This is a well written sexual treatise covering thousands of years and ending approximately 1900. The writing was informative, humorous in places, and sad in others when we learn of the types of things that were considered accepted and also the things that were banned judging them by today's standardsI know of no other way to give a prospective reader an idea what he/she might uncover except through a few examples of the hundreds of neat facts the author reveals throughout the book. There is a nice biography section for those wishing to read further and also an index to help find reference points.1. "It was not until about 9000BC that the link between sexual intercourse and pregnancy was confirmed." [p17]2. "As late as 1878 the British Medical Journal ran extensive correspondence on the question of whether or not a ham could turn rancid at the touch of a menstruating woman." [p19]3. In Egypt circa 1000BC, "Men who damaged stone property markers were forced to give up their wives and children to be raped by donkeys, but sex with goats was regarded as a form of divine devotion." [p24]4 Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) later known as St. Augustine was the person credited with creating the idea of Original Sin. [p125]5. Licensed prostitution began in Italy in 1358 "[When] the grand council of Venice would declare that prostitution was absolutely indispensable to the world." [p134]6. A cure for a male who had VD was thought to be assured if he had sex with a virgin. [p296]7. We learn of what the various ages of consent were in various countries and in our own states, with the youngest age being 7. You'll need to read to find out what liberal state thought that was about right.8. There was a lengthy discussion on the Comstock and Mann Acts. Anthony Comstock was actually trying to ban pornography to prevent masturbation, as he himself seemed to have a big problem with that. Some other sex pioneers trying to prevent the same practice by creating foods to quell the spilling of seed were Sylvester Graham and his famous Graham crackers, and here you always thought they were just for snacking. :) We also have Dr. John Harvey Kellogg who created his breakfast food for the exact same purpose. Now you know why they later fortified them with vitamins after some years. There is also a good movie explaining Kellogg's belief on that subject entitled The Road to Wellville.9. We also learn how Comstock's Act caused the imprisonment and death of needless people as the early sexual information crusader Ida Craddock and I can recommend a book about her life for those so interested in early birth control methods and counseling. It is called Heaven's Bride: The Unprintable Life of Ida C. Craddock, American Mystic, Scholar, Sexologist, Martyr, and Madwoman10 Finally we have a fairly lengthy discourse on Oscar Wilde who spent 2 yrs in prison for sodomy. He was made an example of due to his arrogance and manner of dress, plus he wasn't particularly discreet at a time when that would have been the smart thing to be. He also wrote in a manner emphasizing the gay lifestyle as with his only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray and his play The Importance of Being Earnest.This might seem like a lengthy list, but I assure you the author has crammed many more facts into this worthy book on the subject. The book is quite readable and informative without being prurient. Highly recommended.