Hefner

by Frank Brady

Hefner, an unauthorized biography of the founder of Playboy, by Frank Brady

231 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Frank Brandy is the author of numerous critically acclaimed biographies. Internationally recognised as the greatest authority on the life and career of Bobby Fischer, he is also president of New York City's Marshall Chess Club and was the founding editor of Chess Life.

Reviews

[Stephy · Rating 1 out of 5]

More evidence that hedonism knows no bounds. Hefner built an empire on sexualizing women. His life and magazine were about removing every trace of women's humanity, objectifying them, measuring their worth by the size of their breasts, claiming it was all in good fun. His big draw: it's not the pictures it's the meaningful articles. A "boys will be boys" declaration that he was publishing a wonderful new philosophy, really meant: boy meets girl, boy screws girl, boy forgets girl. Oh, joy. It's a whole new world.

[Henry Sturcke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of Hefner, the book, not Hefner the man. At the time it was written, Hef was one of the most successful magazine publishers, though starting to feel bolder imitators snap at this heels. Twenty years earlier, he had started with a product that no one else believed could be sold over the counter, with the aesthetic aims to set it clearly off from what was sold under the counter at the time. I was curious to know more, this was a quick read.

[AndrewP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unauthorized biography