600-plus page oral history of porn in America. I find I'm more satisified and compelled by some of the '60s/'70s/'80s-era stories than the more recent episodes, which while full of revealing info seem a bit on the shallow side (I'm shocked how often Luke Ford is cited as a source).

The focus is largely on the scummy, crime-and-drug-ridden aspects of the industry, with tragic consequences and scandal writ large. This makes for a zesty read, though a lot of it feels like I've read it all before.

The "Deep Throat"-era stuff is great, though, and also chapters on the prosecution/persecution of California performers during the Meese Era, which may come as a shock to some of today's younger fans who have no grasp of how not-free freedom is, and blithely endorse Bush ignorant of how easily their dirty movies can be taken away from them. Required reading for that alone.

Wonder what industry folks who are quoted in the book think about it?

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