September 16, 2000

10:25 AM

I have no doubts that people will get exercise from watching this workout video, but somehow, I don't think it's going to be aerobics. Check the reviews, I didn't even know there was a genre like this. This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen at Amazon, anyone seen anything weirder?
posted by mathowie (13 comments total)

Of course we have.

posted by mcguirk at 12:55 PM on September 16, 2000

From mcguirk's link:

I would have liked more information about using items such as two fists, a foot, or household objects. All in all, this is great book and should help to fist up anyone's sex life.

I'm sorry, but this is just one of the most amusing things I have ever read. Legitemate sexual practice and acceptance of all be damned, it's funny!
posted by cCranium at 1:18 PM on September 16, 2000

ROFL! It is. That guy has to be joking. If not then I worry about his woman. I guess some people are just real perverts. Who would even buy a book like that? Makes me sick !
posted by FAB4GIRL at 1:23 PM on September 16, 2000

Two things:

One of the books in the 'customers who bought this books also bought' list credits the illustrator as 'Fish'. Is this the man behind Marillion? I hope so.

Also, here is my entry for maddest thing ever seen on Amazon, from Amazon.co.uk. Discover what the book is, then check out the fourth review.
posted by James Bachman at 5:37 PM on September 16, 2000

[Sorry, that first comment refers to the list on the 'A Hand in the Bush' page, and the book referred to is this one.]
posted by James Bachman at 5:39 PM on September 16, 2000

James: I know the author of the Comic Toolbox -- I worked with him briefly. I got a real laugh out of the accidental suggestion that it was the "maddest thing on Amazon."
posted by rcade at 5:52 PM on September 16, 2000

After learning of "A Hand In the Bush", I think my respect for the "fine arts" just went up tenfold.
posted by kidsplateusa at 6:59 PM on September 16, 2000

Holy cow, did you see the amazon rankings on the fisting, anal sex, and cunnilingus books?

They're all in the top 1000-5000 sellers. I know computer book authors that do a good business and rarely crack the top 10,000!

These books being top sellers in america further proves our puritanical repressed society really wants to know about and talk about this stuff.
posted by mathowie at 9:47 PM on September 16, 2000

Rcade -- I'm suggesting there's some kind of amusing incongruity between the actual subject matter of The Comic Toolbox (how to write comedy) and the fourth review on that page which appears to have been written by a looney. Sorry if you thought I was slighting John Vorhaus. Although the idea that you can teach someone how to be a comedian in a book seems pretty mad to me.
posted by James Bachman at 3:25 AM on September 17, 2000

Hold on, I've just noticed you wrote 'accidentally'. Perhaps you weren't being over-sensitive after all. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
posted by James Bachman at 3:29 AM on September 17, 2000

Absolutely, Matt, but I wouldn’t read too much into those rankings.

The overall sales of most non-fiction sexuality books is very low; almost all are published by small-time presses and advertised solely through word of mouth. What pushes them up the sales ranks at amazon.com is the fact that, for many people, online’s the only source -- either their local stores don’t carry the books, or they’re too embarrassed to buy them in person. If you’re a school teacher in a small town you probably don’t want your interest in kinky sex getting around.

So whereas a relatively small percentage of a computer book’s sales might come from online, a huge percentage of a sexuality book’s might. That pushes up the amazon.com rankings without being a true reflection of overall sales.

If that convoluted explanation makes sense. :)
posted by Georgina at 7:55 AM on September 17, 2000

Well, Fab4, I have in my library of sick and twisted things an MPEG clip of a woman being double fisted.

She looked like she was enjoying it to *me*...
posted by baylink at 12:52 PM on September 17, 2000

DANGIT. After looking at the links listed earlier in this thread, when I go to Amazon I get ads for the "anal pleasure" book (on the lower left side of the page). Nothing like "targeted" advertising... I guess I'll have to go clear my cookies. J
posted by jamescblack at 8:16 AM on September 18, 2000