Warning: The following may be too graphic for some. It is of a sexual nature. Proceed with caution!

A few months ago, the fine folks at Tickle Kitty approached me. It seems bestselling author and sex educator, Dr. Sadie Allison published her fifth book, Tickle My Tush: Mild-to-Wild Analplay Adventures for Everybooty. They offered to send me her latest paperback that helps men and women learn the true pleasures of the under-explored “seat of love” for review on my blog.

I enthusiastically accepted the offer, and anxiously awaited its arrival in the mail. I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into, but how bad could it be? I’m gay. If I had an aversion to anal play, I’d be a very lonely man the rest of my life. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from the book as well.

I wasn’t the only one anxiously awaiting my new book. My roommates were also waiting with bated breath to see what the book was all about. When it finally arrived, we all passed it around paging though to see what exciting new tips we could learn.  After we’d all had our fun like immature high school students in the locker room, I took the book back and began reading it.

Tickle My Tush is a light-hearted fun look at anal sex for mainly heterosexual couples, however, a homosexual man can learn a lot from this book. Dr. Sadie covers a lot of material in this quick read — The 14 chapters of this book cover everything from safety and heinie hygiene to toys, strap-ons, and positions of pleasure. And, Dr. Sadie takes a light-hearted approach by using playful language instead of some complicated medical jargon no one understands or uses.

This book does a wonderful job removing the stigma from anal play/sex. I can think back to when I was first experimenting with homosexuality, I wanted nothing to do with anal play. I watched it in porn, and it really just seemed like something I didn’t need. I could think of many other things I could do to satisfy my sexual urges. It was something I saw as overwhelming and uncomfortable. Frankly, I was scared of it. If you find yourself in that position, reading this book will answer a lot of the questions and will clear up a lot of the misconceptions you may have.

What I really like about this book is that it pushes straight men to open their minds and their bottoms to the idea of anal play with their female sex partners. I enjoy sex, and even as a “top,” I enjoy many of the pleasures my bottom has to offer. Having your prostate stimulated for the first time is a mind-altering experience. Many straight men don’t realize the potential their bottoms have for pleasure. I would hope books like these remove the stigma and open their minds to anal play. This book also removes the stigma for women to explore. It takes away the idea that enjoying anal sex makes you dirty or a slut. It’s simply exploring all the pleasures you body has to offer.

As you read, the book certainly gets more adventurous. It starts with safety, hygiene, anatomy and the basics and moves through finger, oral, genital, toy and strap-on pleasures.

One of my favorite chapters is 6: Sensual Booty Massage. It has always been something I’ve enjoyed. “As an often overlooked erogenous zone, those two cheeks are always eager for sensual arousal from kneading, squeezing, kissing, licking, spanking, gentle biting, father-light touching — or simply calming moments of warm-handed stillness. Why stop at the cheeks? Lustily arousing the hips, waist, small of the back, inner thighs and A-spot can add thrilling new dimensions to your lovemaking.” Some are tried and true methods I’ve been using forever, and some are a few new methods I’m dying to try.

Some of Dr. Sadie’s advise is spot on! One of my favorite parts of the book acknowledge the problem I have relaxing during sex. It’s the root of my inability to climax at times. Her best advice — UN-focus.

This book is a great read for the anal play beginner. I can think back to the guy who inserted himself with great force inside me with no preparation whatsoever. I ran out of the room in pain. I can think of the virgin who allowed me to penetrate him for the first time and how scared he was until he learned how much he loved being penetrated. I’ve been with a few newbies in my days, and there is a lot they can learn from this book. On top of it all, the illustrations that ensue are purely erotic. I think they are my favorite part of the book!

There are a few things in the book I disagree with on some level. For instance. in regard to the question, “Do you really need an enema before anal sex?” Dr. Sadie says no. But, after a few of my own horrific experiences, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

Overall, I must say, I didn’t learn a whole lot from this book I didn’t already know. That is because the first guy I slept with was a very good teacher, and I have a curious mind that has been satiated by experimentation. But, not everyone is as lucky as I am. If I had this book from the start, it certainly would have made for many less awkward situations. The thing I most learned from the book was anatomy. In fact, I often refer back to it to make sure I am giving my man the most pleasure I am capable of.

Dr. Sadie does an excellent job giving you the basic tools you need to be confident, succeed in anal play in the bedroom and know you can enjoy the untapped pleasures your bottom holds. She gives you invaluable tips that help get you in tune with your partner. She answers a lot of the embarrassing/uncomfortable things that may arise with anal play so that when you encounter them in the bedroom, you can proceed past them without the interrupting the fun. So buy it — Read it — And for heaven’s sake, try out all the new things you learn with someone you feel truly comfortable with. You’d be surprised what exciting new experiences you can unlock.