Peggy Kleinplatz conducts research on "optimal sexuality." She reports what makes sex extremely rewarding for people who value their sex lives highly throughout their adult lives. Some of her informants are in their eighties. As it turns out, presence, connection, deep mutual caring, extraordinary communication, being uninhibited and authentic, experiencing personal transformation, taking personal risks, having fun, being vulnerable, and surrendering make all the difference. "Normal" performance standards, like orgasm and its timing, for instance, turn out to be less important. So it is not surprising that the collection of sex researchers and sexuality scholars Kleinplatz collects in this second edition of her book on sex therapy innovations and alternatives tell new stories about what sex is, how it can matter to us, why it should, and how professionals can help the sexually challenged find greater--maybe optimal--satisfaction. This edition expands concern that consumer culture is undermining values that enable us to see ourselves and others as deeply feeling beings and to treat each other sexually as such. I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding new ways of thinking about sexuality at this particular point in history.