I find Peter Sagal fun, and enjoyed the book, although I thought it dragged as it went on. It's one that I finished but won't read a second time ( )

This was given to me for Christmas by my daughter & son-in-law because they knew I love "Wait Wait". I was bemused by the choice because so much of the material was such that we couldn't converse about the book over the dining room table. Some of the material (I found the gluttony chapter particularly hilarious, since my daughter works as a dessert plater at a similar restaurant)--about one paragraph per chapter brought a chuckle, but few guffaws. I think if I had bought it for myself, I probably would have been disappointed. ( )

Peter Sagal takes a look at some common American vices and the people who practice them.

A lot of this book is really funny, as you'd expect from the author. He's got a gift for noticing the absurd and displaying it for maximum laughs--a textual, less political (and a bit less skillful) Jon Stewart. And the range of topics is good, too: swinging, fine food, strip clubs, lying, gambling, consumption (of goods), and pornography.

My biggest problem with the book is that it covers much the same ground as Dan Savage's Skipping Towards Gomorrah, and it isn't as insightful most of the time. Sagal seems to come to his subjects with a few too many preconceptions, and will twist his observations to affirm those beliefs whether or not the actual events agree with them. This was most noticeable for me during the chapter on pornography, where -- despite only having known the porn stars in question for a couple of hours -- he seems to just know that the sexual versions they display during an event celebrating porn stars are not their true selves. That may very well have been the case, but it's also clear that Sagal's own discomfort with the situation isn't letting him get a real sense of whether or not it's true. In particular, there's this sentence: "But now they had, easily and professionally and even enthusiastically, slipped on their sexual selves, which functioned in the manner of a carnival mask, vivid but obscuring." If it's enthusiastic, is it possible this is another facet of their personalities, rather than an obscuring mask? Sagal seems unable to entertain the possibility, and it limits the chapters where he deals with people different from himself: swingers, foodies, strip clubs, and pornography. The foodie chapter also has him run afoul of his own desire to catch someone out in an unexpected moment of awareness of their own absurdity. (To his credit, he points this out.)

However, all of that, while annoying, was worth it for the gambling chapter. It's the only thing I've ever read that made me understand why gambling is so popular, since I don't have the urge at all myself. Read this part, if you don't read anything else!

Looking back on this, it seems like my review is more negative than the star rating might imply. I think my main problem is not that the book is bad, but that basically all of it (except the gambling bit) can be found done slightly better by other people, so I didn't get a lot out of reading it. I think, actually, that combining this gambling chapter with Dan Savage's book minus the gambling chapter, then including the description of Sagal's fine meal (which was exceptionally funny, even if the commentary was a bit slight), would be just about the right book on the topic. ( )

I got this book from my son in return for introducing him to NPR's Wait, Wait. Don't Tell Me I love listening to the show but I found a book on people acting on their vices just plain sad. ( )

Part of the reason I rated this book so high is because of how much I love Peter Sagal and "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me." The books is often hillarious, though very little feels original about it. I kept reading this thinking "Dan Savage did this already in Skipping Towards Gamorrah." Oh well, it's still funny. ( )

Peter Sagal's The Book of Vice purports to be an exploration of "very naughty things and how to do them", but it's not as shallow as that sounds. It's mostly a sociological and psychological study of people who do these things (and study those who do these things), where the discussion is led by Sagal's dipping his toes, so to speak, into experiencing each of the questionable activities.Unfortunately, it's a flawed study and never really gets to why people do the things they do, which may be an unreasonable expectation on my part. Instead, as I went through each of the chapters, the essential tawdriness of the experience came out. For some reason, I thought temptation would be more, well, tempting. Also disappointing was the lack of humor in the book. Even though he tried, he just wasn't that funny. And this is a subject that seems to me would be hard not to be funny about.

I can't recommend The Book of Vice, really. As I worked my way through it, I kept thinking I could have been reading so many more useful, entertaining things. It's not awful, just not that interesting. ( )

Peter Sagal's first book is a humorous examination of the most common of American vices. The incongruity of this self-proclaimed square and the strip clubs, swinger parties, etc. he visits--with his wife in tow--makes it all the more entertaining. If you are a fan of Sagal's witty repartee on "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!," you'll love this book. ( )

Peter Sagal is the Harvard educated host of NPR's 'Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.' He's probably the least likely person to actually do any of the things he discusses in the book. It's a humorous but very intelligent intelligent look into the world of vice, and what motivates people to engage in unseemly behavior. ( )

Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" radio program, takes an engaging look at some eternal vices and provides an armchair, vicarious 'insider's' look at them one by one. From strip clubs to indulgent eating to gambling to swinging, Mr. Sagal details his experience in a lightheaded, satirical manner. As he admits in the afterward, the book is not an end all, be all, full blown disection, but rather a glimpse into worlds many otherwise turn a blind eye to - well done! A very enjoyable read! ( )

What is vice? According to Peter Sagal, there are three critical elements: social disapprobation, actual pleasure and shame. The beloved host of NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" radio program, otherwise a seemingly staid member of gentlemanly society, has gone to great lengths to research some of the vices of our day and explain them to those of us who wish to partake vicariously, but safely, from the comforts of our reading chairs. Our erstwhile corruptor introduces us to the wonders of various vices with a chapter devoted each to swinging, molecular gastronomy, strip clubs, lying, gambling, consumption and pornography. Accompanied by his wife Beth, and with the assistance of a few friends, Mr. Sagal introduces us to places that we would otherwise have to experience with the accompanying social and physical risks. The book is hilarious, the writing is excellent, and of course, our host is just another nice guy who wouldn't dream of ever doing any of these naughty things himself. My only negative comment would be that the subtitle of the book, "Very Naughty Things (And How to Do Them)" is somewhat misleading -- this simply isn't a modern-day Anarchist's Cookbook. Reading Mr. Sagal's book won't help you figure out how to become personally involved in these vices ... but then again, that's what the Internet is for. ( )

This was a fun look at a variety of vices - you have to be willing to go along with Peter as he explores them first hand - talks to people in the industries or activities. This book isn't for everyone, but if you can just enjoy his perspective and his good humor - you might find yourself laughing, cringing or wondering about somethings. Peter's perspectives, insight and humble approach make this book a great read. ( )

http://ffedor.blogspot.com/2007/11/vi... ( )

About: Sagal, (the host of one of my favorite radio shows, NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me) gets the scoop on some taboo topics. He attends a swingers get together, bringing along his wife (where they just observe). He explores eating by taking in some very small meals at a restaurant that specializes in "molecular gastronomy."He visits strip clubs, gets a closer look at gambling by frequenting casinos and although he doesn't visit a liar's club (or perhaps a liar pit) he examines non-truth telling by examining politicians and Holocaust deniers. The vice of consumption is conspicuously covered by talking with and about high-end car owners, wealthy folk who can hire Aerosmith to play at birthday parties and money managers to the rich and famous. Of course, pornography gets a chapter as well, with videos viewed, sets visited and "talent" interviewed.

Pros: Engaging writing, very funny. Although the book may not really teach you "how to do" the naughty things covered, you will probably learn something, for example, I had no idea molecular gastronomy even existed.

Cons: The chapter on pornography is lengthy and can require some hard grinding through in order to reach its climax.

Grade: A- ( )

http://www.book-blog.com/2007/10/saga... ( )