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I, Goldstein: My Screwed Life
The key distinction between Al Goldstein and Hugh Hefner is that the last thing on earth Al would be caught doing is taking himself seriously. Otherwise, given the amount of trouble Al has seen, his autobiography reads more like a tragedy than the absurd, uproarious comedy it is.
Like a fat tiger with nine lives, Al Goldstein constantly collides with his own mortality, yet has survived for 69 years, so far. Recently, after finally succeeding in cannibalizing his entire fortune, Goldstein toughed his way through a full year homeless on the streets of New York — merely his latest accomplishment. Al’s list of priors involve two dozen arrests, four ex-wives, Mafia hit contracts, thousands of death threats, innumerable medical procedures, and constant legal attack throughout his 34 years publishing Screw. Al’s blood enemies include politicians, D.A.'s, CEO's and religious officials.
When Goldstein was acquitted on pornography charges in Wichita, Kansas, in 1978, he flew the entire jury to New York to celebrate at Plato's Retreat, and took them all out to dinner on the anniversary of his acquittal. This landmark victory thereafter insured the right of Americans to view buck-ass naked sex with or without redeeming social value.
Like a fat tiger with nine lives, Al Goldstein constantly collides with his own mortality, yet has survived for 69 years, so far. Recently, after finally succeeding in cannibalizing his entire fortune, Goldstein toughed his way through a full year homeless on the streets of New York — merely his latest accomplishment. Al’s list of priors involve two dozen arrests, four ex-wives, Mafia hit contracts, thousands of death threats, innumerable medical procedures, and constant legal attack throughout his 34 years publishing Screw. Al’s blood enemies include politicians, D.A.'s, CEO's and religious officials.
When Goldstein was acquitted on pornography charges in Wichita, Kansas, in 1978, he flew the entire jury to New York to celebrate at Plato's Retreat, and took them all out to dinner on the anniversary of his acquittal. This landmark victory thereafter insured the right of Americans to view buck-ass naked sex with or without redeeming social value.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Al Goldstein
44 books3 followersJewish-American pornographer. He published the porno magazine "Screw" and hosted his own public access show "Midnight Blue"
His company Milky Way Productions went bankrupt in 2004. Goldstein had to sell his house.
His autobiography, I Goldstein - My Screwed Life, a collaboration with Josh Alan Friedman, was published by Thunder's Mouth Press in 2006.
In 2007 he announced to run for president. In a campaign video he stated he married five times and supports gay marriage.
He died in December, 2013.
His company Milky Way Productions went bankrupt in 2004. Goldstein had to sell his house.
His autobiography, I Goldstein - My Screwed Life, a collaboration with Josh Alan Friedman, was published by Thunder's Mouth Press in 2006.
In 2007 he announced to run for president. In a campaign video he stated he married five times and supports gay marriage.
He died in December, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 13, 2007
Jamie Salek has this book and I want it the FUCK BACK!!!!
December 15, 2011
I stumbled upon this book because I'm cataloging issues of Screw for an internship, and of course I was attracted to the snarky commentary and the pornography, being a regular mid-20s male. All the typos, poor grammar, and difficult delivery of Goldstein's writing in Screw carries over into this book, as well as some other difficulties. He jumps around in time so much that it's difficult to keep your place, and referring to others in the industry simply by their first name isn't very helpful for a person reading their first history of pornography. I was recommended "Thy Neighbor's Wife" by Gay Talese, which I will be reading next.
Nevertheless, the book is entertaining, and Goldstein's decadent personality comes through clearly. A fun read, although made longer than expected by the quality of writing.
Nevertheless, the book is entertaining, and Goldstein's decadent personality comes through clearly. A fun read, although made longer than expected by the quality of writing.
December 1, 2007
Al Goldstein is the unheard king of porn but as vivid as he may be in print, his autobiography is less about swank and more about a rags to riches to rags. Goldstein made millions from the lucrative world of smut in the sexual 60s and drug-fueled 70s only to lose it in divorces, lawsuits, and spending sprees. Goldstein's only regret is how he and his son have fallen out of favor with each other, but honestly his son sounds like a complete tool (though Goldstein does his best to make his son sound like a golden child).
August 14, 2008
Al spends too much time discussing his court cases and celebrity friends (particularly John Holmes). I wanted more self-loathing and vitriol.
May 31, 2025
Goldstein pulled no punches in this book. A fairly entertaining read, if not for the possibly of getting whiplash from brief jump cuts in the storytelling.
June 14, 2023
Beautiful, poignant and hilarious look at the life of a first amendment hero and publishing pioneer. Long live Goldstein.
October 11, 2007
This guy is probably the only person on my celebrity death pool list that wouldn't be horrified at knowing he was on it. This guy is debilitatingly obsessed with f*cking and degrading and completely unable to control himself. I've never really been this close to anyone like this, and I almost quit the book a few times, not because he disgusted me, but because i eventually became numb to it all. If I ever saw him on the street, I would be very tempted to invite him to my next dinner party, but I don't know how I could pull that off without having to ever touch him or allow him to sit on my toilet seat.
With that said, it's well worth reading. It was loaned to me by my good friend Belitsky who read him on the downslide of a Bukowski-thon.
With that said, it's well worth reading. It was loaned to me by my good friend Belitsky who read him on the downslide of a Bukowski-thon.
September 1, 2007
not so much fun to read
I like raunch but there are far too many stops and starts for my taste
but i am certain it would have been a blast to hear as a book on tape
this is the perfect fellow at the end of the bar regaling you while you wait for a thunderstorm to pass material
I like raunch but there are far too many stops and starts for my taste
but i am certain it would have been a blast to hear as a book on tape
this is the perfect fellow at the end of the bar regaling you while you wait for a thunderstorm to pass material
March 26, 2011
Al Goldstein was either a defender of the freedom of speech or a filthy pid. Most likely both at the same time.
December 25, 2016
Fascinating peek into a period of NYC history stretching from the sexual revolution of the 60's to the new millennium's information age realities, if you can withstand the author's tedious ranting.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews