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The Taboo Breakers
The sexual upheaval of the 1970s was a remarkable turning point in the evolution of contemporary sexual behavior. As much as anyone, John Warren Wells stalked the barricades of this social revolution. He met the players, and let them pour their stories into his sympathetic ear.
From the original publisher's edition:" The Taboo Breakers is a penetrating, unbiased study of these modern "swingers." Just what do they do, and with whom, and why? Are they fools and sinners, the shock troops of a new sexual revolution, hell-bent hedonists piling one thrill upon another? Or are they merely individuals who have successfully separated sex from love? John Warren Wells, author of Eros and Capricorn, supplies the answers in a book that is itself a pioneering work...a true taboo breaker."
From the original publisher's edition:" The Taboo Breakers is a penetrating, unbiased study of these modern "swingers." Just what do they do, and with whom, and why? Are they fools and sinners, the shock troops of a new sexual revolution, hell-bent hedonists piling one thrill upon another? Or are they merely individuals who have successfully separated sex from love? John Warren Wells, author of Eros and Capricorn, supplies the answers in a book that is itself a pioneering work...a true taboo breaker."
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2012
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
761 books3,001 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 29, 2017
Lawrence Block is a writer of mystery novels. He's had amazing success with his Matthew Scudder novels (Traditional modern noir), his Bernie the Burglar Books (more traditional mysteries with burglar twists) and his Keller books (the considerate hit-man).
Not to mention he has a vast assortment of other mystery and thriller novels.
Evidently, he also had a second career as a somewhat prolific writer of books on Human Sexuality under the name of John Warren Wells. A lot of these books have been re-released under his own name for the kindle.
Some of what he has written doesn't even seem real. It's just so bizarre. Words can't even begin to describe this book. It's almost unreal, but it's actually quite interesting at the same time.
It's a rather fascinating look at different approaches to human sexuality (while completely dated), in particular the extremes, in an attempt to humanize them. To an extent, it does. It's an extremely non-judgmental look at "Taboo Breakers".
At the same time, some of the stuff in here is REALLY fucked up. Spoiler alert, a couple unforgivingly confesses to drugging and fondling a twelve-year-old girl. Numerous interviewees vividly describe childhood molestation experiences.
This isn't a book everybody should read. I actually downloaded it because it was being offered for free and it was Lawrence Block. (I wasn't aware of the content at the time). It's probably not a book most people should read for a variety of reasons.
That being said, if you decide to read this, don't read it alone. You totally can, and you'll be fine. What I mean is, as I work my way through this, there are so many times I want to just turn to somebody and say.. "Did you just read that?" "What do you think about this?"
All in all, it's an experience...though it's hard to put words on what that experience actually is.
Not to mention he has a vast assortment of other mystery and thriller novels.
Evidently, he also had a second career as a somewhat prolific writer of books on Human Sexuality under the name of John Warren Wells. A lot of these books have been re-released under his own name for the kindle.
Some of what he has written doesn't even seem real. It's just so bizarre. Words can't even begin to describe this book. It's almost unreal, but it's actually quite interesting at the same time.
It's a rather fascinating look at different approaches to human sexuality (while completely dated), in particular the extremes, in an attempt to humanize them. To an extent, it does. It's an extremely non-judgmental look at "Taboo Breakers".
At the same time, some of the stuff in here is REALLY fucked up. Spoiler alert, a couple unforgivingly confesses to drugging and fondling a twelve-year-old girl. Numerous interviewees vividly describe childhood molestation experiences.
This isn't a book everybody should read. I actually downloaded it because it was being offered for free and it was Lawrence Block. (I wasn't aware of the content at the time). It's probably not a book most people should read for a variety of reasons.
That being said, if you decide to read this, don't read it alone. You totally can, and you'll be fine. What I mean is, as I work my way through this, there are so many times I want to just turn to somebody and say.. "Did you just read that?" "What do you think about this?"
All in all, it's an experience...though it's hard to put words on what that experience actually is.
Displaying 1 of 1 review