This book describes Reich's medical and scientific work onthe living organism from his first efforts at the Medical School of the University of Vienna in 1919 to the laboratory experiments in Oslo in 1939 which revealed the existence of a radiating biological energy, orgone energy.
The subject of "sexuality" is basic to this work, and Reich shows clearly its importance for human life and its relevance in understanding the social problems of our time.
Rating 4.5
A deeply thought-out and provacative book
This is my first exposure to Reich, and what he has to say is more relevant today than ever. It's easy to be misled by the title and think its about having more sex, but nothing could be further than the truth. He explores the direct relationship between neuroses (and most of society is neurotic to varying degrees as a result of being raised in an authoritarian manner) and the inability to surrender completely to the the full bio-energetic pleasure of complete orgasm. If you have studied any Tantra you may be aware that what most of us call orgasm is only a genital sneeze, in terms of the possibility available. Thus, we are cut off from the totality of what we are and this is expressed in the energetics of our experience of orgasm, and ultimately, how we live our lives. He also explores the evolution of fascism under these constraints, and how it propogates itself through society. Frightening stuff, particularly in light of current world politics. All in all, a fascinating read, slowed only by old terminology. My only disappointment was the lack of exposition of his therapeutic techniques, other than it appears he is the first to use the breath in healing. This book will open your mind to new ways of thinking about the relationships between our selves, our culture and our politics.
Ignore what you have heard
Wilhelm Reich doesn't have the best reputation these days, but then again, his reputation was never that good. People now say that he was crazy, or had a god-complex, that his experiments can't be reproduced, and so on. I think that he had an unusual sensitivity to human problems and developed novel ways of thinking about them. Whether the cosmic orgone exists or not is not as important as what Reich had to say about society and its effects on the happiness of those who live in it. TFOTO is worth reading if one keeps an open mind and is not distracted by Reich's terminology. There's truth in what he says, even if you don't believe every word.
On the biological and social implications of "love making"
The book focuses on the function of orgasm as an important PART of "healthy" love making. The issues discussed are timeless and at the same time not given the proper importance in our everyday life. Why? The author gives his opinion which is informed by the biological, psychological and social scientific domain.
Nothing to do with the endless numbers of books that come up when one puts in the keyword "orgasm" in any search machine...
It's not about trying to improve your orgasm or trying improve your sex-skills or trying to become that lover that will be able to seduce every female. On the contrary, based on the function of orgasm which is parallelised with that of relaxation it discusses how through, not trying, but SURRENDERING to the function of orgasm one can let go, may unblock muscular and character armouring in that experience, and perhaps unexpectedly but naturally come to a new way of perceiveing life.
Despite the fact that it may be necessary for the reader to be slightly familiar with Reich and his terminology (or psychoanalysis in general) I undoubtedly recomend it to someone who wonders why humanity looks blocked, stressed and cannot let matters go. Why humanity is afraid to surrender to nature and thus discover its function and power, instead of persistently trying to conquer it...
I am afraid I cannot resist to reply to a previous reviewer. Yes, one may say that this book briefly says "Make love, not war", like everyone college freshman says.
"Make love, not war". Simple stuff, nothing new, we know the possible biological, psychological and social threads that turn acts of love to acts of war and if we look around us we can see that humanity has turned this knowledge into lived-life, humanity's life is in harmony with nature...
I don't think so...
