cy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with partDid you know people shoplift boxes of condoms more frequently than any other item found a pharmacy’s shelves? Think about it for a second. The reason becomes fairly obvious: people are too embarrassed to be seen with condoms in their possession, let along buying them. And perhaps you’re one of them—the “embarrassed,” not the “shoplifter,” that is… Afraid a friend might enter the pharmacy at the point of purchase. A family member. A neighbor. Your boss! Even confronting the cashier who rings up your, um, purchase, or the person standing behind you in line is a potential source of discomfort. Suddenly anyone you encounter equates what you’re holding with your blushing face, immediately realizing what you’ll be (or at least hope you’ll be) doing that evening. Of course, you could be among the brave who march straight to the counter, box in hand held like it were a trophy, greeting everyone as you go. If you are, you’re luckier than many who become overwhelmed to the point of simply replacing the box and leaving, or, because they cannot do without, shoving the condoms into their pocket and, well, hoping they remembered to lace their sneakers tight that morning.

Of course harrowing experiences for the easily embarrassed do not limit themselves to the pharmacy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with parti

not the “shoplifter,” that is… Afraid a friend might enter the pharmacy at the point of purchase. A family member. A neighbor. Your boss! Even confronting the cashier who rings up your, um, purchase, or the person standing behind you in line is a potential source of discomfort. Suddenly anyone you encounter equates what you’re holding with your blushing face, immediately realizing what you’ll be (or at least hope you’ll be) doing that evening. Of course, you could be among the brave who march straight to the counter, box in hand held like it were a trophy, greeting everyone as you go. If you are, you’re luckier than many who become overwhelmed to the point of simply replacing the box and leaving, or, because they cannot do without, shoving the condoms into their pocket and, well, hoping they remembered to lace their sneakers tight that morning.

Of course harrowing experiences for the easily embarrassed do not limit themselves to the pharmacy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with part

t you’re holding with your blushing face, immediately realizing what you’ll be (or at least hope you’ll be) doing that evening. Of course, you could be among the brave who march straight to the counter, box in hand held like it were a trophy, greeting everyone as you go. If you are, you’re luckier than many who become overwhelmed to the point of simply replacing the box and leaving, or, because they cannot do without, shoving the condoms into their pocket and, well, hoping they remembered to lace their sneakers tight that morning.

Of course harrowing experiences for the easily embarrassed do not limit themselves to the pharmacy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with part

overwhelmed to the point of simply replacing the box and leaving, or, because they cannot do without, shoving the condoms into their pocket and, well, hoping they remembered to lace their sneakers tight that morning.

Of course harrowing experiences for the easily embarrassed do not limit themselves to the pharmacy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with part

cy. In fact, have you ever considered what books people shoplift most frequently from your local bookstore (to likewise avoid embarrassment)? If you guessed self-help books, you’re right. (Interestingly, as a genre, they still manage to outsell any other category on the shelves despite the hordes of shoppers with particularly sticky fingers and deep coat pockets). And not just self-help books related to sexual techniques, marital problems, infidelity or other relationship issues, but also those related to our physical well being, i.e. how to(s) on Health & Fitness.

For example, you may have an issue with acne, bad breath or your weight; browsing the self-help section for a cure of fitness regime only indicates to others that you’re self-conscious about what may be equally obvious to them. Or, you may have an issue with something previously unrecognized by the public including premature ejaculation, intense social anxiety, or warts that suddenly, even without witnessing your issue firsthand, become apparent to others as you flip through titles on the latest remedies. Thus self-help books, while partly the bookstores “bread and butter” are also their “condoms,” so to speak. Shoppers, likewise, are not only too embarrassed to be caught browsing the self-help shelves, but are doubly embarrassed to then parade throughout the store carrying whichever book applies to their specific issue or perceived inadequacy, only to hand it over to a cashier, immediately letting him or her in on the shopper’s previously kept secret. Harrowing indeed.

But, instead of either not bu