Original Chinese: ： Translation to English: Go My Own Way: The History of Phallic Culture

Author: (American) Friedman
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-04-01
Features: "This is the kind of book I love: It smartly and engagingly describes and discusses the subject that sometimes appears grandiose and sometimes private, contrary to logic yet perfectly human. I'm OK, You're OK blends science, myth, and history into a thought-provoking masterpiece. 'Whether viewed as humanity's enemy or friend, demon or god, a source of happiness or a root of worldly troubles, the penis has driven humans to painstakingly decode its enduring mysteries. In this field that enlightens and delights, this book emerges, arguing the pivotal role of the penis in Western civilization's history. Men can claim ownership of their sexuality, but who really holds whom in their grip? Is the penis a man's treasure—or a beast? How should humans use it? At what point does it become abuse? Of all human organs, only the penis forces humanity to confront contradictions: sometimes steadfast, sometimes hesitant; a tool that can both create and destroy, attached to the body yet often appearing detached. This eternal mystery elevates the penis as a hero in the drama of every man—and of all humanity—as well as a villain. If you pick up I'm OK, You're OK with a hint of skepticism, thinking its value lies only in entertaining readers, you'd be wrong. You'll be delighted to discover that David M. Friedman's work is nothing short of a masterpiece in the realm of knowledge: on the surface, it tells the history of an organ revered by men as a treasure and a god, but in reality, it describes from an existentialist perspective the centrality of patriarchy (including anxieties about penis size) and other factors driving the civilization of the world. Friedman displays his vast erudition with ease. The pornographic examples he mentions not only enhance the book's charm but also shine his brilliant prose. Despite its playful and witty tone, the work raises serious questions about the complex relationship between power and desire. It is a superior cultural history—filled with meticulously observed details, free from contemporary clichés—a truly captivating and outstanding masterpiece.'—Daphne Merkin, author of Hitler's Dream
'David M. Friedman's biography of a part of the human body is both playful and erudite, a history of a certain idea and a study of a certain symbol, a bold exploration of the ever-changing relationship between human thought and the unyielding human body.' As the central theme of the work demands, I'm OK, You're OK is full of thought-provoking insights throughout. —Anthony Holden, author of William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius
In I'm OK, You're OK, David M. Friedman shows that the penis is not just a part of the body. It is an idea, a rational yet physical measure of a man's place in the world. It is a scientific fact that men have penises; but how we perceive, feel, and use this organ is a non-scientific fact. Because new thinking about the penis involves the more complex mystery of humanity's relationship with it, and will fundamentally change how we view and use the organ, it can thus mark major turning points in Western history. I'm OK, You're OK uses concise and excellent techniques to paint this complex and rarely explored story. In ancient times, the penis was revered as a god by pagan cultures, seen as a demon by early Roman Christians, and later secularized by anatomists like Leonardo da Vinci. To elevate the status of certain races while suppressing others, this organ was even 'scientifically' measured. Sigmund Freud psychoanalyzed it, which made the penis the key to understanding various psychological complexes—whether in patients who possessed it or those who envied those who did. After being politicized by the feminist movement and heavily exploited by popular culture, the penis is now medicalized. Before Friedman, no one had explained why the emergence of products like Viagra is not just a health-related business story. The era of Viagra's appearance is actually a new—or perhaps the last—chapter of one of the longest legends in human history: the story of men and their penises. I'm OK, You're OK depicts the ever-changing relationship between them: sometimes humorous, occasionally concerning, but never boring. David Friedman, with his rational rigor and witty, satirical style, has written a thought-provoking, significant, and highly readable cultural work in recent years.