Review: Reach Out, Reach Out and Touch Someone
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 8, 2012
"Reach out/Reach out and touch someone."For those of us who are in their forties and above, these words from the Bell Telephone TV jingles are memorable. The entire gist of these ads, which aired in the late 1970s and continued through the mid-80s (until Congress deregulated the telephone industry), was to engender communication with our friends and loved ones (in addition to selling millions of rotary-dial and push-button phones).Of course, the days of black desk phones are long gone; however, communication will always be here to stay. Within the realm of personal relationships, improving our own communication skills in terms of how we get along with and understand our significant other is always a good thing.Talking about having better communication is one thing---doing something about it is another thing altogether. To help aid in a better tete-a-tete, Stephen Williams has written yet another how-to tome, "Hot Games: Play and Get Hot!" Williams writes his book in hopes of helping those of us who are suffering through relationship crises (as he does with nearly all his works), and in nearly all cases, he offers sound, practical advice and suggestions for improvement. In short, he comes across as a blend of Zig Ziglar, Norman Vincent Peale, Dr. Phil, and a pinch of Dr. Ruth Westheimer."Hot Games" focuses upon pleasing your partner in the bedroom, and focusing primarily upon foreplay. Williams emphasizes the importance of the latter and how vital it is to master. It also helps, of course, to speak up and ask your partner what she enjoys and also what she finds uncomfortable. By being sensitive to her needs and practicing empathy, it stands to reason that she would feel appreciated and loved, which in turn might make her amenable to trying new and different things in bed. Following through on all of this will ostensibly lead to greater communication.Williams leads his readers into a world of gentle bondage and domination/submission in the book---into fields where open communication is vital for personal and for safety reasons. In the event that one or both parties have little or no experience in these fetishes, it is paramount that boundaries be inquired about and ultimately respected. Being able to keep an open dialogue with one another while participating in said experiences may not always lead to more exploration here; however, what is most important is that mutual love and respect are maintained between both parties. This is where Williams shines---he consistently encourages both parties to discuss and explore these new experiences so that lovemaking in the bedroom does not get stale, mundane, or unadventurous.Of course, Williams presumes that his readers are partial to being bound in love cuffs, which is not always the case with some couples. However, he recovers nicely throughout "Hot Games" by focusing relentlessly upon the reader giving of themselves to their partner, rather than focusing upon themselves. This unselfishness is never explicitly stated in the book, but the astute reader will be able to discern its intent."Hot Games" is an interesting and educational read, and for those who also enjoy their gentle spankings and lashings with a soft velvet crop, the book is well worth the time and money.