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Everyone Needs to get Sex Smart: Book Review by Brian Zamboni, PhD
(04/28/2006) by Brian Zamboni
How has the way that I related to my siblings and my parents influenced my sexuality? What can examining my upbringing tell me about my social and dating skills—or my attitudes toward masturbation? Aline Zoldbrod’s book “Sex Smart” is unique in its steady focus on a person’s childhood and how childhood experiences affected one’s sexuality. The book covers a variety of topics, including trust, touch, and power dynamics. For example, the author invites the reader to think about body image and how various parenting practices can influence one’s body image. She writes that a negative body image can develop in families where parents neglect their children’s physical needs, fail to praise their children’s bodies, or permit siblings to tease about physical characteristics. This discussion is accomplished without blaming parents, which can be hard to finesse.
Each chapter begins with thought-provoking questions that encourage the reader to engage in self-reflection. The exercises at the end of each chapter have the potential to be very helpful to readers, exercises that therapists might find useful in therapy. Giving readers a practical task to follow helps them engage with the material more fully. Zoldbrod includes case examples to illustrate clinical information. This helps to bring the issues under consideration “alive” and makes for stimulating reading. At the back of the text, readers can find a brief listing of resources, organized by chapter. A reference section is also included.
The text is not without drawbacks. Scholars may be disappointed to find that there are not more references, and that many of the citations are dated. This criticism, while important, can be tempered by the fact that relevant research in this area is decidedly scant. An index would be useful. The resources listed for each chapter seem short, incomplete, or dated at various points. Reliable websites are not listed as resources, and some commercially available videos are not mentioned. In general, there is a sense that signs of contemporary sexuality (e.g., the internet, cybersex, Viagra) are missing throughout the volume.
Overall, “Sex Smart” covers topics that are timeless. The book is easy to read, making it accessible to a wide audience. The tone of the writing is also appropriate: professional, down-to-earth, and empathetic. Not only is the book important for most clients, but therapists should get Sex Smart as well. For the seasoned sex therapist, this book will be intuitive and serve as a nice reminder of how developmental factors play a role in a person’s sexuality. Beginning sex therapists should read this book for their own personal growth. In particular, therapists who do not routinely address sexual matters in their professional work should scrutinize this book.
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