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Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women
When Harvard medical student Alexa Albert conducted a public-health study as the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada, the only state in the union where prostitution is legal, neither she nor the brothel could have predicted the end result. Having worked with homeless prostitutes in Times Square, Albert was intimate with human devastation cause by the sex trade, and curious to see if Nevada’s brothels offered a less harmful model for a business that will always be with us. The Mustang Ranch has never before given an outsider such access, but fear of AIDS was hurting the business, and the Ranch was eager to get publicity for its rigorous standards of sexual hygiene. Albert was drawn into the lives of the women of the Mustang Ranch, and what began as a public-health project evolved into something more intimate and ambitious, a six-year study of the brothel ecosystem, its lessons and significance.
The women of the Mustang Ranch poured their stories out to Albert: how they came to be there, their surprisingly deep sense of craft and vocation, how they reconciled their profession with life on the outside. Dr. Albert went as far into this world as it is possible to go — some will say too far — including sitting in on sessions with customers, and the result is a book that puts an unforgettable face on America’s maligned and caricatured subculture.
From the Hardcover edition.
The women of the Mustang Ranch poured their stories out to Albert: how they came to be there, their surprisingly deep sense of craft and vocation, how they reconciled their profession with life on the outside. Dr. Albert went as far into this world as it is possible to go — some will say too far — including sitting in on sessions with customers, and the result is a book that puts an unforgettable face on America’s maligned and caricatured subculture.
From the Hardcover edition.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2001
57 people are currently reading
2161 people want to read
About the author
Alexa Albert
2 books8 followersAlexa Albert, M.D., is a graduate of Brown University and Harvard Medical School. She has written and lectured widely on issue of public health and prostitution and was named on of Mirabella's 1,000 Women for the Nineties for her work with Nevada's legal prostitutes. She currently lives in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
July 8, 2009
Every time I take the California Zephyr and go through Reno, the On Board Chief of Services, or one of his minions, never fails to point out the famous Mustang Ranch, located in a secluded valley twenty-some miles out of Sparks, Nevada. If you've ever been curious about what goes on, and why, in Nevada's brothels and the Mustang Ranch, in particular, you will find this a fascinating book. I did.
Ms. Albert, a public health specialist, had been interested for years in HIV and STD transmission and condom usage. She was curious to measure the impact of legalized prostitution on these parameters. Her first overtures to George Flint, ordained minister, wedding chapel owner, and executive director for the Nevada Brothel Association, were rebuffed, but she didn' give up. Flint realized she was a serious researcher and paved the way for her to spend several weeks living (not working) at the famous Mustang Ranch in Storey County, near Reno — not in Reno, and that distinction is important and has historical roots. Brothels can only be licensed legally in counties, and Reno and Las Vegas have chosen not to do so.
That is itself an interesting story, because one of the staunch opponents of legalized prostitution in Las Vegas has been Steve Wynn, wealthy casino owner, who publicly argues that it tarnishes the image of Las Vegas, gambling and former mob mecca of the world. Privately, many speculate that the real reason is that unlicensed, freelance prostitution, which thrives in Las Vegas, takes place in the hotels that own the casinos and therefore keeps the gamblers in the casinos where they belong. The brothels are all located in remote areas, away from the cities and that takes money away from the casinos. Brothels are prohibited from advertising, yet the freelancers have 140 pages in the Las Vegas Yellow Pages devoted to their activities which are completely unregulated.
A brothel can be a very substantial source of revenue for the county (4% of Storey County's total revenue in the case of the Mustang). Annual license fees in the hundreds of thousands are not rare, and the associated employment brings in needed additional tax revenue. Following the federal seizure of the Mustang Ranch for the failure of the owner to pay appropriate income taxes (he was a fugitive in Brazil and hiding the revenue under a false corporation), the brothel has been shut down until the courts can decide on the legality of the appeal of the conviction. The Feds had thought about running the brothel to bring in some revenue to pay the expenses of the prosecution, but that was deemed politically unwise.
The author came away from the experience a confirmed advocate of legalized prostitution. Customers and prostitutes are safe and the regulation is intense. Condom usage is mandatory, as are regular health checkups, and in fact no licensed prostitute has ever been diagnosed with HIV, although several applicants, who were refused licenses, had been. It's ironic, but the johns have virtually no control over their experience at the brothel except for the selection of the girl, and even that is often out of their control. If the word gets around that a particular john is impolite, routinely abusive, or just generally obnoxious, the word gets around, and the girls will walk him, i.e., quote impossibly high prices (as independent contractors they set their own prices, returning 50% to the brothel), and soon the john leaves, frustrated to say the least. In any case, the girls remain in complete control of the situation and each customer gets a thorough wash and genital examination to look for any sign of an STD. Many of the women see themselves as providing a valuable public service, and from her interviews with many of the clients, Ms. Albert would agree. For many of the men, it's their only form of social contact, and many even become quite addicted to it, even to the point where they subsidize the girls beyond what happens in the building, giving them extra clothes, helping with moving, the rent, etc. But to the majority of the women, a trick is still a trick, and they can be quite good at manipulating these relationships. Most of them are in it for the money, which can be very good. Some were persuaded by husbands, others by mothers!!, most by financial necessity, but many have worked for many years. Several insisted they can completely separate their professional lives from their personal, insisting they maintain a normal life at home with their husbands and families. But despite its legalization, the life lacks legitimacy, and those who work in the brothels as barkeeps, maids, vendors, and prostitutes develop a sense of community and family that provides structure and support that they often lack elsewhere. The brothel "had provided an income as well as friendship, compassion, trust and hope for countless women and men. In many ways, Mustang Ranch picked up where society had dropped the ball. It had provided a safe, nonjudgmental, economically sound work environment and a fair way for a community of several dozen women and their familles to meet their most basic needs. Whatever you think of prostitution and its legalization, this is an essential and very interesting read.
Ms. Albert, a public health specialist, had been interested for years in HIV and STD transmission and condom usage. She was curious to measure the impact of legalized prostitution on these parameters. Her first overtures to George Flint, ordained minister, wedding chapel owner, and executive director for the Nevada Brothel Association, were rebuffed, but she didn' give up. Flint realized she was a serious researcher and paved the way for her to spend several weeks living (not working) at the famous Mustang Ranch in Storey County, near Reno — not in Reno, and that distinction is important and has historical roots. Brothels can only be licensed legally in counties, and Reno and Las Vegas have chosen not to do so.
That is itself an interesting story, because one of the staunch opponents of legalized prostitution in Las Vegas has been Steve Wynn, wealthy casino owner, who publicly argues that it tarnishes the image of Las Vegas, gambling and former mob mecca of the world. Privately, many speculate that the real reason is that unlicensed, freelance prostitution, which thrives in Las Vegas, takes place in the hotels that own the casinos and therefore keeps the gamblers in the casinos where they belong. The brothels are all located in remote areas, away from the cities and that takes money away from the casinos. Brothels are prohibited from advertising, yet the freelancers have 140 pages in the Las Vegas Yellow Pages devoted to their activities which are completely unregulated.
A brothel can be a very substantial source of revenue for the county (4% of Storey County's total revenue in the case of the Mustang). Annual license fees in the hundreds of thousands are not rare, and the associated employment brings in needed additional tax revenue. Following the federal seizure of the Mustang Ranch for the failure of the owner to pay appropriate income taxes (he was a fugitive in Brazil and hiding the revenue under a false corporation), the brothel has been shut down until the courts can decide on the legality of the appeal of the conviction. The Feds had thought about running the brothel to bring in some revenue to pay the expenses of the prosecution, but that was deemed politically unwise.
The author came away from the experience a confirmed advocate of legalized prostitution. Customers and prostitutes are safe and the regulation is intense. Condom usage is mandatory, as are regular health checkups, and in fact no licensed prostitute has ever been diagnosed with HIV, although several applicants, who were refused licenses, had been. It's ironic, but the johns have virtually no control over their experience at the brothel except for the selection of the girl, and even that is often out of their control. If the word gets around that a particular john is impolite, routinely abusive, or just generally obnoxious, the word gets around, and the girls will walk him, i.e., quote impossibly high prices (as independent contractors they set their own prices, returning 50% to the brothel), and soon the john leaves, frustrated to say the least. In any case, the girls remain in complete control of the situation and each customer gets a thorough wash and genital examination to look for any sign of an STD. Many of the women see themselves as providing a valuable public service, and from her interviews with many of the clients, Ms. Albert would agree. For many of the men, it's their only form of social contact, and many even become quite addicted to it, even to the point where they subsidize the girls beyond what happens in the building, giving them extra clothes, helping with moving, the rent, etc. But to the majority of the women, a trick is still a trick, and they can be quite good at manipulating these relationships. Most of them are in it for the money, which can be very good. Some were persuaded by husbands, others by mothers!!, most by financial necessity, but many have worked for many years. Several insisted they can completely separate their professional lives from their personal, insisting they maintain a normal life at home with their husbands and families. But despite its legalization, the life lacks legitimacy, and those who work in the brothels as barkeeps, maids, vendors, and prostitutes develop a sense of community and family that provides structure and support that they often lack elsewhere. The brothel "had provided an income as well as friendship, compassion, trust and hope for countless women and men. In many ways, Mustang Ranch picked up where society had dropped the ball. It had provided a safe, nonjudgmental, economically sound work environment and a fair way for a community of several dozen women and their familles to meet their most basic needs. Whatever you think of prostitution and its legalization, this is an essential and very interesting read.
July 6, 2017
Alexa Albert's study in Nevada's well-known (and now defunct) Mustang Ranch brothel was a fascinating read. Albert lobbied the Nevada Brothel Association, for three years in order to conduct a public health study, and was finally given admittance. Nevada is the only state in the U.S. that has legal brothels.
Albert wanted to study condom use and measures to prevent the spread of STDs. No public health official, or doctor had ever conducted a study in a brothel, seemingly the most obvious place to learn about it. Albert begins the book talking about her study, but the rest of the book is more of a journalistic style, reporting on the lives and trials of the Mustang Ranch prostitutes.
She became friends with some of the women, and continues to correspond with them, even after Mustang Ranch was shut down by the IRS in the late 1990s.
Albert wanted to study condom use and measures to prevent the spread of STDs. No public health official, or doctor had ever conducted a study in a brothel, seemingly the most obvious place to learn about it. Albert begins the book talking about her study, but the rest of the book is more of a journalistic style, reporting on the lives and trials of the Mustang Ranch prostitutes.
She became friends with some of the women, and continues to correspond with them, even after Mustang Ranch was shut down by the IRS in the late 1990s.
April 5, 2023
"In a business built largely on desire and fantasy, it's easy to be deceived by our assumptions and, in doing so, overlook the humanity that's at the core of this complex and timeless profession."
How, you might ask, can a book about brothel prostitution in Nevada be such a warm retreat, laced with nostalgia and painted desert landscapes? I don't know, but Albert pulls it off seamlessly in this brilliant ethnography of Mustang Ranch, Nevada's most famous brothel.
Every time I cracked this one open, I was transported intimately into the world of legal prostitution, meeting a slew of prostitutes (as they called themselves), tricks/Johns, red-faced conservative activists/politicians, tax evading (and tax abiding) brothel owners, floor maids who keep the washer churning 24/7, prostitutes' significant others, biker gang brothel bartenders, and more.
After years of writing letters to the head of the Nevada Brothel Association, Alexa Albert finally receives a response. She's been granted intimate access to the Mustang Ranch brothel; there, she will sleep in one of the pink working girl rooms and complete her study on condom use in a legal brothel. Soon, she evolves from a nervous medical student to a brothel insider, establishing close relationships with many of the prostitutes. Through these relationships, she learns far more about the industry than she had bargained for; she's invited to watch a "party" (a session between a prostitute and a trick), learns the various reasoning behind different working girls' brothel employment, and ultimately, becomes acquainted with the inner workings of this underground world.
One of the most interesting takeaways for me was how pimping persists, despite the legalization. A lot of women will be roped into "relationships" with men, who will then demand they send their earnings every day/week. It was just fascinating to learn about the men who make whole livings off of this romantic manipulation, sometimes gathering up multiple women and forcing them into prostitution and/or finding women who are already prostitutes and "love pimping" them. Crazy.
Overall, I enjoyed this one *so* much and am walking away with a far greater understanding of the brothel industry, the history of prostitution in Nevada, and of the individuals who, despite the controversy surrounding their existence, are simply human beings in a very strange profession.
How, you might ask, can a book about brothel prostitution in Nevada be such a warm retreat, laced with nostalgia and painted desert landscapes? I don't know, but Albert pulls it off seamlessly in this brilliant ethnography of Mustang Ranch, Nevada's most famous brothel.
Every time I cracked this one open, I was transported intimately into the world of legal prostitution, meeting a slew of prostitutes (as they called themselves), tricks/Johns, red-faced conservative activists/politicians, tax evading (and tax abiding) brothel owners, floor maids who keep the washer churning 24/7, prostitutes' significant others, biker gang brothel bartenders, and more.
After years of writing letters to the head of the Nevada Brothel Association, Alexa Albert finally receives a response. She's been granted intimate access to the Mustang Ranch brothel; there, she will sleep in one of the pink working girl rooms and complete her study on condom use in a legal brothel. Soon, she evolves from a nervous medical student to a brothel insider, establishing close relationships with many of the prostitutes. Through these relationships, she learns far more about the industry than she had bargained for; she's invited to watch a "party" (a session between a prostitute and a trick), learns the various reasoning behind different working girls' brothel employment, and ultimately, becomes acquainted with the inner workings of this underground world.
One of the most interesting takeaways for me was how pimping persists, despite the legalization. A lot of women will be roped into "relationships" with men, who will then demand they send their earnings every day/week. It was just fascinating to learn about the men who make whole livings off of this romantic manipulation, sometimes gathering up multiple women and forcing them into prostitution and/or finding women who are already prostitutes and "love pimping" them. Crazy.
Overall, I enjoyed this one *so* much and am walking away with a far greater understanding of the brothel industry, the history of prostitution in Nevada, and of the individuals who, despite the controversy surrounding their existence, are simply human beings in a very strange profession.
November 29, 2010
Predictable. Her puritanical and pre-feminist preconceptions are shattered when, after a short stay at "The Ranch" she finds hookers with a heart of gold and strangely enough, that people tend to form social groups based on altered mores when they are thrown together living and working at the ranch. What?!?!? individuals that pay for sex or get paid to perform sex acts are people too?!?! huh. It was interesting to learn about the inner workings of legalized prostitution and the impact on the local/state political economy but the social commentary was a bit much to stomach.
July 3, 2024
This book is well written. It gives a good view point of the lives of professional prostitutes. The good and the bad.
October 29, 2024
I wanted to learn more about the topic, and I did. This comes the perspective of what I would describe as a relationship builder, so there is empathy and warmth to the story.
April 29, 2011
Culture is a strange thing. Depending on where you live in the world prostitution is either accepted or illegal and here in the United States it's even more strange as it's accepted nowhere other than in Nevada. Even then it's only legal in licensed brothels such as The Mustang Ranch. While it's legal and provides a high percentage of income for local government it's still not the type of business that is embraced or advertised publicly and is associated with a "look the other way" mentality.
Due to the attitude towards brothels, and prostitution in general, Alexa Albert took it upon herself to investigate the day to day practices of the brothels, its workers and its customers. Integrating herself into the Mustang Ranch by living there she became close with many of the workers and documented her findings and attitudes in 'Brothel: Mustang Ranch and its Women'.
'Brothel' is a very informative book that humanizes the sex industry in relation to the Mustang Ranch. It's also a very complicated industry which the author does her best to understand even going to the lengths of watching the actual act of prostitution taking place. Albert's greatest strength is also her greatest weakness in that she becomes emotionally close to some of the workers. As such she is allowed greater access into how they feel, what they think, how they cope etc but at the same time that causes her to lose her objectivity as she has an emotional connection to her subjects. Calling the workers her subjects is almost dehumanizing them on my part as they become friends of hers and Albert becomes someone who they can confide in.
One aspect that I took away from reading this book is that there is no set personality when it comes to who ends up in prostitution. Women from all walks of life turn to one of the world's oldest industry. However, none of them are ever there due to it being a career choice brought about by their love of the industry. Many were prostituting due to financial hardship while others were drawn towards the high earning potential even if they weren't experiencing hardship of there own. In many ways I ended up admiring the choice that these women had made, particularly those who were selling their bodies, so their children could have a better life. Sadly though as working at the Mustang Ranch meant being confined to the brothel for three weeks at a time, and sometimes more, their children missed out on time spent with their mothers.
I was surprised to learn that a fair percentage of the women enjoyed the sex they provided and often experienced orgasms. Unfortunately, even within such a stigmatized industry, those women were further stigmatized by some of their fellow workers who considered enjoying the prostitution a disgusting practice.
As much as the author analyzes and interprets the situations, conditions and experiences of the working girls the true beauty of this book lays in the human aspect. Regardless of whether they are working in a stigmatized industry, ultimately, the females who prostitute themselves are just like you and I and that shines through in the narrative.
The one problem I had with this book, and it's not something that can be avoided, is that it's dated. It was published back in 2001 when Mustang Ranch had been shut down by government agencies and so it ends with the future of the ranch still in limbo (I do believe it was rebuilt at another site and is now running under new ownership). Also, some of the laws that applied back then that are issues in the book have now changed such as brothels, and the sex workers themselves, not being able to advertise themselves. With the onset of the internet clients can book a time, their woman of choice and agree a price long before they even visit a brothel.
If you have an interest in human sexuality then I would certainly recommend this book as it covers a lot of different aspects such sexual health, prostitution, attitudes towards brothels and the sex itself. What it isn't is a book full of licentiousness, seediness and cheap thrills as the subject matter is handled in a mature and professional way.
Due to the attitude towards brothels, and prostitution in general, Alexa Albert took it upon herself to investigate the day to day practices of the brothels, its workers and its customers. Integrating herself into the Mustang Ranch by living there she became close with many of the workers and documented her findings and attitudes in 'Brothel: Mustang Ranch and its Women'.
'Brothel' is a very informative book that humanizes the sex industry in relation to the Mustang Ranch. It's also a very complicated industry which the author does her best to understand even going to the lengths of watching the actual act of prostitution taking place. Albert's greatest strength is also her greatest weakness in that she becomes emotionally close to some of the workers. As such she is allowed greater access into how they feel, what they think, how they cope etc but at the same time that causes her to lose her objectivity as she has an emotional connection to her subjects. Calling the workers her subjects is almost dehumanizing them on my part as they become friends of hers and Albert becomes someone who they can confide in.
One aspect that I took away from reading this book is that there is no set personality when it comes to who ends up in prostitution. Women from all walks of life turn to one of the world's oldest industry. However, none of them are ever there due to it being a career choice brought about by their love of the industry. Many were prostituting due to financial hardship while others were drawn towards the high earning potential even if they weren't experiencing hardship of there own. In many ways I ended up admiring the choice that these women had made, particularly those who were selling their bodies, so their children could have a better life. Sadly though as working at the Mustang Ranch meant being confined to the brothel for three weeks at a time, and sometimes more, their children missed out on time spent with their mothers.
I was surprised to learn that a fair percentage of the women enjoyed the sex they provided and often experienced orgasms. Unfortunately, even within such a stigmatized industry, those women were further stigmatized by some of their fellow workers who considered enjoying the prostitution a disgusting practice.
As much as the author analyzes and interprets the situations, conditions and experiences of the working girls the true beauty of this book lays in the human aspect. Regardless of whether they are working in a stigmatized industry, ultimately, the females who prostitute themselves are just like you and I and that shines through in the narrative.
The one problem I had with this book, and it's not something that can be avoided, is that it's dated. It was published back in 2001 when Mustang Ranch had been shut down by government agencies and so it ends with the future of the ranch still in limbo (I do believe it was rebuilt at another site and is now running under new ownership). Also, some of the laws that applied back then that are issues in the book have now changed such as brothels, and the sex workers themselves, not being able to advertise themselves. With the onset of the internet clients can book a time, their woman of choice and agree a price long before they even visit a brothel.
If you have an interest in human sexuality then I would certainly recommend this book as it covers a lot of different aspects such sexual health, prostitution, attitudes towards brothels and the sex itself. What it isn't is a book full of licentiousness, seediness and cheap thrills as the subject matter is handled in a mature and professional way.
June 17, 2015
A well-written, balanced, and informative inside look into the "sex-services" industry in Nevada, USA.
What I learned from this book:
Although legalized brothels offer a work environment for women in the sex trade that is vastly preferable to any other presently-existing option, there is still vast room for improvement.
The women don't appear to be suffering in any major way, and yet it's obvious that there exists a substantial unregulated gray area within the owner-management-employee relationship permitting management & owners to take (monetary) advantage of the women, if they so wish. The author repeatedly illustrates how "management didn't acutally respect women's status as independent contractors," thereby allowing for various little and not-so-little ways in which management and third parties (eg. taxi cab drivers) whittle away at the women's profit margins.
I wonder if today the women in the industry have come together into some form of trade association so that they too can lobby & influence county & state officials to legislate for the prostitutes, not only for the brothel owners's behalf.
Is it too much to ask for a prostitute-owned & operated establishment, where pro-prostitute rules and regulations could be applied, and where the prostitutes have full autonomy, not the pseudo independent contractor status that exists (or existed at the time of the writing of this book)?
Incidentally, I watched the HBO series on the Nevada brothel industry a couple of years ago before reading this book. I recall being uncomfortable about the overly-cheerful way things were presented in the series (featuring the Moonlite Bunny Ranch run by Dennis Hof, who appears at the end of A. Albert's book), and now I know my gut feelings were right.
There's a lot of information the HBO series left out - intentionally or not - and compared to A. Albert's better researched book, it now is obvious the HBO show approximates an infomercial more than anything else.
What I learned from this book:
Although legalized brothels offer a work environment for women in the sex trade that is vastly preferable to any other presently-existing option, there is still vast room for improvement.
The women don't appear to be suffering in any major way, and yet it's obvious that there exists a substantial unregulated gray area within the owner-management-employee relationship permitting management & owners to take (monetary) advantage of the women, if they so wish. The author repeatedly illustrates how "management didn't acutally respect women's status as independent contractors," thereby allowing for various little and not-so-little ways in which management and third parties (eg. taxi cab drivers) whittle away at the women's profit margins.
I wonder if today the women in the industry have come together into some form of trade association so that they too can lobby & influence county & state officials to legislate for the prostitutes, not only for the brothel owners's behalf.
Is it too much to ask for a prostitute-owned & operated establishment, where pro-prostitute rules and regulations could be applied, and where the prostitutes have full autonomy, not the pseudo independent contractor status that exists (or existed at the time of the writing of this book)?
Incidentally, I watched the HBO series on the Nevada brothel industry a couple of years ago before reading this book. I recall being uncomfortable about the overly-cheerful way things were presented in the series (featuring the Moonlite Bunny Ranch run by Dennis Hof, who appears at the end of A. Albert's book), and now I know my gut feelings were right.
There's a lot of information the HBO series left out - intentionally or not - and compared to A. Albert's better researched book, it now is obvious the HBO show approximates an infomercial more than anything else.
January 4, 2021
A friend gave me this book in a big box of nonfiction books and I thought it was so different that I had to keep
It. Here I am a year later and finally decided to see what it’s about. Definitely not something you read about and I’m 99.9% positive no one else has this on their TBR!
Anyways just like any other nonfiction book I was interested in learning about a subject I knew nothing about. I mean I’d heard about the legal prostitution in Nevada and the famous “ bunny ranch” but reading about the Mustang Ranch was eye opening. It’s everything you’d expect it to be, and unlike anything you think. The women who work at the brothel are there to make money, plain and simple. They get 50% of what the client pays and then a fee on top of that for room and board. The women live on the property and work 12 hour shifts seeing up to 8 men in a shift. No women allowed. From an outsiders standpoint I found the book so interesting as you assume these are women are druggies or sex addicts, coming from broken homes or abusive relationships. For the most part these are smart women who have made a decision to sell their “serves” to pay bills, put kids through college, and just to live a certain lifestyle. Believe it or not there was very little raunchy talk, the book is written more clinical and not at all erotic. The author was conducting research and the book is written very respectfully.
It. Here I am a year later and finally decided to see what it’s about. Definitely not something you read about and I’m 99.9% positive no one else has this on their TBR!
Anyways just like any other nonfiction book I was interested in learning about a subject I knew nothing about. I mean I’d heard about the legal prostitution in Nevada and the famous “ bunny ranch” but reading about the Mustang Ranch was eye opening. It’s everything you’d expect it to be, and unlike anything you think. The women who work at the brothel are there to make money, plain and simple. They get 50% of what the client pays and then a fee on top of that for room and board. The women live on the property and work 12 hour shifts seeing up to 8 men in a shift. No women allowed. From an outsiders standpoint I found the book so interesting as you assume these are women are druggies or sex addicts, coming from broken homes or abusive relationships. For the most part these are smart women who have made a decision to sell their “serves” to pay bills, put kids through college, and just to live a certain lifestyle. Believe it or not there was very little raunchy talk, the book is written more clinical and not at all erotic. The author was conducting research and the book is written very respectfully.
January 4, 2008
Maybe i just have a warm fuzzy feeling from this book because i read it while at Governor's School. (The library at Mercyhurst College is gorgeous.)
I was still in high school so i admit i was looking for a book to fuel a pervy fantasy. That's not what i got from the book, but i kept reading anyway.
A female journalist's visits to a legal brother in Nevada. She visits many times. It's a really human portrayal of sex workers as the writer develops a more personal connection with the ladies inside (though she calls them 'girls').
This book didn't change my life, but it did spark a curiosity. It would be best read with a searching critical eye: why these women are marked as a curiosity & what the prejudices the writer has to put aside before having a fulfilling experience.
SPOILER NEXT:
I have to say, i was a little disappointed that the author didn't start working at the ranch near the end of the book.
I was still in high school so i admit i was looking for a book to fuel a pervy fantasy. That's not what i got from the book, but i kept reading anyway.
A female journalist's visits to a legal brother in Nevada. She visits many times. It's a really human portrayal of sex workers as the writer develops a more personal connection with the ladies inside (though she calls them 'girls').
This book didn't change my life, but it did spark a curiosity. It would be best read with a searching critical eye: why these women are marked as a curiosity & what the prejudices the writer has to put aside before having a fulfilling experience.
SPOILER NEXT:
I have to say, i was a little disappointed that the author didn't start working at the ranch near the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2009
Alexa Albert was a PhD student studying public health who got special permission from a brothel in Nevada to stay on the premises and observe the brothel culture. She got to interview the working women and find out how they got to where they are, the type of customers they attract, the rules and regulations of the business and their personal lives. Staying in the brothel for an extended period of time, the women were skeptical of Alberts at first, but then grew to develop a trusting relationship with the author.
Of all the memoirs and biographies read, this was one of my favorites and one of the ones I have passed on to many friends and family members. Albert is one of the only people to capture an accurate portrayal of the legal prostitution scene and the inner workings of a brothel.
Of all the memoirs and biographies read, this was one of my favorites and one of the ones I have passed on to many friends and family members. Albert is one of the only people to capture an accurate portrayal of the legal prostitution scene and the inner workings of a brothel.
February 17, 2011
I admit that I am confused about why any woman would choose to become a prostitute and work in a brothel. Author Alexa Albert did too. She lived at and visited the famed Mustang Ranch in Nevada as part of her dissertation and then wrote a book about her experience.
She's not an easy writer to read. There is no cohesiveness, no flow, no guidance when she narrates this book. I gave up reading this partly because of the writing, and partly because I'm not learning anything new about either legal or illegal prostitution that a season of Law & Order: SVU couldn't teach me.
But I did add Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to my Netflix queue.
She's not an easy writer to read. There is no cohesiveness, no flow, no guidance when she narrates this book. I gave up reading this partly because of the writing, and partly because I'm not learning anything new about either legal or illegal prostitution that a season of Law & Order: SVU couldn't teach me.
But I did add Best Little Whorehouse in Texas to my Netflix queue.
October 10, 2009
BOOOORRRRING! I couldn't get through the fourth chapter. I was interested in what the inner workings of a brothel might be, but honestly- all this lady talks about is the appearance of some of the women and some boring conversations they have while painting their nails. In short- it is just like hanging out at home, waiting for someone to show up to pay you for sex.... hmmmm that gives me an idea... Can I start charging my husband??? LMAO
November 26, 2024
For a non-fiction book, this 2002 book reads really quickly. After doing a study on condom safety at Nevada's legal brothel, Mustang Ranch, Alexa Albert decided to do a long- term multiple-year project on legal prostitution in Nevada. In that time, the federal government forced the closure of Mustang Ranch due to financial shenanigans by the owners, in August of 1999.
This looks at not only the author's personal reactions to meeting those for and against legal prostitution, but some fascinating personal stories of whores, johns, brothel workers, and salespeople dependent on brothels, such as a travelling clothing salesman. There are also history, legends and the small amount of statistics and financial figures available. There is also a look at two of the now defunct websites devoted to Nevada's legal brothels. It was eery reading one webmaster say that his posts would be read for a thousand years.
Ah, those trippy early Internet days when you thought websites couldn't be taken down in the blink of an eye. Those MTV still playing music video pre-reality TV message board and alt website nights.
If you read this book looking for kink, you'll find it. There are some sex scenes, but they aren't incredibly graphic in a Penthouse letter way. They give the essentials of what's going on, but nothing too intimate, except for a description on how a pimp trained his "girl" to not enjoy sex when on the game. That was genuinely disturbing. So, adults only with this book. Or, if you find this in your kid's bedroom, you know why it's there.
There seems to be as many arguments against as for legalized prostitution here. But no one denies the money that floods the local economies. In days when social service programs like Medicaid are severely underfunded, legalized prostitution looks like a sure-fire revenue stream. That and taxing churches.
For me, one of the best moments in the book was when the author interviews a strong opponent to legalized brothels, Nevada Congressman O'Donnell. When asked if he would support programs to help prostitutes find well-paying jobs, he said no.
And that's why there will always be prostitutes. Because there is no other way for many women to make a living.
I'd recommend, in conjunction with reading this, to watch the 2003 BBC documentary by Louis Theroux Louis and the Brothel which looks at the doings at a brothel that was still only in the planning stages but finally opened, the Wild Horse Adult Resort & Spa.
The Mustang Ranch was eventually sold by the feds and is currently back in operation.
This looks at not only the author's personal reactions to meeting those for and against legal prostitution, but some fascinating personal stories of whores, johns, brothel workers, and salespeople dependent on brothels, such as a travelling clothing salesman. There are also history, legends and the small amount of statistics and financial figures available. There is also a look at two of the now defunct websites devoted to Nevada's legal brothels. It was eery reading one webmaster say that his posts would be read for a thousand years.
Ah, those trippy early Internet days when you thought websites couldn't be taken down in the blink of an eye. Those MTV still playing music video pre-reality TV message board and alt website nights.
If you read this book looking for kink, you'll find it. There are some sex scenes, but they aren't incredibly graphic in a Penthouse letter way. They give the essentials of what's going on, but nothing too intimate, except for a description on how a pimp trained his "girl" to not enjoy sex when on the game. That was genuinely disturbing. So, adults only with this book. Or, if you find this in your kid's bedroom, you know why it's there.
There seems to be as many arguments against as for legalized prostitution here. But no one denies the money that floods the local economies. In days when social service programs like Medicaid are severely underfunded, legalized prostitution looks like a sure-fire revenue stream. That and taxing churches.
For me, one of the best moments in the book was when the author interviews a strong opponent to legalized brothels, Nevada Congressman O'Donnell. When asked if he would support programs to help prostitutes find well-paying jobs, he said no.
And that's why there will always be prostitutes. Because there is no other way for many women to make a living.
I'd recommend, in conjunction with reading this, to watch the 2003 BBC documentary by Louis Theroux Louis and the Brothel which looks at the doings at a brothel that was still only in the planning stages but finally opened, the Wild Horse Adult Resort & Spa.
The Mustang Ranch was eventually sold by the feds and is currently back in operation.
December 31, 2022
Interesting book about Legal Prostitution in Nevada. I’ve had this book on my bookshelf for many years. I decided to read it before my trip to La Vegas in April. I put it aside in May to catch up on bookclub selections and decided to finish it before the end of the year.
October 27, 2024
My professor recommended this book & it was quite interesting. It’s dated for sure, but a good sociological perspective on this industry.
October 29, 2025
This is an absolutely fascinating read. I enjoyed every minute of it, and I wish it was longer!
May 31, 2015
Truly, this is such a fascinating topic. In Brothel, Alexa Albert recounts her time spent in one of Nevada’s most famous brothels as she grapples with the idea of women selling sex.
Some have criticized Albert for going too far (at one point, she sits in on a session with a prostitute and her customer), but to me it seemed necessary in terms of her personal progress. To really come to terms with the nature of sex work, she had to put aside stereotypes and previous socialization to understand just what happened from start to finish. It’s much easier to make premature judgements when we’re ignorant; an honest assessment only comes with knowledge.
It’s no surprise that Albert’s writing unearthed plenty of contradictions, complex dynamics, and unique variables seemingly inherent in the world of prostitution. Where everyone shows up for different reasons, and with unique backgrounds, there are bound to be a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.
Indeed, through her experiences, Albert was able to highlight and validate all the typical arguments both for and against legalized prostitution. Everything from women as victims to women empowered was described in the tales of Mustang Ranch’s working girls.
Long story short, there is no fast and easy answer in terms of prostitution; no specific factor that contributes to women getting or staying in this line of work. But one thing is undoubtedly true— this is an age-old profession and one that isn’t going away anytime soon whether it’s legal or criminalized. It seems a reasonable conclusion, then, that if we can’t stop it, we might as well understand it, regulate it, and make it as safe and healthy as possible for all those involved.
Some have criticized Albert for going too far (at one point, she sits in on a session with a prostitute and her customer), but to me it seemed necessary in terms of her personal progress. To really come to terms with the nature of sex work, she had to put aside stereotypes and previous socialization to understand just what happened from start to finish. It’s much easier to make premature judgements when we’re ignorant; an honest assessment only comes with knowledge.
It’s no surprise that Albert’s writing unearthed plenty of contradictions, complex dynamics, and unique variables seemingly inherent in the world of prostitution. Where everyone shows up for different reasons, and with unique backgrounds, there are bound to be a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.
Indeed, through her experiences, Albert was able to highlight and validate all the typical arguments both for and against legalized prostitution. Everything from women as victims to women empowered was described in the tales of Mustang Ranch’s working girls.
Long story short, there is no fast and easy answer in terms of prostitution; no specific factor that contributes to women getting or staying in this line of work. But one thing is undoubtedly true— this is an age-old profession and one that isn’t going away anytime soon whether it’s legal or criminalized. It seems a reasonable conclusion, then, that if we can’t stop it, we might as well understand it, regulate it, and make it as safe and healthy as possible for all those involved.
July 10, 2012
This book was interesting to read because it gives a realistic description of what it's like to work at the Mustang Ranch, the economics of legalized prostitution, and it answers the question why there is no HIV transmission at the ranch. I liked the author's style of writing which was very descriptive and non-judgmental. This is not a book of erotica, neither does it contain lurid sex descriptions. She describes 2 "parties" so this book is definitely adult in nature, but it's not porn. In the end, the book focuses on an on-line community of johns and how they relate to the prostitutes, and how their attitudes change when some prostitutes join this chat board. That's where I thought it got really boring, and I got really grossed out by these looser guys who were so into prostitutes. I also started to think that these guys were really degrading the women, whereas in the first part of the book where we read about the women's lives, it seems as though working there was not so bad, i.e. not dangerous or degrading, if you have a relatively strong character.
January 28, 2018
I read this book because I wanted a glimpse into the inner workings of a notorious and legal brothel like Mustang Ranch. I was also very curious about the culture around legal sex work.
Unfortunately the author’s pre-feminist point of view got in the way of a lot of her reporting. The first chapter is her describing how morally corrupt she and everyone she knows thinks the sex trade is (specifically the women who do it—she doesn’t have as much animosity towards the men who pay for sex), and then is shocked—shocked!—when she finds that the sex workers she interviews and sheepishly befriends are actual human beings with complex reasons for choosing this line of work, which was almost always to get out of horrible debt or provide for their family.
If the author could have just got over or refrained from the constant reminder that she’s skeptical at best about sex work, the book would be an excellent case study about the legality of brothels in Nevada and all the folks—from the owners to the bartenders to the sex workers to the clients—who play a role in it.
Unfortunately the author’s pre-feminist point of view got in the way of a lot of her reporting. The first chapter is her describing how morally corrupt she and everyone she knows thinks the sex trade is (specifically the women who do it—she doesn’t have as much animosity towards the men who pay for sex), and then is shocked—shocked!—when she finds that the sex workers she interviews and sheepishly befriends are actual human beings with complex reasons for choosing this line of work, which was almost always to get out of horrible debt or provide for their family.
If the author could have just got over or refrained from the constant reminder that she’s skeptical at best about sex work, the book would be an excellent case study about the legality of brothels in Nevada and all the folks—from the owners to the bartenders to the sex workers to the clients—who play a role in it.
August 25, 2015
I think this is the book that will finally make me live by the rule "No books about sex work written by civilians".
If you are really into pearl clutching and can't tell the difference between illegal street work and legal brothel work, this is the book for you.
I give it two stars for effort, but I think that might be a bit generous. It's sad how you can see the author making an effort at times, but then she'll interject something about how her boyfriend was SO WORRIED about her going to talk to the women at the ranch or some dumb "cute" detail like that. The whole tone alternates between "Tee Hee! I am being so naughty and edgy!" and "Oh dear lord, won't someone save these poor fallen women?" And neither attitude is welcome or interesting to me.
If you are really into pearl clutching and can't tell the difference between illegal street work and legal brothel work, this is the book for you.
I give it two stars for effort, but I think that might be a bit generous. It's sad how you can see the author making an effort at times, but then she'll interject something about how her boyfriend was SO WORRIED about her going to talk to the women at the ranch or some dumb "cute" detail like that. The whole tone alternates between "Tee Hee! I am being so naughty and edgy!" and "Oh dear lord, won't someone save these poor fallen women?" And neither attitude is welcome or interesting to me.
November 14, 2012
I would have liked to see more commentary in this book. It's very informative and interesting - and surprisingly not graphic - but the parts I found most interesting were when Alexa Albert got into the more theoretical aspects of prostitution (like whether it encourages the commodotization of women). However, she generally just stuck to the facts and didn't offer many opinions. That's not bad by itself, but I think this book had the potential to be a lot deeper.
January 19, 2009
Much more sociological that I was expecting. Good as a study, but not great as some trashy leisure reading.
December 29, 2008
Behind the scenes at a whorehouse. Very readable. Especially the parts where the ladies sabotage each other. For example, one lady filled another's shampoo bottle with Nair.
July 7, 2025
I've been reading this book on the DL for several days. I impulsively bought it at a thrift store several years ago because the idea of legal brothels has always fascinated me. I'm of the belief that prostitution should be legal, because a) it's going to happen whether or not it is, and therefore ought to be regulated by the government and b) acknowledging prostitution and other sex work as actual work (which it is) will afford protections for the men and women who participate it.
Alexa Albert seems to be of this belief too. After accepting an internship for sex studies and family planning, she had to make a public health study and decided to focus on condom breakage in brothels. Specifically Mustang Ranch in Nevada. While at the brothel, Albert lived with the women, heard their stories, and even watched some of them at work (yes, this means exactly what you think it means), and the end result was this interesting tell-all about some of the most interesting women I've ever read about.
I think BROTHEL debunks the Pretty Woman myth that a lot of these women are just waiting to be saved. Many of the women Albert interviewed enjoyed their work and some were long-time veterans. I thought it was interesting and sad how a lot of them had bad experiences dating ex-clients, because these men would hurl their past careers in their faces the first time they got angry and act like these women ought to treat them like saviors. I liked the camaraderie and competition between the women, and I thought it was interesting how Albert interviewed a Republican senator who was opposed to prostitution. It was very telling, I thought, that he wanted to end prostitution for their own protection but had zero interest in implementing any social programs to help them once they lost their jobs. The "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" mentality is pretty typical of Republicans, and they seem to be blissfully unaware-- or simply pathologically indifferent-- to the fact that a lot of the people they're hurting with their policies might not even have bootstraps, or boots, to pull themselves up with.
Anyone who is interested in sex work (intellectually curious, I mean) will really enjoy this book. It's a little dated, as I believe the author did these studies in the late-90s/early-2000s, so it ends up kind of being a snapshot of sexuality and female empowerment during the Bush administration as party and raunch culture was nearing its zenith. Most of these women seemed to have pretty ordinary lives, they just had an extraordinary job, so I think it sheds a lot of stigma surrounding sex work, too.
3.5 stars
April 14, 2023
Brothel: Mustang Ranch and Its Women began as primarily a public health study. This was back in the early 1990s when HIV was still a big deal. The State of Nevada was the only state at the time that allowed legalized brothels, and one of the positive effects claimed from this was that the rules for brothels could more effectively require and enforce condom use than other forms of random prostitution or even less formal sexual arrangements. Although she was denied access to the Nevada brothels for several years, the author was eventually allowed to visit the Mustang Ranch Brothel, the largest and most famous in the state, and see how the workers there maintained their record of not becoming HIV Positive or infecting any of their customers.
Evidently, this was the result of strict monitoring on the part of the brothel management along with strict regulations at the state level that they had to meet. New hires were extensively tested to be sure they had no STDs when they arrived, and condom use for everybody was strictly enforced – not always an easy job when customers complained that it interfered with their enjoyment.
By the time the initial study was completed, the author had become friends with many of the prostitutes at the brothel, and she returned for brief periods at intervals over several years to find out more about their lives and culture. The book contains many anecdotes about the lives of the individual women and also goes into the history of legal brothel prostitution in Nevada in general and of the Mustang Ranch in particular. Curiously, the brothel’s founder, theoretically no longer associated with it by the time the book was written, was a flamboyant character who actually caused quite a bit of trouble for the brothel and the idea of legalized brothels in general. Eventually, he was accused of some kind of financial malfeasance that resulted in closing it down altogether.
This turned out to be sort of sad because by the end of the book the author, and by extension the rest of us, had become rather fond of many of the girls and other workers at Mustang Ranch. Although they worked in a strange environment, they seemed to be mostly just regular people.
This is another book I had wanted to read because I will never get an opportunity to personally observe, never mind experience, life in a brothel. And inquiring minds want to know.
Evidently, this was the result of strict monitoring on the part of the brothel management along with strict regulations at the state level that they had to meet. New hires were extensively tested to be sure they had no STDs when they arrived, and condom use for everybody was strictly enforced – not always an easy job when customers complained that it interfered with their enjoyment.
By the time the initial study was completed, the author had become friends with many of the prostitutes at the brothel, and she returned for brief periods at intervals over several years to find out more about their lives and culture. The book contains many anecdotes about the lives of the individual women and also goes into the history of legal brothel prostitution in Nevada in general and of the Mustang Ranch in particular. Curiously, the brothel’s founder, theoretically no longer associated with it by the time the book was written, was a flamboyant character who actually caused quite a bit of trouble for the brothel and the idea of legalized brothels in general. Eventually, he was accused of some kind of financial malfeasance that resulted in closing it down altogether.
This turned out to be sort of sad because by the end of the book the author, and by extension the rest of us, had become rather fond of many of the girls and other workers at Mustang Ranch. Although they worked in a strange environment, they seemed to be mostly just regular people.
This is another book I had wanted to read because I will never get an opportunity to personally observe, never mind experience, life in a brothel. And inquiring minds want to know.
January 1, 2026
It should be noted that this was written almost 25 years ago, in the midst of its closure by the US government. It has since reopened and is alive and well.
This was a fascinating look at the Mustang Ranch, most particularly at the women who worked there. What started out as a thesis study on an aspect of public health for the author turned into much more. The author spent a considerable amount of time at the ranch, not only researching her area of study but getting to know the women and their stories. Because of that, she shines a light on the little known, or thought about, aspects of legalized sex work. What struck me the most was the feeling of community that the ranch gave not only the sex workers, but those at the ranch who worked in other roles.
When I began the book, I wasn't certain I was going to enjoy the perspective. The author goes into the study with some very obvious preconceived notions about the industry and the women, an attitude that puts me off immediately. Especially when she states she went into it with an open mind, and it was clear it was anything but. But to the author's credit, she recognizes and acknowledges this about herself as she spends more time at the ranch.
Whatever your feelings on the subject, I think this is a fascinating look at it with some interesting perspectives.
This was a fascinating look at the Mustang Ranch, most particularly at the women who worked there. What started out as a thesis study on an aspect of public health for the author turned into much more. The author spent a considerable amount of time at the ranch, not only researching her area of study but getting to know the women and their stories. Because of that, she shines a light on the little known, or thought about, aspects of legalized sex work. What struck me the most was the feeling of community that the ranch gave not only the sex workers, but those at the ranch who worked in other roles.
When I began the book, I wasn't certain I was going to enjoy the perspective. The author goes into the study with some very obvious preconceived notions about the industry and the women, an attitude that puts me off immediately. Especially when she states she went into it with an open mind, and it was clear it was anything but. But to the author's credit, she recognizes and acknowledges this about herself as she spends more time at the ranch.
Whatever your feelings on the subject, I think this is a fascinating look at it with some interesting perspectives.
September 2, 2018
A profile of the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada written by a psychologist who spent time there observing and interviewing participants. I lived in Reno for about 15 years during the original time the ranch was in operation and though not a great deal of attention was paid to it as I recall the fact that is was there was always a curiosity for many.
This book itself was not terribly interesting and dragged in places. But there was some information about the people and some of the activities that were surprising. The industry itself goes hand in hand with the nature of what Nevada is and the gaming connections where tourist dollars are sacrosanct. The book wraps up with the final shut down by the government in 1999. However since this book was written I understand it was reopened at a nearby location under completely new owners that apparently puts a permanent end to the Joe Conforte influence.
This book itself was not terribly interesting and dragged in places. But there was some information about the people and some of the activities that were surprising. The industry itself goes hand in hand with the nature of what Nevada is and the gaming connections where tourist dollars are sacrosanct. The book wraps up with the final shut down by the government in 1999. However since this book was written I understand it was reopened at a nearby location under completely new owners that apparently puts a permanent end to the Joe Conforte influence.
November 22, 2017
I thought this was a very interesting look at brothel prostitution in Nevada. It covered some of the history, the politics, etc., as well as the stories of the women who work in the brothels and some of the customers. The author lived at the Mustang Ranch for brief periods on and off over several years in order to get a unique perspective on the lives of the prostitutes and their customers. This book made me think and question more about the issue of legal prostitution and the different aspects of it. From the book: "However disturbing the idea of commercial sex may be to some of us, it's naive to believe that prostitution can ever be eliminated."
February 16, 2022
For a book published in 2002 that is outdated in the current discussions on sex work, this book is super engaging and does it’s best at being non-judgemental. I enjoyed hearing about the community and the politics of the brothel. I really enjoyed the author’s perspective as it seemed like curiosity ruled all and I fuck with that. Spoiler alert: the author sits in on several parties at the brothel.
This book somewhat tells the story of the Mustang Ranch closing in 1999 and touches on the rise of the internet in sex work but mostly this book is a slice of life look at the sex workers in this specific brothel at this specific time. Incredibly interesting though.
This book somewhat tells the story of the Mustang Ranch closing in 1999 and touches on the rise of the internet in sex work but mostly this book is a slice of life look at the sex workers in this specific brothel at this specific time. Incredibly interesting though.
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