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Reviews for The Nature of Sexual Desire Giles' spiritual understanding of sexual desire and his appreciation for the richness and exquisiteness of sexual interaction will be refreshing for those philosophers and sex therapists who believe that biological and physiological research dehumanize the joys of sexual desire and satisfaction. -Felicia De la Garza-Mercer, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy The Nature of Sexual Desire presents a rich and thorough exploration of the subject matter that cuts across historical perspectives and issues of culture. The author draws on understandings from sexology, psychology, philosophy and anthropology and by so doing explores all relevant perspectives. -Helen Startup, Sexual and Relationship Therapy The philosophical analysis presented in the book is sure to stimulate critical thinking and encourage one to look at sexual desire from a multitude of perspectives. Giles has made a significant contribution to the literature, and the process of the examination in and of itself is worthwhile to gain insight into the nature of sexual desire. -Tiffani S. Kisler, Journal of Marriage and Family [A]n original, intriguing and, I suspect, fecund account. Moreover, Giles does a masterful job of weaving together material from psychological, biological, and religious sources as well as philosophical ones…Giles covers a wealth of material and presents detailed, articulate arguments in support of his views. The Nature of Sexual Desire is well worth the read. -Robert Scott Stewart, Metapsychology Online Reviews "[Giles'] descriptions are often detailed, nuanced, and unafraid of approaching the everyday reality of sexual experience head-on. He is to be commended for being unafraid of frankly discussing the details of sexual experience, as even the most sex-positive scholars have a tendency to whitewash their prose. I strongly believe that this unconscious self-censorship is ultimately injurious to sexual health, social justice, and the scientific study of sexuality. Whatever his other faults, the author has presented an unabashed celebration of human sexuality, and for that alone this book represents a contribution to the literature. -Matthew Stief, Anthropological Quarterly [A]n excellent read that keeps the reader engrossed throughout. -Paul Woolley, British Journal of Sexual Medicine If you are looking for a detailed analysis, from a multi-theoretical and philosophical perspective, on human sexual desire, this text stands alone for its innovative and comprehensive approach. -Nick King, AIDS Care The Nature of Sexual Desire is a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of sexual desire. James Giles explores the existential experience of desire at length to answer some of the most complex questions regarding the object of sexual desire. He provides a systematic reflection and phenomenological description of sexual desire that is a must read for sex educators, philosophers, researchers, and graduate students interested in sexuality. The reader is sure to obtain valuable insight on the problem and object of sexual desire as well as the experience of gender and love in relation to sexual desire. -Kelly B. McNichols, Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity [T]his book is highly recommendable for undergraduate students in psychology, anthropology, philosophy, communication studies, and women's studies, and an absolute "must-read" for all graduate students and researchers interested in sexuality and close relationships. -Itziar Alonso-Arbiol, Relationship Research News This readable and well-conceived book represents a lucid, synoptic assessment of a key and central feature of our humanity. Its approach is both comprehensive and systematic. It is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences as well as philosophy, women's studies, and anthropology. The reader will find here a rich and creative synthesis of both intrapsychic and interpersonal aspects of sexual attraction, arousal, and response. A thoughtful selection of primary literature and important critical analysis of the methodology of human sexuality research enhance an explicitly humanistic agenda. -Sanford Lopater, Professor of Psychology, Christopher Newport University , author (with Ruth Westheimer) of Human Sexuality: A Psychosocial Perspective [T]his book treats of the exquisite experience it studies so faithfully in a prose so elegant and direct that it has the makings of a classic destined to seduce generations of specialist and non-specialist readers. -John Llewelyn, Professor, Retired Reader in Philosophy, University of Edinburgh and Visiting Professor at the University of Memphis and Loyola University of Chicago, author of The Margins of Religion. A delightful examination of the way in which cross-cultural theorists, philosophers, and psychologists have viewed the nature of sexual desire. Although James Giles is not afraid to tackle difficult theoretical questions, his discussions are lightened by a sprinkling of charming quotes and genuine insights into human sexuality, gender, and the experience of love. -Elaine Hatfield, Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii, past president for the Society of Scientific Study of Sex, co-author (with Richard Rapson) of Love and Sex: Cross-Cultural Perspectives Reviews for No Self to be Found: The Search for Personal Identity James Giles' work is a clear, well-informed investigation of the psychological subject in the analytic style. It aims to correct some misleading assumptions that have distorted discussion of personal identity by philosophers and psychologists for centuries. -John Pickering, Self and Identity Giles has a gift of being able to express in an accessible manner very complex and at times technical arguments. He provides one of the best summaries of the literature of self and identity that I have seen recently. He wages his counter-arguments and lodges his criticisms of the positions with skill and insight. This is a book well worth taking seriously, if only as a test of any argument that proposes to defend a notion of the self and a meaningful personal identity. This book would be useful in graduate seminars in philosophical psychology, and it would be accessible to advanced undergraduates. -James B. Sauer, St. Mary's University (San Antonio), The Personalist Forum |
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