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Missing Collection
The Button
Press here for pleasure. Only Wednesday Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Primates of Park Avenue, could combine anthropology, anecdote, and adventure to hilariously right an anatomic wrong.
For millennia, the woman’s most sensitive part has been maligned, misrepresented, and cut out entirely from medical texts, our culture, and our general understanding of female sexuality. Not anymore. Join Martin in the “cliteracy� movement—a stimulating quest from ancient Greece to medieval Europe to the Costa Rican rain forest to rediscover the significance, the symbolic power, the cultural history, the intimidation, the scandal, the vast terrain, and the pleasure of “the button.�
Wednesday Martin’s The Button is part of Missing, a collection of six true stories about finding, restoring, or accepting the losses that define our lives—from the mysterious to the inspiring. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.
46 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
653 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Wednesday Martin
7Ìýbooks285ÌýfollowersWednesday Martin, Ph.D., is a social researcher and the author of Stepmonster: a New Look at Why Real Stepmothers Think, Feel, and Act the Way We Do (2009). She is a regular contributor to Psychology Today () and blogs for the Huffington Post and on her own web site (). She has appeared as a stepparenting expert on NPR, the BBC Newshour, Fox News and NBC Weekend Today, and was a regular contributor to the New York Post’s parenting page. Stepmonster is a finalist in the parenting category of this year’s “Books for a Better Lifeâ€� award.
A stepmother for nearly a decade, Wednesday lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her stepdaughters are young adults.
A stepmother for nearly a decade, Wednesday lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. Her stepdaughters are young adults.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
November 30, 2018
Audiobook narrated by the author, Wednesday Martin 1h
It was my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend, Dawn and her convincing review that brought this book to my attention. A book focusing on the glorious clitoris, that mysterious part of the female anatomy that many including-a hell of a lot of people through the centuries(as mentioned) and college boys deny exists. Lovingly referred to in this collection as "the button," Wednesday Martin dispels the myths while also providing fascinating information. Personally, it continues to amaze( and perhaps scare) me that the medical profession still sticks its head in the sand when it surrounds women's health. So sad that our anatomy continues to frighten so many that you're a rebel without funding if you pursue a closer look at the female anatomy. But I shall get off my pedestal and just recommend it.
It was my Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend, Dawn and her convincing review that brought this book to my attention. A book focusing on the glorious clitoris, that mysterious part of the female anatomy that many including-a hell of a lot of people through the centuries(as mentioned) and college boys deny exists. Lovingly referred to in this collection as "the button," Wednesday Martin dispels the myths while also providing fascinating information. Personally, it continues to amaze( and perhaps scare) me that the medical profession still sticks its head in the sand when it surrounds women's health. So sad that our anatomy continues to frighten so many that you're a rebel without funding if you pursue a closer look at the female anatomy. But I shall get off my pedestal and just recommend it.
August 27, 2018
5*! Whoa!!!! Women, as well as men, - don’t miss this short story! The Button - a euphemism of sorts for the clitoris- and our great lack of understanding, education, and research on it. You will be blown away (I was and I’ve been in the medical field for over 20 years and have taken many anatomy and gross anatomy classes) at what has been blatantly missing from what we know about this female organ. Seriously, it’s really unbelievable what I learned in this short story about a part of my body I’ve been living with my whole life. Cliteracy- as one artist and educator has coined it. Her Instagram @clitorosity will show you what, has fairly recently been discovered, the entire female genitalia looks like, only it’s hidden. Not an ‘outie� like the male counterpart. And it’s never been labeled or dissected or spoken of in any anatomy book I ever read or any anatomy class I was ever enrolled in. And size for size, it’s the same as male genitalia. Mic drop! Thoroughly enlightening but at the same time feeling a little ripped off as a female. The author touches on why this has been ‘shoved under the rug� (ha!) for so long.
As I stated in the four previous short story reviews I’ve recently read, The Button is also from the recently released Amazon Original Stories ‘Missing� series. Each one is uniquely different (ahem, this one) and all have been great so far. If you’re an Amazon Prime Member, these six non-fiction short stories are free to download via the Prime Reading perk of your membership. Free Audible download available for each one also. All take an hour or less to read. One more to go for me to finish this series. Highly recommend them all as they’ve been some of the best I’ve read this year!
As I stated in the four previous short story reviews I’ve recently read, The Button is also from the recently released Amazon Original Stories ‘Missing� series. Each one is uniquely different (ahem, this one) and all have been great so far. If you’re an Amazon Prime Member, these six non-fiction short stories are free to download via the Prime Reading perk of your membership. Free Audible download available for each one also. All take an hour or less to read. One more to go for me to finish this series. Highly recommend them all as they’ve been some of the best I’ve read this year!
December 3, 2021
This book is written by an anthropologist and it shows. Backed by sound research, this sharp and hilarious novella traces how science has sometimes intentionally skipped the importance of the clitoris in female sexual pleasure. It takes you through the male lens that viewed science for centuries and therefore established the female sex as inferior. This also affected the degree to which female anatomy was studied. It is a fascinating read.
December 7, 2024
Sex Education
In this short book I learned more than I ever knew before about female anatomy. Having spent my entire adult life in the medical field, one would think I should not have been surprised at anything I learned therein, but I was.
The story began innocuously enough with the study of female spider monkeys. This book was well done and probably things anyone having sex should have a rudimentary knowledge of. I knew that I was going to be embarrassed writing this review, so forgive me if I am less than forthcoming. Four star education.
In this short book I learned more than I ever knew before about female anatomy. Having spent my entire adult life in the medical field, one would think I should not have been surprised at anything I learned therein, but I was.
The story began innocuously enough with the study of female spider monkeys. This book was well done and probably things anyone having sex should have a rudimentary knowledge of. I knew that I was going to be embarrassed writing this review, so forgive me if I am less than forthcoming. Four star education.
August 14, 2018
Did not expect this book to be so forthcoming about the clitoris, but I am glad it was. Proves how far we must still all go to fully understand both sexes. Yes, Wednesday Martin did have an agenda, usually a fun buster for this reader. But Martin had a need to express herself along with the scientific evidence she produces on the page. This is an important read for those who can. Unfortunately our culture at the moment does not promote reading in order to learn. Rather the focus is on entertainment the likes of, say, John Grisham.
September 19, 2018
Not about clothing
This is about female anatomy. It is to the point, interesting, and slightly embarrassing all at the same time. I was uncomfortable reading this at first, but I loosened up after a while.
This is about female anatomy. It is to the point, interesting, and slightly embarrassing all at the same time. I was uncomfortable reading this at first, but I loosened up after a while.
August 9, 2018
makes you wonder why men or any one who is not nice or sort of negative against ladies can or could be so cruel ... women are amazing and their bodies are too ...give credit where credit is due and respect. RESPECT! some men need to get a clue. learning is so important, it did open my eyes and thoughts to a new thought or 2. thx! loved this series ... i think it is called the Missing Series by AMAZON ...such a great listen ... opens your mind and hearts more. ( ;
April 3, 2022
So I was not prepared to hear the word "clitoris" repeated 100 times in the span of an hour - My fault for not reading the synopsis first, I guess. It was worth the shock.
This is a fascinating essay about a "misrepresented, misunderstood, disregarded, dissed, and disappeared" aspect of the female anatomy. And how there is so much more to it than the "button."
This is a fascinating essay about a "misrepresented, misunderstood, disregarded, dissed, and disappeared" aspect of the female anatomy. And how there is so much more to it than the "button."
February 12, 2021
Weird but good
The button
I feel like i learned alot about a subject i still dont know that i really wanted all this information about but it was still an interesting read.
The button
I feel like i learned alot about a subject i still dont know that i really wanted all this information about but it was still an interesting read.
November 25, 2018
I recently read a book entitled THE WOMAN IN THE STRONGBOX, about a mysterious girl who went missing, created a false identity, and then lived her life as another person. I enjoyed the book so when I saw that it was part of a 'Missing' series, I grabbed the others. I next read AFTER WORDS which turned out to be the story of a woman recovering from a stroke (the element that was 'missing' was part of her vocabulary, which she worked to regain). The next book I read from the series was THE BUTTON, which was all about the clitoris (apparently what was 'missing' was information about the clitoris!). These books were moderately interesting, but not something I would have read had it not been for misunderstanding what the 'series' was about.
August 20, 2018
This is part of the Amazon Singles series and it's a part of a collection of shorts called Missing collection. I fail to understand how this short about clitorises fits in with the theme of missing things and or people.
It's not a short story about a women who wakes up one day and finds that her clit has flown the coop
Nope.
Though that would have been an interesting story, it's all about women and their clits and Gspots and orgasming.
It's not a short story about a women who wakes up one day and finds that her clit has flown the coop
Nope.
Though that would have been an interesting story, it's all about women and their clits and Gspots and orgasming.
August 16, 2018
"There is a real intellectual excision."
-Dr. Pierre Foldes
This quote alone is probably what saved this book from a scathing review. I admit, I am the target audience of this book, however, I am not pleased with the crudeness of it. I like arguments to sway me with hard evidence and not rude, uncouth ramblings. It's not for me.
-Dr. Pierre Foldes
This quote alone is probably what saved this book from a scathing review. I admit, I am the target audience of this book, however, I am not pleased with the crudeness of it. I like arguments to sway me with hard evidence and not rude, uncouth ramblings. It's not for me.
October 28, 2024
This is one of the ways to write about the clitoris that didn't work for me... I was confused for a big portion of the book.
My first confusion is how we jumped from her trip to Costa Rica, finally find some Spider Monkeys and started crying when she saw the hanging clitoris in own of the females. To then go into a textbook talk about how the cliteris has been coming and going in science, society, history and the moments of today's date on giving the clitoris the importance it deserves.
I did learn something new, clitorides is the plural.
These are some of the extra readings that I'm going to consider later from the Selected Sources section:
â—� This Mortal Coil: The Human Body in History and Culture by Fay Bound Alberti
â—� Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier
â—� Crossing Boundaries: Attending to Early Modern Women Edited by Jane Donawerth and Adele Seeff
â—� The Clitoral Truth: The Secret World at Your Fingertips by Rebecca Chalker
â—� The G Spot: And Other Discoveries about Human Sexuality by Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple, John Perry
â—� Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud by Thomas Laqueur
� Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get It by Laurie Mintz
â—� Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
� Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jethá
â—� Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within by Latham Thomas
â—� Women's Anatomy of Arousal: Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure by Sheri Winston
My first confusion is how we jumped from her trip to Costa Rica, finally find some Spider Monkeys and started crying when she saw the hanging clitoris in own of the females. To then go into a textbook talk about how the cliteris has been coming and going in science, society, history and the moments of today's date on giving the clitoris the importance it deserves.
I did learn something new, clitorides is the plural.
These are some of the extra readings that I'm going to consider later from the Selected Sources section:
â—� This Mortal Coil: The Human Body in History and Culture by Fay Bound Alberti
â—� Woman: An Intimate Geography by Natalie Angier
â—� Crossing Boundaries: Attending to Early Modern Women Edited by Jane Donawerth and Adele Seeff
â—� The Clitoral Truth: The Secret World at Your Fingertips by Rebecca Chalker
â—� The G Spot: And Other Discoveries about Human Sexuality by Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple, John Perry
â—� Making Sex: Body and Gender from the Greeks to Freud by Thomas Laqueur
� Becoming Cliterate: Why Orgasm Equality Matters—And How to Get It by Laurie Mintz
â—� Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
� Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jethá
â—� Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within by Latham Thomas
â—� Women's Anatomy of Arousal: Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure by Sheri Winston
September 14, 2018
Wow indeed!
I have no words. Everyone should read this 1 hour short story of history of womens anatomy and the inferiority complex, shame and even death. We've come a long way, but I believe we need to continue to educate. Males included!
I have no words. Everyone should read this 1 hour short story of history of womens anatomy and the inferiority complex, shame and even death. We've come a long way, but I believe we need to continue to educate. Males included!
December 3, 2020
Whoaaa!
I never imagined I would enjoy a book about the pudenda, (or hoo-ha, man in a boat, button, if you prefer) so much! And who knew the history of the clitoris was so oppressive and controversial! Men and women alike should read this fascinating book.
I never imagined I would enjoy a book about the pudenda, (or hoo-ha, man in a boat, button, if you prefer) so much! And who knew the history of the clitoris was so oppressive and controversial! Men and women alike should read this fascinating book.
August 6, 2018
Cliteracy! About Time
A very educational and entertaining book that goes from fascinating to totally unbelievable. Before reading this book I've never given much thought to the clitoris, I mean I know its there alright and what a unique part of the female body it is. Wednesday definitely help me rediscover the significance, the symbolic power and the history of the "button."
A very educational and entertaining book that goes from fascinating to totally unbelievable. Before reading this book I've never given much thought to the clitoris, I mean I know its there alright and what a unique part of the female body it is. Wednesday definitely help me rediscover the significance, the symbolic power and the history of the "button."
November 11, 2024
An interesting and brief history of the clitoris - blamed, ignored, found again, and celebrated.
August 13, 2018
Though she's too polite to come right out and say so, I'm thinking the petite, small-breasted Dr. Martin is feeling very smug. Read the book to find out why. An educational and entertaining read.
October 23, 2024
I really wanted to like this story since the premise sounded very interesting and something that I would enjoy. However, as I kept reading this felt like a school reading and nothing that really peaked my interest. It truly felt like a reading that I had to read for school or something that would be an article. I just didn't like the writing style either, it just didn't keep me entertained or left me wanting to continue reading. Even if it seems like an article, there are ways to keep the reader captivated but there was just nothing that I liked.
May 26, 2020
"As I dug into my topic, it quickly became clear that no organ has been quite so misrepresented, misunderstood, disregarded, dissed, and disappeared as the clitoris."
"For centuries our European forebears believed that women could be witches, responsible for such evils as natural disasters and famine and plagues—and the clitoris was supposedly the source of their wickedness."
"Victorians didn’t have much nice to say when it was their turn, going so far as to assert the clitoris and orgasm, being unnecessary for conception, were unhealthy and perhaps even harmful for women."
This book is fascinating and a must read for everyone. Part of Amazon's 'Missing Collection', it is informative, funny, and important; the Button details the history of the clitoris, the latest research and developments, and the battle it has had for recognition of its existence, its role in sexual pleasure, and even its shape and size.
"For centuries our European forebears believed that women could be witches, responsible for such evils as natural disasters and famine and plagues—and the clitoris was supposedly the source of their wickedness."
"Victorians didn’t have much nice to say when it was their turn, going so far as to assert the clitoris and orgasm, being unnecessary for conception, were unhealthy and perhaps even harmful for women."
This book is fascinating and a must read for everyone. Part of Amazon's 'Missing Collection', it is informative, funny, and important; the Button details the history of the clitoris, the latest research and developments, and the battle it has had for recognition of its existence, its role in sexual pleasure, and even its shape and size.
February 5, 2019
A very eye-opening and informative read. I have a great interest in history, particularly women's history, and this was definitely fascinating. Wednesday Martin gives detailed facts about how women's sexuallity and bodies were viewed throughout history (primarily by men), and how those views dictated how women were treated socially, and even by the medical community. And though things have gotten better in most societies for female sexuality, we've still got a long way to go. Majority of women are still sexually repressed because our own sexuality is not dictated by us. There was definitely a strong theme throughout the book about women being empowered by their bodies and their sexuality, which I found very refreshing.
Side note: it's a pretty short read. I read it in under an hour. I was actually disappointed it wasn't longer because I was rivated.
Side note: it's a pretty short read. I read it in under an hour. I was actually disappointed it wasn't longer because I was rivated.
August 30, 2018
Young people can read these reviews so I have to be very careful what I say here. This is an Amazon Short from the Missing series.
The missing thing in this story is a part of a woman's reproductive system, which has never been given any importance in medicine, sexuality, sociology, etc.
Due to advanced in medical technology and psychology, we now have learned some surprising information about this part of our selves. I think the coolest thing is, men have nothing like it at all!
Thanks to what I have read here, I am going to re-have "the talk" with my daughter.
The missing thing in this story is a part of a woman's reproductive system, which has never been given any importance in medicine, sexuality, sociology, etc.
Due to advanced in medical technology and psychology, we now have learned some surprising information about this part of our selves. I think the coolest thing is, men have nothing like it at all!
Thanks to what I have read here, I am going to re-have "the talk" with my daughter.
August 19, 2018
From the Missing Collection, 6 different short reads about a subject that is missing in some way. In this particular short, it's a general shortage of information regarding the clitoris. It was an interesting read because I had no idea that the item had been so overlooked for so long. I had no idea that there was such a thing as an internal clitoris or how it reacted in a sexual situation. Now I do.
August 27, 2020
Finally?
I say "finally" as though this is something new. It isn't. It's just new to me. Women tend to expect men to be aware of their pleasure zones when many of these same women don't know all of them their selves. This short paper is a great introduction to a part of female anatomy that both men and women need to understand. However, this is just an introduction - like dipping your toe in the water before you jump in.
I say "finally" as though this is something new. It isn't. It's just new to me. Women tend to expect men to be aware of their pleasure zones when many of these same women don't know all of them their selves. This short paper is a great introduction to a part of female anatomy that both men and women need to understand. However, this is just an introduction - like dipping your toe in the water before you jump in.
August 25, 2018
A very educational and entertaining book that goes from fascinating to totally unbelievable. Before reading this book I've never given much thought to the clitoris, I mean I know its there alright and what a unique part of the female body it is. Wednesday definitely help me rediscover the significance, the symbolic power and the history of the "button."
August 31, 2018
I downloaded this free audio book without reading the description. I assumed it was some sort of mystery since it’s part of Amazon’s “missing� series. Then I started listening and was a bit surprised by the subject matter. 😂 It was informative, though, and definitely worth a listen if you’re interested in female anatomy.
August 20, 2018
1 star because I couldn't give less
This is the first time I have ever given 1 star . I didn't finish the book because of the content . It started with a monkeys sex organs then went on to human sex organs.
This is the first time I have ever given 1 star . I didn't finish the book because of the content . It started with a monkeys sex organs then went on to human sex organs.
September 8, 2018
It was a struggle getting through this short read. Some of the history was interesting as well as some of the facts, but the whole thing came across as an angry rant rather than something to enlighten the masses.
August 12, 2018
(Zero stars) Do yourself a favor and don’t read this overly specific riff on the clitoris. I mean, really?
September 13, 2018
Read it, was very disappointed. Thought it would be a much better read.
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