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Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy
Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy | Hallie Lieberman
18 posts | 8 read | 26 to read
In the vein of Mary Roach's Bonk, a brilliant microhistory of the sex toy that ultimately tells the story of our changing sexual mores and evolving cultural values. Once only whispered about in clandestine corners, vibrators have become just another accessory for the suburban soccer mom. But how did these once-taboo toys become so socially acceptable? The journey of the devices to the cultural mainstream is a surprisingly stimulating one. In Buzz, Hallie Lieberman provides a riveting history that tells the story of sex toys from ancient phalluses to 21st century vibrating rabbits. She focuses on the period from the 1950s through the present, when sex toys evolved from symbols of female emancipation to tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS to consumerist marital aids and finally to mainstays of today's pop culture. Lieberman's history is populated by vivid and fascinating characters, including Ted Marche, an entrepreneurial ventriloquist and dildo maker; Duane Coleglazier, the gay ice cream truck driver who founded the first boutique sex-toy store; Dell Williams, ex-communist advertising maven who created the feminist sex toy store; Betty Dodson, whose workshops helped 1960s women discover vibrators; and Gosnell Duncan, a paraplegic engineer who invented the silicone dildo. And these personal dramas are all set against a backdrop of changing American attitudes toward sexuality, feminism, LGBTQ issues, and more. Both educational and titillating, Buzz will make readers think quite differently about those secret items hiding in bedside drawers across the nation.
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CarolMannAgency
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Be our Valentine! Whether you're taken or not... You deserve a bouquet of books 💐📖 Love, Carol Mann Agency #happyvalentines #beours #sexhealth #selfcare #winebooks #bookbouquet #romance #welovebooks #booklovers #valentinesday

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Ekkross
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Laughterhp
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Mehso-so

This book was really interesting. I had no idea the history of sex toys, how they were so controversial and downright illegal. I struggled through the 2nd half of this book, thought it could be shorter and holy typos Batman! I know this was an ARC copy, but I don‘t think it was edited at all!

#LMPBC - last book!
#pop18 - microhistory #popsugarchallenge

RadicalReader @Laughterhp amazing the amount of typos seen in some books 6y
49 likes1 comment
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Ingerella
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Mehso-so

Finally a finish! My reading has been slow going the last couple of weeks but I finished Buzz today for the #LMPBC . It was an interesting read for sure, and eye-opening, but I'm giving it a so-so because I had a hard time staying with it past the halfway point. Thanks @LauraJ for an unconventional pick! @Laughterhp , it's in the envelope and will be headed your way tomorrow.
@hes7
@suvata

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Looks like a stimulating read! Literally, figuratively, and pun intended. 6y
CarolynM !!! 6y
Ingerella @Riveted_Reader_Melissa You could say that! 6y
53 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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hes7
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Mehso-so

I‘m just not a fan of nonfiction. 🤷🏼‍♀️ But it‘s not often I get to read an author with my first name, so that was fun.

@Ingerella it‘s on the way to you now.

#LMPBC

Ingerella I'll be on the lookout for it! 7y
Ingerella The book arrived today. Thanks! 7y
91 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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hes7
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101 likes3 stack adds
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LauraJ
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Pickpick

This book is about so much more than sex toys! Good writing, interesting text and filled with all kinds of trivia. That nonsense about doctors using vibrators to cure Victorian era women of hysteria? That‘s a myth. Just read it because who doesn‘t want to be smart about the history of sex?! (Even Cecil didn‘t want to let me lend this book out) #catsoflitsy #nonfiction

JoScho What a beautiful black cat 🖤 7y
LauraJ @JoScho Thanks. He‘s still a kitten. Hoping he‘ll be a huge guy. 7y
TricksyTails 😻🖤 Gorgeous! 7y
ValerieAndBooks Hello, Cecil!! 7y
55 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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LauraJ
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#LMPBC #Round 2 is in the mail @hes7
Expect it by Monday at the latest.

hes7 Yay! 7y
42 likes1 stack add1 comment
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LauraJ
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Learning a lot of things that have nothing to do with sex toys.

CoverToCoverGirl About 5 years ago my Mom told me that in 1972 her doctor wouldn‘t perform a tubal ligation on her without my Dad‘s consent and signature.. I remember being struck speechless and feeling absolutely dumbfounded! and saying, “Are you serious??!!”😳 7y
Ashley_Nicoletto Yepppp. Women couldn't hold credit cards without their fathers or husbands until 1974 and they could be fired for being pregnant until 1978. I always find this stuff interesting. 7y
40 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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LauraJ
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Hoping to understand the need some Southern states have to police other people‘s bedroom behavior.
This is for #LMPBC round 2. Fun nonfiction, so far!

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LauraJ
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Lola is embarrassed, but I was thinking this might be fun for #LMPBC. Everything else I have waiting to be read is kinda morbid.
Yea or nah, @hes7 @Ingerella and @Laughterhp ? If you have zero interest or just don‘t like nonfiction, don‘t be afraid to suggest I keep looking.
#pugsoflitsy

Laughterhp So I‘m not a huge fan of nonfiction, but it‘s one of my goals this year to try and read more. The book sounds interesting.. 7y
hes7 Yeah, I‘m not a huge nonfiction reader, but I‘m willing to give it a go if everyone else wants to. 7y
Ingerella Ditto x 2! 7y
See All 6 Comments
Ingerella Sorry my response was so short, I was running out the door. I am also not a huge nonfiction reader, but if Litsy has done anything for me, it's gotten me reading new things. I'm definitely willing to give it a go also, and it might be fun! 7y
TheBookDream I really like this book FYI. I also took a picture of it with my friend‘s pug a while back 😂 7y
LauraJ @TheBookDream pugs and sex toys...a perfect pair! 7y
41 likes6 comments
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ashsbookmarks
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I went to a Pure Romance party last month. Since then I have been wanting to learn more!!! So excited for this book 📖
#buzz #hallielieberman #history #books #book #read
(If you don‘t know about this book....google it 😉 and thank me later 😘)

AmyG Hahahahahaha. Is there an emoji for this? 7y
58 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BethwithBooks
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Things you don‘t expect to come across your desk for cataloging when you work in a rare book / research library 😳☺️🙈

Kaye Uuummm......🙀😵😷😳🤪 7y
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheBookDream
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Ozzy came down off her perch briefly to sniff this book. "Is it cotton candy?! Human foods are weird colors." #pugsoflitsy

Reecaspieces Ozzy is as undertall as peanut!! 7y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheBookDream
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"Dildos were filling a void"? Really? I couldn't guess ?

freyaheart 😂😂😂😂 7y
Susanita *coughs* 7y
DrJAdMerricksson I spit my tea 😂😆 7y
23 likes4 comments
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TheBookDream
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#bookandgame Great read so far!

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Read-eat-travel-repeat
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I'm buying this book for my bestie on #BOOKFRIDAY2017 Instead of one big gift, we have been collecting the little things that make us think of each other, so at Christmas we will be giving and receiving a box of random things! I know that she will find this book fascinating.

@Liberty

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LauraJ
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Borrowed this from a neighbor today. Who‘s ready for #LitsyAfterDark!
#catsoflitsy

LeahBergen 😂 7y
rubyslippersreads I think your cat is too young to read this book. 😹 7y
emilyhaldi So pretty! 🖤 7y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments