woman's sexual core to the realm of dynamic divine creation, a bridge between the worlds, as it were.

And while I'll admit that at times the blatant pussy worship can get a little uncomfortable, I wholeheartedly believe that was Thomashauer's purpose: to force us to face our own discomfort, our internalized shame and beliefs that we're somehow broken / fucked up / wrong simply for being female and having female genitals that are there not just for procreation, but to bring us pleasure.

The idea that pleasure is at the heart of our inner knowing... and it's pleasure that kicks into gear our intuitive GPS system, is revolutionary, yet it makes so much sense. Following our desires - both physical and emotional - leads us to higher states of growth than we could have ever imagined if we'd been unwilling to go after what we truly want.

I did have one beef with the book, however, and it's the author's insistence on home birth over hospital birth. It's not only incredibly narrow-sighted, but downright dangerous. She insists that women "have been doing just fine" for millennia delivering babies on their own. But it wasn't that long ago that childbirth was the number one killer of women AND babies. I would be dead now if I'd attempted a home birth, as would a number of other women I know. I'm all for female empowerment - but not at the very real risk to our lives and the lives of our babies.

Aside from that one major complaint, I found the book incredibly powerful and in some ways life-changing. The exercises within are worth the price of the book alone. I'm grateful to have read this book when I did; I have no doubt it's going to profoundly change the way I live my life from here.… (más)

I first picked up this book a long time ago, and put it back because I didn't need it. I was doing well at having pleasure in my life, and Mama Gena's approach seemed a bit silly and simplistic.

I don't feel that way now.
Reading this book has helped me make a major transition out of three years of grief (after my beloved's death) into a normal life again.

Mama Gena's message is that pleasure and delight are not luxuries, harmful indulgences, or frivolous -- they are necessary to our emotional well-being. It's only when we feel satisfied and happy with ourselves and our lives that we can give our best to the rest of the world.

Each woman will define "pleasure" a different way, and that's all right. The point is to understand what pleases you and make sure that you get what you need to feel fulfilled. A happy woman is a generous, loving, powerful woman. And she has a lot more fun.

Our culture often swings to extremes in its attitudes on pleasure and asceticism. I think Mama Gena preaches a joyful balance.… (más)

This isn't a bad book. Many of the suggestions are valid. Self-care, self-love, and the like are certainly important to live a fulfilled life.

But ultimately this frothy, oh-so-pink book is superficial. It would seem that all you need to live your best life is a pocket full of wishes and lots of orgasms.

I'm also bothered by the note that many of the (mostly success) stories are compilations. It makes many of them ring false.

The book also sadly feels dated. At this point it's nearly a decade and a half old. It belongs in the era of Sex and City. I'm bothered by comparing a flirting woman to a poodle in heat, by the idea that we need to "train" our men. Also, the complete lack of even a mention of LGBTQ women. There's also an entire chapter warning about your man leaving you if you can't control your bitch.… (más)