My expectations for the Handjob Handbook were high, especially based on the humorous handjob titles listed on the back of the book. Even the subtitle, “A Tale of Non-Friction,” was witty—exactly the kind of tone I would in expect in a book about handjobs.

However, on receiving the book, I was a bit dismayed at its appearance. The puffy cover and thick cardboard pages seemed more suited to a children's book. While I would like to give the authors and publishers the benefit of the doubt (perhaps they sought to guard their work against the variety of fluids involved in handjobs), it seems more likely that they are really only trying to disguise the fact that the book has less than forty pages and the information could easily be summed up in a pamphlet.

Nevertheless, the quality content of the Handjob Handbook makes up for the lack of quantity to some extent. In addition to the promised twenty-five signature handjobs, the Handbook contains a special page on “Man-Atomy,” a lighthearted sex-ed refresher. This is somewhat helpful as many of the handjobs refer to various parts of your man's parts, and it provides a common set of names. One of my favorite features of the book was the system of symbols used to designate handjobs as “Appetizers,” “Quickies,” “Special Occasion,” and “D.I.Y.s.” This, in addition to a difficulty ranking system that ranges from one to five hands, makes browsing and choosing a handjob much easier.

I won't go so far as to say that the book is a waste, but I am certainly glad I didn't shell out thirteen dollars for it. Most of the handjobs have only two or three steps and are the kind of thing one seems to do naturally once they get comfortable with a partner. The best piece of advice I took from the book was to use two hands and lots of lube—my husband agrees it was a worthwhile read!