Thy Neighbor's Wife (original 1980; edition 2009)

by Gay Talese (Author)

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464	6	53,325	(3.75)	5
The provocative classic work newly updated An intimate personal odyssey across America's changing sexual landscape When first published, Gay Talese's 1981 groundbreaking work, Thy Neighbor's Wife, shocked a nation with its powerful, eye-opening revelations about the sexual activities and proclivities of the American public in the era before AIDS. A marvel of journalistic courage and craft, the book opened a window into a new world built on a new moral foundation, carrying the reader on a remarkable journey from the Playboy Mansion to the Supreme Court, to the backyards and bedrooms of suburbia--through the development of the porn industry, the rise of the "swinger" culture, the legal fight to define obscenity, and the daily sex lives of "ordinary" people. It is the book that forever changed the way Americans look at themselves and one another.… (more)

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Member:	Unkletom
Title:	Thy Neighbor's Wife
Authors:	Gay Talese (Author)
Info:	Harper Perennial (2009), Edition: Updated, 608 pages
Collections:	Your library, Non-fiction
Rating:
Tags:	non-fiction, sociology, human sexuality, 1960s, sexuality

Work Information

Thy Neighbor's Wife by Gay Talese (1980)

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Not at all what I expected this to be. I wish I read it when it originally came out, but I am not sure I would have really appreciated it. As it is, it's a time capsule, a reflection of what we used to be. Extremely well written. (

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Cantsaywhy | May 22, 2023 |

A fascinating history of many of the players in the post WWII era of sexuality in the USA, as well as some of the ore famous precursors from the late 1800's. Detailed biographies of many important figures in obscenity trials as well as free love supporters. And includes an index! It does ramble a bit, as it provides much background info on major and minor characters. Written over 40 years ago, it provides an interesting comment on how much, and how little, the social control over sex has changed during this time. (

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keithostertag | Sep 23, 2020 |

This is a classic in this genre. (

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DonaldPowell | Feb 5, 2019 |

I recently read Talese's history of and report on the sexual revolution. As I recall, this book created quite a stir when it was published; I didn't read it then, and coming upon it now, decades after it was written, what strikes me most is the distance and dispassion with which Talese examines such things as the creation of "Playboy" magazine, wife-swapping, and swinging. Letting the facts speak for themselves, he paints a portrait of a "revolution" which empowers men to exploit women, although those are not words Talese every uses. This book is perhaps the first to explore what became our contemporary, pornography-pervaded popular culture. (

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nmele | Apr 6, 2013 |

So far, this book is amazing. This is the second book I've read by Gay Talese and this guy weaves the most fascinating stories. A wonderful look at the sexual mores of the United States in the mid-to-late 70s. (

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Flippy | Jul 6, 2006 |

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Talese’s book was seen as unforgivably sordid in its day (for its reportorial methods as well as for its subject matter), but today Thy Neighbor’s Wife is fascinating for how tragic it all seems, how unfulfilled the expectations of so many of its protagonists ultimately remained.

added by Shortride | editThe Second Pass, Bill Wasik (Jul 28, 2009)

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» Add other authors (7 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Talese, Gay	—	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Roiphe, Katie	Foreword	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

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Is replied to in

Freedom and Destiny by Rollo May

▾Awards and Honors

Distinctions

New York Times bestseller (General – 1980)

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Canonical title

Thy Neighbor's Wife

Original title

Thy Neighbor´s Wife

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Original publication date

1980

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for Nan

First words

She was completely nude, lying on her stomach in the desert sand, her legs spread wide, her long hair flowing in the wind, her head tilted back with her eyes closed.

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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

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Diane Webber

Thy Neighbor's Wife

▾Book descriptions

The provocative classic work newly updated An intimate personal odyssey across America's changing sexual landscape When first published, Gay Talese's 1981 groundbreaking work, Thy Neighbor's Wife, shocked a nation with its powerful, eye-opening revelations about the sexual activities and proclivities of the American public in the era before AIDS. A marvel of journalistic courage and craft, the book opened a window into a new world built on a new moral foundation, carrying the reader on a remarkable journey from the Playboy Mansion to the Supreme Court, to the backyards and bedrooms of suburbia--through the development of the porn industry, the rise of the "swinger" culture, the legal fight to define obscenity, and the daily sex lives of "ordinary" people. It is the book that forever changed the way Americans look at themselves and one another.

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