My Own Way: The History of Phallic Culture

Author: (USA) Friedman, D.
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-04-01
Features: "This is the kind of book I love: one that cleverly and engagingly discusses the subject that is sometimes grandiose and sometimes private, paradoxical yet completely human. I Do It My Way blends science, myth, and history into a truly thought-provoking masterpiece." — Lucy Grealy, author of The Autobiography of a Face
Whether the penis is seen as humanity's enemy or friend, demon or god, the source of happiness and satisfaction or the root of worldly troubles, it has driven humans to painstakingly decipher its enduring mystery. In this field of wisdom-opening and heart-entertaining cultural studies, this book has emerged, arguing the pivotal role the penis has played in Western civilization. Men can place their masculinity in control, but who ultimately holds the reins? Is the penis a man's treasure—or a beast? "How should humans use it? And at what point does its use become abuse? Among all human organs, only the penis forces humans to confront a contradictory situation: sometimes persistent, sometimes reluctant; this tool can both create and destroy, both be attached to the body and often seem detached from it. This eternal mystery has made the penis both revered as a hero and vilified as a villain in the life drama of every man—and of all humanity.
"If you pick up I Do It My Way with a slight suspicion, thinking its value lies only in entertaining readers, you'd be wrong. Because you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that David M. Friedman's work is truly a masterpiece in the realm of knowledge: on the surface, it tells the history of the organ that men cherish and revere as a god, but in reality, it describes, from an existentialist perspective, the androcentrism (including the anxiety about penis size) and other factors that have driven the process of world civilization. Friedman displays his profound knowledge with ease. The erotic examples he mentions not only do not diminish the charm of the work but also enhance its brilliant prose. Despite its playful and witty tone, the book raises serious questions about the complex relationship between power and desire. It is a superior work of cultural history—filled with meticulously observed material, free from current clichés, and in summary, a captivating masterpiece." — Daphne Merkin, author of Hitler's Dream
David M. Friedman's biography of a part of the human body is both witty and well-researched, while also serving as a history of a certain idea and a research report on a certain symbol, boldly exploring the unpredictable relationship between human thought and the unruly human body. As required by the central theme of the work, I Do It My Way is thought-provoking throughout. — Anthony Holden, author of William Shakespeare: The Man Behind the Genius
In I Do It My Way, David M. Friedman shows that the penis is not just a part of the human 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 possess a penis; but how to perceive, feel, and use this organ is a non-scientific fact. Because new ideas about the penis involve the more elusive puzzle of the relationship between humans and the penis, and will completely change how humans view and use this organ, they can thus mark major turning points in Western history. I Do It My Way paints this complex and rarely explored story with concise and brilliant skill. In ancient times, the penis was revered as a god by pagan cultures; early Roman Christianity saw it as a demon, later to be secularized by anatomists like Leonardo da Vinci. For the purpose of elevating the status of certain races while suppressing others, this organ was even "scientifically" measured. Then, Sigmund Freud psychoanalyzed it. As a result, the penis became the key to unlocking various complexes in the field of psychology—whether in patients with the organ or those envious of those who possess it. 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 commercial story about health. The era of Viagra actually marks the beginning of a new—or perhaps the last—chapter in the longest-running story of men and their penises. I Do It My Way depicts the ever-changing course of this relationship: sometimes amusing, occasionally worrying, but never boring. David Friedman, with his rational rigor and witty, satirical prose, has written a cultural work in recent years that is both thought-provoking, significant, and highly readable.