I really can't think of a single thing this book it missing. It's presented in an A-Z format which is much like an encyclopedia. While similar books of this style are geared towards beginners, this book has a wealth of information for experts, as well. I wasn't expecting to learn much from this book seeing as I'm heavily involved on Eden and work in an adult store. I consider myself somewhat of an expert, but I was impressed with everything the book covered and how much it taught me.
In the first part of the book, they give a brief history of sex toys. I really enjoyed reading this. They make sex toys seem totally non-intimidating, and a staple for everyone's bedroom. You can tell from the start that these ladies are true toy enthusiasts. It got me super excited about the book. My favorite quote of the book so far:
"The one who dies with the most sex toys wins." (This made me giggle with excitement. I'm totally working on winning.)
Most of the book is presented in the A-Z format. They cover everything related to toys. They have a good list of retailers, products, techniques, terms, safety information, and just about everything else you would ever want to or need to know about toys.
They give a good rundown of each retailer mentioned. They often compare that retailer's price with the average price found online and consider the pros and cons of each. They also give a brief bit of info about which retailers are the best for different types of products. (Sadly, Eden isn't mentioned, but more on that later.) They provide info on some of the most well-known and top manufacturers in the business.
They do mention a lot of specific products along with the general categories of them. I had heard of and was able to find about 99% of the products mentioned here on Eden. They give an overview of the toy's materials, care and handling, features, price, and where to find the toy. They also make a note of the history of the toy and its place in pop culture. (The
Rabbit Habit was seen on Sex and the City. The
Hello Kitty vibrator was a 'shoulder massager' that caught on as a sex toy and Sanrio sued the manufacturer over that.
Clover clamps caught on after they were seen in Japanese porn.) Think of these entries as mini-reviews. When reviewing general toy categories (such as 'butt plug' or 'wand massager', they do make sure to give you very general information about the toy's uses, but also mention the ones that stand out in that category.
Here's a brief sample of the products mentioned in the book:
Little Flirt Butt Plug
Hitachi Magic Wand
Aneros Prostate Massager
I Rub My Ducky
KamaSutra Honey Dust
Fleshlight
Layaspot
They offer a lot of information about terminology. You'll find the obvious entries about anatomy-related terms, but you'll also see some unique terms such as a "monogamous toy" (which is one you can't share due to health-related reasons. Some of their definitions for the unique terms are informative, while others are for sheer humor, such as "bachelor-party paraphernalia" (strippers).
The book is full of great ideas on how to use certain items for DIY sex-toys (safely, of course). They offer up uses for things like ice cubes, Altoids, iPods, and headphones. They also cover things such as naming your toys and etiquette.
In the back of the book, you'll find a ton of information on safety. This appendix things such as materials, porosity, STDs, sharing, and anything else you need to know about playing it safe.
I was really surprised at how much of a variety this book had. I loved seeing that kinkier things were covered, as well. A lot of books like this often neglect to include BDSM equiment. This book covers everything from lubes and traditional vibrators, to gimp suits and ball stretchers. It's also helpful for people of all sexualities. It includes information on harnesses, double-ended dildos, and anything else hetero-centered books usually leave out.
**This book was written in 2006. Sadly, they do not mention Eden at all. My guess is that when this book was written, Eden was still "underground". I was, however, surprised to find that most of the products in the book are still being made and offered here on Eden. Apparently Em & Lo have taken a liking to Eden. If you visit their website, they sometimes have coupons for Eden, and feature an ad on their site.
emandlo.com
I love how I see Flexi Felix, I Rub My Duckie, LELO Nea, Smartballs, The Eroscillator, the Fleshlight, and a Hitachi on the cover. I was surprised at how many I knew off the top of my head. I'm way too involved in toys.