Denny W. (kazeldya) reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great book that had a lot of information about the black market - unbelievable stories about marijuana, porn, and illegal immigrants. Some of the stories are very sad but important to read.
Tara L. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great read about something nobody really thinks about, the black market is and always will be a part of capitalist economy. It also gives a fasinating look into how porn today came to be, and also the part about strawberry farmers may change how you buy this fruit.
Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 813 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Schlosser does it again, exposing startling trends in todays society: the rise of the marijuana culture, uncontrolled illegal immigration, and the proliferation of sex for sale. An apropos exposition of Americas burgeoning black market operations.
Sara W. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
It's actually 3 seperate tales in one but all deal with black market economies: illegal immigrants in agriculture, porn flicks, and of course, "reefer." Thus, the title. Really well-done, very readable and informative.
Karin J. (gringa76) reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 48 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This book kept me hanging on every word...a quicker read than fast food nation, and it covered more topics. I would highly recommend this book!
Marshall P. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 21 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
this book explores the roles of economic and public policy on the american black market and visa-versa. a quick muckraking read.
Christal H. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 70 more book reviews
Very enlightening, definitely changed my mind about things.
Melissa M. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 26 more book reviews
VERY interesting look at this topic.
Nathan W. (ChicagoNate) reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 2 more book reviews
Not nearly as good as Fast Food Nation. Some interesting history on the porn industry. Actually maybe could have been three separate books.
Julie R. (justaskjulie) reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 33 more book reviews
The content of the book is interesting, it's just not presented in an interesting way. It's like reading someone's essay that they wrote for school.
Leo T. reviewed Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market on + 1775 more book reviews
A little dated in 2013, but still too true. Schlosser published the material about censorship and how a guy looking to earn a living built a very lucrative distribution and then publishing empire of dirty books and magazines in the New Yorker, 10 pages, the version in this book being longer. The book also offers updates to 2004. Reefer Madness (August 1994) and second part titled Marijuana and the Law (September 1994) appeared first in The Atlantic Monthly as did In the Strawberry Fields (November 1995). Schlosser includes the background information such as Anthony Comstock's efforts to curb pornography and follows the path of the court cases. Strawberry Fields is even worse now because immigrants continue to come and work for almost nothing. At the 99centsonly store on the same block as I am typing this in the library they are selling strawberries that someone carefully picked and laid out in the basket for a dollar. Que lastima! But five years ago a couple in their twenties (with previous experience as youths) that I know were seeking a few days work in the 'Strawberry Fields' but were refused work because they were hiring only Mixtec Indios who wanted to work with their own on any terms. This was the large hacienda owned by Lt. Gov. Maldonado and his family--it was a pleasure to vote against him. This book stands up well to the test of time and includes a good index and bibliography.
