When this work was first published in the first hald of the last century, sexology and the unprejudiced study of sexual activity was in its infancy. In his study of human sexual behaviour, Kinsey was able to state that the majority of human beings had masturbated at one time or another but to us today this seems quite an astonishing statement to have made. The study of human sexuality was surrounded by ignorance and superstition, and the medical profession was regrettably the worst offender and the most ignored. In such a climate, Dr Stekel’s book was a revelation much ahead of its time. This edition first published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.