A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis [Paperback]

'Friedman proves - with wit and learning - that our most significant organ is the one below the belt, not the one above the neck.' Independent 'A Mind of its Own is educational and entertaining by virtue of an amazing amount of information gathered from a wide range of mythical medical, cultural and scientific, historical and humorous sources.' BMJ 'A Mind of Its Own is fascinating - in other words, as powerful and intriguing as an erection.' --Guardian --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'A serious, witty, erudite history - the book we have been crying out for all this time.' Literary Review '...you're going to find this book far more than just another collection of wicked willy statistics to be kept in the downstairs loo. For by Friedman's fascinating account the history of the penis is (well. almost) the history of civilisation itself.' Spectator 'A Mind of Its Own is fascinating - in other words, as powerful and intriguing as an erection.' Guardian 'Stimulating.' Time Out 'It's engrossing and illuminating and fiendishly intelligent and well-researched. Having read every book currently published about man's best friend, I can tell you that this excellent tome is the only one worth buying. Erotic Review 'Friedman proves - with wit and learning - that our most significant organ is the one below the belt. not the one above the neck.' Independent 'A Mind of its Own is educational and entertaining by virtue of an amazing amount of information gathered from a wide range of mythical medical. cultural and scientific, historical and humorous sources.' BMJ 'This book is full of marvellous insights. but at the same time raises serious questions. Every woman should read it and so should everyone with a penis.' New Statesman 'A serious yet entertaining book that weaves together an enormous amount of material.' Publishers Weekly 'Everything you always wanted to know about man's closest friend.' Kirkus Reviews

Friedman's new offering is ... a serious, witty, erudite history - the book we have been crying out for all this time. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

the best of this year's pop history. From phallic cults to the contemporary erection industry. Friedman provides a coruscating overview. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

It's engrossing and illuminating and fiendishly intelligent and well researched. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A Mind of its Own is educational and entertaining. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

...you're going to find this book far more than just a collection of wicked willy statistics. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Every woman should read it and so should everyone with a penis. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Whether enemy or ally, demon or god, the source of satisfaction or the root of all earthly troubles, the penis has forced humanity to wrestle with its enduring mysteries. Here, in an enlightening and entertaining cultural study, is a book that puts into context the central role of the penis within Western civilization. David M. Friedman shows that the penis is more than a body part. It is an idea, a conceptual but flesh-and-blood measuring stick of a man's place in the world. Deified by the pagan cultures of the ancient world and demonized by the early Roman church, the penis was later secularized by pioneering anatomists such as Leonardo da Vinci. After being measured 'scientifically' in an effort to subjugate some races while elevating others, the organ was psychoanalysed by Sigmund Freud. Now, after being politicized by feminism and exploited in countless ways by pop culture, the penis has been medicalized. As no one has before him, Friedman shows how the arrival of erection industry products such as Viagra is more than a health or business story. It is the latest - and perhaps final - chapter in one of the longest sagas in human history: the story of man's relationship with his penis.

David M. Friedman has written for Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, Vogue, The Village Voice, and many other publications and was a reporter for Newsday. He lives in New York City.