Orso everyone believes. Peter Sagal, a mild-mannered, Harvard-educated radio host—the man who puts the second "l" in "vanilla"—decided to find out if it's true. From strip clubs to gambling halls to swingers clubs to porn sets and back to the strip clubs (but only because he left his glasses there), Sagal explores what the sinful folk do, how much they pay for the privilege, and how exactly they got those funny red marks.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 23 reviews)

Forbidden fruit, entertainingly debunked.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sagal very wittily punctures a lot of fantasies that some may entertain about forbidden fruit, in all its various guises.
The author is a natural writer. He has the ability to keenly portray the practitioners of various vices, with great insight and telling details. Sagal is hysterically funny as he takes us through the vices of lying, gambling, swinging and so on. I particularly enjoyed how he dissects Bill Clinton lying about Lewinsky...he gives us a fresh take on this familiar scenario.
A great read and I hope he writes another book.
January 02, 2009

Seamy - Just Like The Title Suggests

I thought this might be a fun read but it turns out that it's just the author trying to be flip and compassionate at the same time. It doesn't work. Peter Sagal takes a look (with his wife in tow on some occasions!) at "swinging", strip bars and the porn industry. He take a quick peek at over eating and gambling but his hear really isn't in it. He likes the sex stuff...and who wouldn't?

It was a quick and easy read and if you've ever been interested in the "behind the scenes" look at the sex industry, this is the book for you. Otherwise save your money and get something good to read.
December 14, 2008

Recommended

Peter Sagal is an author with a witty and thoughtful voice. The Book of Vice goggles at the "mysterious" fringe lifestyles yet allows each subject matter to be relatable to those of us with more conventional inclinations. At times, Sagal is somewhat overly sardonic, and all of the information is presented from an outsider's veiwpoint. Nevertheless, the book is, overall, a lighthearted and entertaining read.
November 26, 2008

Relieved to know I'm not the only one who found some vices kinda boring

Over the years I've dipped my toe in some of the vices Peter explores in his book and came away with the same vague emptiness that he describes. I thought it was just that I didn't "get it". Experiences that I thought would be fun and naughty were, well, pretty dull. Peter does a great job of describing what he sees and how he feels about it without getting preachy. He's funny and clever throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed this read and his conclusion that no matter what you're into, he perceives that most people are a bit disappointed to find it wasn't as fun as they thought and have a sense of always wondering if there's isn't something they are missing out on just over the horizon. If you were looking for precise "how to" books, this isn't the one, and never intended to be.
October 09, 2008

Pretentious

Peter Sagal amuses himself more than he does the reader. The subjects are interesting, however his content and snarky comments are not. This is not the humor of Wait Wait... as some may think. The humor of his weekly NPR show is far above the humor of this book. If you want NPR-type of of humor, stick with David Sedaris.
September 06, 2008

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