Leo T. reviewed on 7/24/2013 + 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.

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