Robert E. Penn

In the past decade gay men have been deluged with books about AIDS, safe sex, and HIV prevention. And while many of these books have been useful, their emphasis on AIDS often precluded discussion of other aspects of physical and mental health. There are many specifically gay male health issues that are never discussed in health books written for the general public, from the pleasures and pitfalls of anal sex to living in a subculture that emphasizes the idealized body to dealing with the homophobia that confronts gay people every day. Robert E. Penn, under the auspices of the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, has written a complete guide to gay male health that, along with supplying complete information on HIV and AIDS, deals with nutrition, aging, common physical ailments, abuse issues, body building, and sexual health. Penn's style is readable and his medical information is clearly explained and up-to-date. The Gay Men's Wellness Guide is an important addition to the ever-growing literature on AIDS and health issues.… (mehr)