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Forbidden sexual behavior and morality; an objective re-examination of perverse sex practices in different cultures. Introd. by Harry Benjamin. 1962 [Leather Bound]
Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2018 with the help of original edition published long back [1962]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - English, Pages 456. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.} Forbidden sexual behavior and morality; an objective re-examination of perverse sex practices in different cultures. Introd. by Harry Benjamin. 1962 [Leather Bound] by Masters Robert E. L.
456 pages, Leather Bound
First published May 21, 2011
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January 14, 2019
Perhaps this was a groundbreaking accomplishment in 1962. It surveys a wide range of topics, uses direct language, is frank about the effect of drugs, and is backed up by interviews and scientific publications.
Reading it today, however, is a strange experience. It sounds extremely dated. This author is clearly trying to drag the 1950s kicking and screaming into the 1960s. Today, 57 years after its publication, it can't be cited in a paper for introductory coursework unless your course is about the history of ideas about sex. The social and scientific claims are not trustworthy or reasonable-sounding. Enough material is sensationalized and prejudiced that all its claims must be considered suspect.
Structurally, it's odd. There's a brief introduction by Harry Benjamin, five chapters by R. E. L. Masters, and no conclusion. The first chapter, "Bestiality," takes up 40% of the book. The next chapter, "Homosexual Acts," is half that length. The length of the next chapter, "Miscegenation" (interracial relationships), is cut in half yet again (so it's 10% the length of the entire book). This presents a confusing picture of the relative frequency and importance to humanity of sex with animals as compared to same-sex and interracial relationships. The remainder is more or less evenly divided between "Sex and Forbidden Drugs" and "Adult-Child Sex Relationships."
The author's attitudes and approaches land strangely. The overly long chapter on bestiality consists mostly of anecdotes, many of which are from fiction or legend. The relatively brief chapter on homosexuality sounds like it was written for visiting Martians who do not know that humans have genders and body parts. The exceedingly brief chapter on interracial relationships is limited to the contemporary anxiety in the American South about African-American men with white women, and the author mostly reiterates the stereotype rather than effectively challenging it, which is perhaps why the chapter is so short. The chapter on drug use is more modern and grounded in some personal experience. The chapter on pedophilia does not examine effects on children, and instead assumes (without supporting evidence) that emotional trauma is the result of physical injury and social shaming (so, as long as you don't physically damage a child and as long as your society treats your activity as normal, the child will never have emotional problems about what you do). The author muses on how many men are indeed attracted to young girls, and he seems blithely unconcerned about the consequences of making such statements in an uncareful way.
As a final note on the physical book, the 1962 Lancer edition is yellowed and crumbling in 2019, which is why I read it now (to get ahead of the carton's expiration date). Unfortunately it turns out that the ideas inside the carton have long since expired.
Reading it today, however, is a strange experience. It sounds extremely dated. This author is clearly trying to drag the 1950s kicking and screaming into the 1960s. Today, 57 years after its publication, it can't be cited in a paper for introductory coursework unless your course is about the history of ideas about sex. The social and scientific claims are not trustworthy or reasonable-sounding. Enough material is sensationalized and prejudiced that all its claims must be considered suspect.
Structurally, it's odd. There's a brief introduction by Harry Benjamin, five chapters by R. E. L. Masters, and no conclusion. The first chapter, "Bestiality," takes up 40% of the book. The next chapter, "Homosexual Acts," is half that length. The length of the next chapter, "Miscegenation" (interracial relationships), is cut in half yet again (so it's 10% the length of the entire book). This presents a confusing picture of the relative frequency and importance to humanity of sex with animals as compared to same-sex and interracial relationships. The remainder is more or less evenly divided between "Sex and Forbidden Drugs" and "Adult-Child Sex Relationships."
The author's attitudes and approaches land strangely. The overly long chapter on bestiality consists mostly of anecdotes, many of which are from fiction or legend. The relatively brief chapter on homosexuality sounds like it was written for visiting Martians who do not know that humans have genders and body parts. The exceedingly brief chapter on interracial relationships is limited to the contemporary anxiety in the American South about African-American men with white women, and the author mostly reiterates the stereotype rather than effectively challenging it, which is perhaps why the chapter is so short. The chapter on drug use is more modern and grounded in some personal experience. The chapter on pedophilia does not examine effects on children, and instead assumes (without supporting evidence) that emotional trauma is the result of physical injury and social shaming (so, as long as you don't physically damage a child and as long as your society treats your activity as normal, the child will never have emotional problems about what you do). The author muses on how many men are indeed attracted to young girls, and he seems blithely unconcerned about the consequences of making such statements in an uncareful way.
As a final note on the physical book, the 1962 Lancer edition is yellowed and crumbling in 2019, which is why I read it now (to get ahead of the carton's expiration date). Unfortunately it turns out that the ideas inside the carton have long since expired.
Displaying 1 of 1 review