I was recently researching the topic of “how to kiss good” when I happened to come across a book called The Art of Kissing by Hugh Morris. Such a lofty sounding title for something as simple as pressing lips together, I thought.

Kids know how to kiss. Babies know how to kiss. Old people, young people, short people, tall people, skinny and stout people all know how to kiss. Is there that much to know about how to kiss someone for it to become an art?

Still, I couldn’t stop from wondering if this book might reveal a little kissing trick or two. Maybe even something that I could try on the wife? I think her birthday is coming up next month.

Notions of secret kissing exercises for developing super-muscular lips danced in my head. Could this Art of Kissing book reveal to me the secrets of how to achieve kissing greatness? Am I destined for gold at the next Kissing Olympics?

My hopes were mildly put into check when I looked at the date of publication. 1936. Oh yippee. That’s over 70 years ago. Kissing back then probably had something to do with powdered wigs and smelling salts. Oh swoon, oh swoon! OK, so maybe history isn’t my strong suit.

As it turns out, according to the Art of Kissing learning how to kiss good today is not all that different from what it was like in 1936. That’s because the Art of Kissing covers more than just kissing definitions and techniques. Nearly half the topics in the book deal with all the preparation and seduction that leads up to kissing, which is quite difficult to define.

I love this quote from the book’s introduction:

“For a kiss can never be absolutely defined. Because each kiss is different from the one before and the one after. just as no two people are alike, so are no two kisses alike. For it is people who make kisses. Real, live people pulsating with life and love and extreme happiness.”

Following are the different topics covered in the book.

• 1 DIFFERENT KINDS OF KISSES
• 2 WHY PEOPLE KISS
• 3 WHY KISSING IS PLEASANT
• 4 APPROVED METHODS OF KISSING
• 5 KISSES ARE BUT PRELUDES TO LOVE
• 6 PREPARING FOR THE KISS
• 7 HOW TO APPROACH A GIRL
• 8 THE TECHNIQUES OF KISSING
• 9 HOW TO KISS GIRLS WITH DIFFERENT SIZES OF MOUTHS
• 10 ENJOY THE THRILLS OF KISSING
• 11 THE FRENCH “SOUL” KISS
• 12 PUT VARIETY INTO YOUR KISSES
• 13 THE “VACUUM” KISS
• 14 THE “SPIRITUAL” KISS
• 15 THE “EYELASH” KISS
• 16 THE “PAIN” KISS
• 17 THE “NIP” KISS
• 18 VARIATION, KISSES ARE THE SPICE OF LOVE
• 19 ELECTRIC KISSING PARTIES
• 20 THE DANCING KISS
• 21 THE SURPRISE KISS
• 22 KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE
• 23 KISSING GAMES

While much of the “how to” kissing information is timeless, there are a few sections that may not be considered politically correct by today’s standards. In fact, many people today might be repulsed by the author’s view on man-woman relationships.

Here is one biased view in the section Kisses Are Preludes to Love.

“It is, therefore, necessary that the man be taller than the woman. The psychological reason for this is that he must always give the impression of being his woman’s superior, both mentally and especially physically. The physical reason, with which we are more concerned, is that if he is taller that his woman, he is better able to kiss her.

He must be able to sweep her into his strong arms, and tower over her, and look down into her eyes, and cup her chin in his fingers and then, bend over her face and plant his eager, virile lips on her moist, slightly parted, inviting ones. All of this he must do with the vigor of an assertive male. And, all of these are impossible where the woman is the taller of the two. For when the situation is reversed, the kiss becomes only a ludicrous banality.

The physical mastery is gone, the male prerogative is gone, everything is gone but the fact that two lips are touching two other lips. Nothing can be more disappointing.”

Clearly the views in 1936 were more openly biased when it came to the roles of men and women in relationships. Guys needed to be dominant, aggressive, and physically taller for a relationship to work — plain and simple. No room for equality and empowering women here, Dr. Phil! Although I do notice Dr. Phil is actually much taller than his wife…

The other section in the book that could be seen as extremely biased by modern standards is in How To Approach A Girl. This section basically starts off by saying that while men should not be so bold as to grab women and kiss them right away, they should instead utilize this nifty bit of physical entrapment:

“Naturally, the first thing he should do is to arrange it so that the girl is seated against the arm of the sofa while he is seated at her side. In this way, she cannot edge away from him when he becomes serious in his attentions.”

A bit more troubling is the author’s view that men should not take “no” for an answer. At least at first.

“If she flinches, makes an outcry and tries to get up from the sofa, don’t worry. Hold her gently but firmly, and allay her fears with kind, reassuring words.”

Today you can get arrested for doing this!

On the other hand, the author does reveal a technique for girls on how NOT to get kissed, among other things.

“However, if she flinches and makes an outcry, a loud, stentorian outcry, mind you, and starts to scratch your face, then start to worry or start to get yourself out of a bad situation. Such girls are not to be trifled with … or kissed.”

I guess a nice face scratching would certainly be a good signal that the girl doesn’t want a kiss, huh guys?

The other kissing topics in the book I found to be actually quite useful, if not overly melodramatic. Those topics were more practical and discussed kissing techniques and strategies on how to be a good kisser such as the French Soul Kiss (how to French kiss — yup, you use your tongue), the Vacuum Kiss (watch out for the loud “popping sounds”) and the Surprise Kiss (how to kiss a girl as she dreams — surprise!)

Overall I think the Art of Kissing was quite informative, especially by putting into context that the “how to kiss good” part a relationship comes at the end of a bigger process of seduction. If you downplay or ignore the advice dealing with too must male testosterone then you should do well by today’s kissing standards.

Read for free: The Art of Kissing by Hugh Morris

Check out this product: Seduce Her – Kissing Secrets