Reddit reviews The Book of Massage: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Eastern and Western Technique

I thought it said "Massage book recommendations for the key", so here's my pick: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Massage-Step---Step-Technique/dp/0743203909/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=books+on+massage&qid=1418702915&sr=8-1

I would recommend against getting a "sexy massage" book if you're not having sex. I find it more fun to just learn what works and why, and add the sexy myself.

I also recommend against exoticizing books just about eastern massage unless they're for people who actually want to practice it (As opposed to people who just like Asia. You're not doing this just because you like Asian things). There really is no secret - all the schools have something to contribute.

Swedish massage is the style I prefer - it's closest of the schools I've encountered to what people in the States expect from a massage (i.e. starting from the classic back and shoulder rub), and there are techniques for people who like it harder or softer, for all over the body, etc. Best of all, it's systematic, so you can learn principles and then experiment with them - and even if you do it poorly, it's still good. Whereas if you do Shiatzu poorly, it's ridiculous.

But books that teach you those basics and systematic ways of approaching it, but also include Eastern techniques, are especially awesome.

There's a book I really like called The Healing Art of Massage that I can't find on Amazon (which I got when I was in high school for a very similar purpose; I'd find the author, but I'm not by my bookshelf), but in its absense, I'd recommend, just from looking at the listings, The World's Best Massage Techniques by Victoria Stone, or The Book Of Massage: The Complete Step-by-step Guide To Eastern And Western Technique, which has a bunch of authors, including Lucinda Lidell.