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- aah....The Pleasure Book Reviewed by Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
aah....The Pleasure Book Reviewed by Norm Goldman of Bookpleasures.com
- By Norm Goldman
- Published June 10, 2021
- General Non-Fiction
Norm Goldman
Reviewer & Author Interviewer, Norm Goldman. Norm is the Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com.
He has been reviewing books for the past twenty years after retiring from the legal profession.
To read more about Norm Follow Here
Who among us hasn't wanted to enjoy lifetime pleasure? But, what is pleasure? Have you ever thought about its significance?
When Jia Gottlieb MD, author of aah....The
Pleasure Book asked a few individuals what their first association or
thoughts that came to mind with the word pleasure are; the responses
were not surprising. Most thought of sex and food. Some even wavered
awkwardly with "Aah...un...pleasures, huh?" as though they
had been caught in an indecent act about sex and then had to muster a
socially acceptable answer.
I never thought about the meaning
of pleasure or how it is essential before having read aah....The
Pleasure Book. Like most of Dr. Gottlieb's respondents, I was
likewise naïve. As he remarks, the subject seems to be taboo and
confusing.
The book's tone is set in the introductory chapter
with the following statement: "This is a book about pleasure,
one of life's most important and most misunderstood experiences. It
is important because it will determine the kinds of people you will
meet, the quality of your life, your health, and even how long you
will live. Misunderstood, because, in your search for pleasure, it's
easy to get lost and end up in pain and suffering." Quite a
mouthful to chew on!
To untangle the muddiness, the author
defines pleasure as "any experience that feels good." He
elaborates with: "If it fills your body with delightful
sensations, evokes warm feelings in your heart and positive thoughts
in your mind, brings a smile to your lips, excites, amuses or
satisfies, lifts your spirits or inspires a sense of well-being,
meaning, and purpose, then it's pleasure." He further states
that it constitutes a spectrum of three primary experiences,
physical, emotional, and mental. This "Pleasure Prism" is
explored and examined throughout the book.
The book's premise
is to learn how to cultivate and tap this vast and vital renewable
resource. But as explained, we must first understand the seven Laws
of Pleasure. These are broken down as original wholeness, colors,
contrast and comparison, thresholds, cycles, desire and surrender,
and renewable pleasure. Our cultural biases must be set aside to
discuss pleasure objectively.
Acting as a mountain guide, Dr.
Gottlieb lays out a step-by-step map to get us to our destination to
experiencing permanent pleasure. With his immense knowledge and
experience, he is acquainted with the terrain, having traveled these
parts many times on his own and with friends, family, and
patients.
The book divides itself into five parts:
assumptions, science, natural history, the mystery, and the art and
practice, and Dr. Gottlieb relies on two different approaches. These
are the objective, scientific method, and the subjective approach or
our personal experiences based on what appears to our five
senses.
In part one, Dr. Gottlieb enlightens us on the
pleasure matrix. He explains we live within a cultural matrix that
colors all that we think and perceive. Next, we learn about Saint
Augustine, who reinterpreted the Genesis story of Adam and Eve to
reconcile his inner sexual conflicts with the Bible's teachings. From
here, we read about the ethics of pleasure and the ancient Greek
philosophers whose central concern was to live a good life. The
following fascinating stop involves Epicurus, whose greatest pleasure
was peace of mind followed by friendship. Part two of the book delves
into and describes the evolution of pleasure from reptiles to mammals
to primates. The third part discusses our experience of pleasure that
depends on our perception. The mystery surrounding pleasures is
explored in Part four. The last section teaches us the art and
practice of pleasure.
Dr. Gottlieb states in the
closing remarks: "As you view the world through your new "prism"
glasses, you may notice things appear more vivid. You may delight in
simple activities, smiling more easily, and enjoying a refreshing
sense of lightness." One caveat, awakening from the matrix is
not something that happens overnight.
Each chapter ends with a
summary of the themes presented. There are also sections entitled
considerations that include suggestions to help the reader explore
and embody the ideas examined.
The advice offered here is
truly timeless. It is presented in a way that will give readers
plenty to ponder with its wide range of material that will help you
master the art of enjoying life.
Follow Here To Read Norm's Interview With Dr. Jia Gottlieb