BOOK AND PODCAST REVIEWS - NON-FICTION

The World of Sex (1940)  Henry Miller   Men's Adventure Magazines in Post-War America: The Rich Oberg Collection (2004) Taschen Big Bosoms and Square Jaws: The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film (2005) Jimmy McDonough   Miscellany of Sex (2007) Francesca Twinn   Members Only: The Life and Times of Paul Raymond, Soho's Billionaire King of Burlesque (2010) Paul Willetts     Henry Miller wrote the original draft of his long essay The World of Sex in 1940 when he was about to turn 50, somewhat of a turning point for any redblooded male, but the text was substantially revised for a secondary publication in 1957 when he was nearing 70. This is a relevant set of facts. This is not a male view of sex so much as that of a highly sexualised male past his powers and frustrated at a world that had always failed to accept him publicly for what he was. He would not have been alone in that frustration - America 're-moralised' itself in the wake of the G...

How To Get Rich (2008) Felix Dennis     Over a decade ago, I passed this book straight on to my late teenage son, not because of its insights into business (although it rings true on that account) but because of its insights into human nature and into the world 'out there' that he was going to have to negotiate in the coming years. Like all sons, he might not listen to his Dad (and no real reason why he should) but he might listen to 'uncle' Felix. I have no idea if he actually read it or not but I am rather proud of how he turned out (not much to do with me and a lot to his mother). Why should have read it and why should it be read by all young adults with a mind to dabbling in the world of capitalism? Because Felix Dennis is going to stop him wasting a lot of time believing that some people are nicer and cleverer than they are or that reading those idiotic books about leadership from people who could not navigate their way to an ice cream parlour on a hot day ...