Most people know what their sexual fantasies are but few of us have an insight into why they work. In this groundbreaking exploration of the libido, Dr Michael Bader draws on 25 years experience as a psychotherapist to offer a new theory of sexual desire: that our sexual imaginations are a 'portable first-aid kit for our psyches'.
His analysis - that our fantasies are neither kinky nor perverse, but dependent on a need for psychological safety - enables us to understand the complex dynamics that determine our sexual preferences. Dr Bader uses case studies from his own practice to build up a convincing argument that our fantasies - from the conventional to the seemingly bizarre - work as an antidote to the non-sexual fears and anxieties each of us carries over from childhood. Bader's non-judgemental findings are revelatory and empowering, bringing fresh thinking to a subject we smugly thought we had finished analysing.
Arousal enables both female and male readers to understand their own and their partner's sexual desires. It offers radical ideas about sexual chemistry and explores the different ways in which men and women get excited. Both accessible and enlightening, Arousal is an important, jargon-free landmark in sexual psychology that is invaluable to anyone interested in human relationships.
