WHAT YOUR MOTHER NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT SEX

Hutcherson, codirector of the New York Center for Human Sexuality at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, believes that many women have unfulfilling sex lives. They may be hesitant to speak to their partners, uneasy about their appearance or, most likely, they simply have questions they've never been able to ask about sex. An obstetrician and gynecologist for more than 20 years, Hutcherson believes the key to better sex is knowledge. She offers a comprehensive look at men and women's bodies, including key information about erogenous zones, as well as chapters on different elements of sex, such as kissing, intercourse and oral stimulation. Hutcherson also discusses special topics such as sex during pregnancy and after menopause, and has a useful, albeit too brief, chapter on teaching daughters the facts. Complete with diagrams of anatomy and sex positions, this book is aimed at helping women first become more comfortable with their own sexuality, then work on their sexual relationships. Hutcherson's suggestions about massage, getting away from the kids for a weekend and being creative in bed are not unique. But her approach is so thorough and the writing so reassuring that even readers who would otherwise never pick up a sex manual will likely be comfortable with—and grateful for—this book. (Apr.)