Customer Reviews
Wrong choice - By: Book Lover, 23 Jul 2007 
I bought this edition (the Miniature edition) believing that I was getting a smaller version of the original Oxford edition, perhaps with fewer illustrations. Since I was interestedin the text that was okay with me, but I was so disappointed. Apart from the very few illustrations (which I can tolerate) the text size is so large that you feel like browsing through the book rather than actually reading it. Furthermore, several parts of the text are left out, without this being shownin the "browse" view offered the to customers (the browse displays the original & unabridged version according to the table of contents!). Therefore, I really felt like a fool once I received the pocket version. It seems useful only as a gift idea or curiosity. Next time I'll buy the full version, no matter the price & size & shall not pay attention to the deceiving browsing options offered (Publisher, shame on you!).
Incredibly Relevant - By: J. R. Weir, 12 May 2004 
Firstly the book is very nicely presented, with full colour illustrations from the original Karma Sutra. Once one starts reading the book it becomes clear that despite being almost 800 years old the relationships that the book describes are the same today. If you are looking for a sex guide then this version of the Karma Sutra isn't for you, however if you're looking to read a classic of World Literature AND learn something, including sexual techniques then this is a good choice. The one obvious drawback is that at times the language is difficult, but this reflects a true translation of a 13th century text. A worthwhile & fascinating text!
Life's instruction handbook ... 17 centuries in the making - By: , 31 Mar 2002 I've browsed through a previous version of the Kamasutra & thought of it as a "sex" book.
Now I just had the chance to read this new version which a friend of mine passed me (in my country it will be published soon). I've been quite impressed: it seems more a handbook of life than a book just about sex. After all, who thinks that something about sex is still to be saidin the age of image & hedonism & ... well ... pornography?
This book will still say something to the western world, something about living & having fun & enjoying life. It teaches how to conduct a balanced life, how to find (and recognise) a good partner and, of course, how to have a satisfactory sexual life; & all this comes centuries before Freud!
Expecially women will find something thatin previous translations might have been hidden. Puritanism of the victorian age influenced previous translationin such a way that the book was intended for men. Now the original spirit of some 17 century old indian text returns: women that pretend men to do what women want, women that can get rid of men as they wish, women that are able to send husband back to his mummy.
Yet, it is still a mystery if this new version will help men to understand the everlasting mysterious feminine planet.
