Review: Dare to Tell the Truth?
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 10, 2012
The game of "Truth or Dare" is a timeless one---it just depends upon the audience to determine the rating it deserves to receive. For grade-school children, a "G" rating is most appropriate. For the adolescent years, the gamut can span anywhere from "G" to "X." (Hey, I was a teenager once. The latter determination was implemented and encouraged by many of my peers, so I can't claim innocence here. Were I to rationalize and justify it, I would simply chalk it up to, erm, youthful bravado and indiscretion.)For people in their twenties and above, the focus within this game is sex. Let's not kid ourselves here: we love sex. It's hard-wired in all of us to varying degrees. Human beings experience the urge to experience hot, wanton coupling at some point throughout our lives. We fantasize about certain individuals and wonder how good they would be in the sack. The desire to talk about and discuss what turns us on needs an appropriate outlet, and Stephen Williams's "Sexy Truth or Dare: A Guide Book to Rekindle Fires and Hook Up With the Hot Ones" provides the reader with a powerful impetus to channel their inner sexiness into a delightfully provocative social interlude that has the potential to become more than just simple flirty banter and innuendo.Williams has forayed into this field numerous times---he has written other titles that encourage individuals/couples to deal with the ennui and frustration that all relationships experience from time to time. Williams encourages his readers to find an acceptable sexual and social medium where all involved are comfortable with not only one another, but primarily themselves and their particular predilections.As with any social parlor game, clear communication is key to success. Being able to express ourselves to our partner(s) in order to get what we want takes lots of practice, and it is vital that it never turns into manipulation of one's partner or of the situation. Williams's suggestions within "Sexy Truth or Dare" are specific enough to elicit direct responses from everyone, while indirectly allowing all participants to practice good communication."Sexy Truth or Dare" is designed to be thought-provoking, and also pushes boundaries. It can become clear all too quickly just what questions are comfortable with some individuals, and what questions make others a bit squeamish. The sensitive host will be alert and astute enough to discreetly steer the conversation to another question, or at least will respect their fellow participants enough to let them graciously withdraw and save face in the process. Being able to do so demonstrates a maturity that reflects well upon that particular person. It also shows a marked sense of empathy for another person's discomfort---and allows for growth on all levels to take place.For those of us who have become seemingly immune to spontaneity in our everyday lives, Williams's book is a welcome respite. It is understandable that, as we assume daily responsibilities and put others before our own needs and wants, the initial sense of fun (coupled with impulsivity) can cool off rather quickly. However, this in no way should ever detract from the fact that all of us need---crave, even---passion and purpose in our existence so that we may feel fulfilled. "Sexy Truth or Dare" provides Williams's readers a small but effective panacea that, if even for a short period of time, allows people to rediscover what it is that attracted them to other people in the first place.