This book gives food for thought about past conquests, sexual success or failure and the unrelenting approach of death. The tone is light-hearted, ironic and above all laconic; the best way to deal with mortality and impotence. Impotence is a tiresome complaint that sometimes has physical causes, but often finds its origin in psychological factors, a Dutch urologist, has written a clear and informative book about it. Drawing on his medical knowledge and experiences and on his wide-reading of the literature, he gives a varied view of male impotence. At the crossroads of cultural history, psychology, literature and medical science, he offers an overview of what impotence means for the man and his partner, what causes have been sought and what solutions are available. He indicates soberly that life without an erection can be enjoyable and argues with fervour that male failure is denounced very sharply by some feminists.