Thy Neighbor's Wife

The first time I read this book was almost 30 years back. I was very impressed about the kind of investigation Mr.Talese has undertaken to write this book. I was also impressed by the humane approach charted by him for this book. After all, the book is about the sexual actvities of the Americans before the era of AIDS. So the chances and danger of sinking into sensationalism was very great. Fortunately, Mr. Talese has succeeded fully in avoiding that trap. If you are looking for cheap thrills, this book is not for you. Over the years, after my first reading of this book, I was very curious to know about the fate of the protagonists illustrated in this book. This new edition has a special chapter, a kind of update on the people and places over the last three decades. It was like meeting the old friends again.The stories that impressed me most are of Diane Webber,the dream goddess of the American male in the 1950s, the story of Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine and the story of the Williamsons,the founders of the free-love Sandstone community.The book vividly describes the prudish American society of the 1950s,illustrates the snail pace changes into American public morals,very often hypocritical, regarding the sex until the explosions of the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. From that time onward America was flooded with open expression of sexuality,be it in the movies,arts,theater or books. Until the outbreak of AIDS, which has once again changed American society into its prudish cocoon. But that is not the subject of the book.The writing style of Mr.Talese is fluid and simple. Once you start reading the book,it is hard to put it down.

Not sensational or pornographic a serious view of the changes in sexual attitudes in post war USA. Most interesting when describing the journeys taken by ordinary people less so when dealing with Hugh Hefner and his playmates!

Really interesting facts based book but with fictionel element threaded through

Great service..great price for v-good quality book..

Becoming a bit of a follower for this writer

A deep study of the social opinion and inclination towards sex and sexual freedom in USA during the XIX and XX centuries. It shows the roots of the misunderstanding between practice and theory in the law, the battles to get certain concepts included in the law and how the personal tendencies of the law enforcement agencies have disturbed the process.

Interesting read. In part the historical background is fascinating regarding the hypocracy of the American legal system and its prejudices. Also how once the barriers to porn slipped the market just took over and anything went.

Everything was ok, the book arrived in time and it was as expected. Excellent service and feedback, the packaging was ok