After more than three decades of research by the Frankfurt Institute of Sexology this collection presents the efforts by 60 respected scientists from all over the world: 200 fascinating articles about the life and work of important personalities in sexology.

Scientific research into human sexuality began 150 years ago. Volkmar Sigusch, one of the most respected sexologists of our times, presents an historical overview of research, not only into our most intimate desires and practices, but our physical and emotional sufferings as well. A witness to contemporary history himself, the author also describes developments in Germany and in the U.S.A. (Alfred C. Kinsey) since the 1950s. His book shows clearly that research into sexual desire has always aimed at liberating the most natural thing in the world from the sinful blemish that moralists would like to attach to it.