I was eager to read The Lowdown on Going Down because I am sorely lacking in cunnilingus skills (a status probably shared with many other men), yet I am aware of how pleasurable oral sex can be for women (She Comes First does an excellent job explaining why). While my most important learning tool is the lady I love, Marcy Michael's book has certainly helped speed along my learning.

The most distinctive thing that The Lowdown on Going Down has (one that I have not seen in other books) is a list of exercises to limber up the lips and increase control and stamina. For those of you who want a value-added package, Marcy lists the other benefits of having an agile mouth beyond a happy partner, but shouldn't a happy partner be reason enough to tone the tongue? The exercises require little in the way of materials (no Tongueflex machine needed here, just some Cheerios for a few of the exercises), and once mastered most of the exercises can be done anywhere without much embarrassment. There's even a skills check at the end of the exercises so you can be sure your tongue is in tip-top form and ready to go; but this book doesn't stop there.

In addition to the tongue and lip exercises, The Lowdown on Going Down has plenty of other tips and information, including sections on female anatomy and a brief reprise of safe oral sex practices (I know most of us know them, but if it keeps one person healthy it's worth repeating). One of the nice surprises I found was the chapter on kissing, which held a number of little tidbits that I hadn't thought about before.

The sections on cunnilingus technique are reasonably complete, including a wealth of options that concentrate on practical techniques and positions that don't require too much acrobatic ability, a definite plus. There are a couple of advanced positions included for the limber couples who want to try them.

The book is written in a fluid style, with plenty of “if she likes this, she might also like...” suggestions that you can put together how you want – a salad bar of possibilities rather than a fixed-menu dinner downtown. There's a section on non-genital erogenous zones that you can include in your play to spice things up, a chapter on using sex toys during cunnilingus, and a bit on the possibilities and the pitfalls of introducing food into oral lovemaking.

So far I feel that I have barely scratched the surface of what this book offers, but I know that I have already improved my skills and look forward to further progress (and practice...)

The Lowdown on Going Down definitely merits a position in my permanent library, joining She Comes First in my “essential cunnilingus reference” section (Dewey 613.96, just in case you wanted to know). A five-star book, and certainly worth having. Neither you nor your partner will be disappointed.