The Kama Sutra was the first sex manual in recorded history, and became wildly popular in Europe when Sir Richard Burton (the explorer, not Elizabeth Taylor's husband) translated it into English. Why? Because this work of art, literature, and wisdom treated sex and sexuality as a sacrament, not something dirty or something to be hidden away. It laid down clear guidelines and rules for courtship and love, and then gave advice on what to do when those social rituals bore fruit - it gave clear and understandable sex advice.

This was revolutionary for Victorian England, the repressed time period when little sleeves were put over piano legs because they looked too sexual. Sir Richard Burton was ostracized, and after his death his widow burned all his papers rather than allow them to be released.

In the 1960s, the Kamasutra was reclaimed, and today holds a position at the very forefront of sexual literature. Possibly the best modern edition of the Kama Sutra is Essential Kama Sutra, a modern version using lots of not-shy photographs to illustrate precisely what is being discussed. Instead of prudishly avoiding showing the act of penetration as many modern Kama Sutra books do, the Essential Kama Sutra takes joy in showing man and woman linked together in harmony.

The Kama Sutra was never all about sex, a fact that many modern versions just don't get. It was, instead, about a way of life, a way men and women could behave together that ensured maximum spiritual as well as physical pleasure. This book understands that. Instead of focusing on packing in sexual position after position, it uses interviews with people who have used it to find joy and fulfillment in their lives. Participants who were photographed look genuinely happy, and their statements show that it goes beyond just looks.

Why are you interested in Kama Sutra? If it's for the sexual release, you can get that in a variety of places. The Essential Kama Sutra is not about that, though sex is a part of it. Instead, it is about touching one another spiritually and emotionally on a deeper level, about being together in a way that brings both of you to a higher plane of fulfillment.

If you want to find a deeper way to pleasure for yourself and your partner, The Essential Kama Sutra may be your perfect guide. It can bring back the passion and excitement into a long term relationship that may have slowly faded over tim. Use it with joy!