Books

[Guest Jerry]

Here are some books about male escorts. All of them are available at Amazon.com.

 

Hustlers, Escorts, and Porn Stars : The Insider's Guide to Male Prostitution in America, by Matt Adams.

 

Male Order: Life Stories from Boys Who Sell Sex, by Barbara Gibson.

 

Understanding the Male Hustler, by Phil Andros & Samuel M. Steward.

 

Male Prostitution (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies), by Donald J. West.

 

The first book (by Matt Adams) is the only one I've read. It has received deserved criticism of its style and organization, but it has valuable information and is worth reading.

 

Have any of you read any of the other books or do you have additional recommendations?

[Guest Aaron Lawrence]

Hi,

 

I've recently completed writing my second book, "The Male Escort's Handbook: Your Guide to Getting Rich the Hard Way." It should be on the stands by the end of 2000 (at least I hope!).

 

As part of my book, I read every major book on gay prostitution available today. So I'm familiar with those and plenty of others. One of the appendices of my book gives a brief review of every book on the subject.

 

In regards to your listings...

 

Hustlers, Escorts, and Porn Stars : The Insider's Guide to Male Prostitution in America, by Matt Adams.

 

- Matt wrote a very good book, but you should make sure you get the second version (I believe it has more of a white cover than a purple one). It's a good overview of the industry, although it has a strong bias in favor of escort agencies. (I understand he owns one). But it is a good book.

 

Male Order: Life Stories from Boys Who Sell Sex, by Barbara Gibson.

 

- Basically case studies of six male and transgender street hustler youths in London. A good read if you're interested in the life stories of hustlers.

 

Understanding the Male Hustler, by Phil Andros & Samuel M. Steward.

 

- Ostenably a collection of interviews about male hustlers, the book is in fact fiction and the people aren't real. I don't see much attraction in this book at all, unless you're just curious to read it.

 

Male Prostitution (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies), by Donald J. West.

 

- An extremely dry, boring read. It's a sociological study of male escorts (mostly hustlers) in London. A few interesting points in it, but expect to fall asleep at least five to ten times during the book.

 

 

Since we're also talking about books, I'll plug my first one. It's "Suburban Hustler: Stories of a Hi-Tech Callboy". It's about my first 1 1/2 years in the escorting industry. You might find it interesting - it's available on amazon.com, or my own site (aaronlawrence.com).

 

Hope that helped!

 

--Aaron

[Guest torjon]

One I would recommend, especially to men new to the hiring of escorts, is "A CONSUMER'S GUIDE TO MALE HUSTLERS" by Joseph Itiel. It's an unsentimental, non-judgemental look at the business from both sides, though mostly from the clients viewpoint, naturally. Joe speaks from over 30 years experience, and describes many different types of escorts...(he uses hustler where others might say model or escort,but it covers all the bases). He sees most sex workers as professional, independent contractors which means that the client can demand respect and a job well done, but also means that you must reciprocate,treating the escort with the same respect.(Is there any other way if what follows is to be fun?) This 172 page book is an easy and entertaining read, invaluable to a novice, and possibly even to those who have been around the block. I think an escort might even find a few points of interest.It's inexpensive, and my copy came from AMAZON BOOKS. The only other book I've bought and read on this subject is Matt's and though it is in need of a good editor, it's well

worth reading,especially to get some insight to the escorts side of things. A young man just thinking of becoming an escort would benefit greatly with Matt's book, I think, because he answers most an question you could have.

[Guest leandream1]

And also....

 

"Hustling, A Gentelman's Guide to the fine art of Homosexual Prostitution" by John Preston. This book is exactly what it says it is. He speaks in absolutes, like I tend to do, which make you ask "who the hell made you boss?" But his reasons are sound and his advice is helpful. It's a complete "How To" book on this biz. My only criticism is that as a former editor of "The Advocate" I would have expected Mr. Preston to be able to find a decent editor.

 

This is apparently a re-occuring problem in publishing books on Hustling, and so I agree with the criticisms of "Husters, Porn Stars and Escorts". Despite the fact that he's supposedly a phd, Matt's style can best be described as pre-collegiate. Sorry Matt, it is an informative book, but it reads like a first draft. More your editor's fault than your own.

 

"A Consumer's Guide to Male Hustlers", by Joseph Hiel. Great writer, and a condescending prick.

Most escorts are addicted to drugs and as careless as children. Yeah, whatever.

 

Happy Reading -Hagen

[Guest leandream1]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-00 AT 07:04PM (CST)[p]Torjon, our postings were so simultaneous, it felt like and instant message! :-)

 

Joseph's book is the most tighly written out there on the subject, there's no debating that. He does write about the escorts he has hired over the last 30 years in the same condescending tone one reserves for confounding children, and as an escort I resent that.

 

-Hagen

[Guest torjon]

Leandream,I think I didn't really see it that way because I'm so damn new to this whole world of escort and client. But now that you mention it, I know you're right. Still, speaking for myself, I have nothing but respect for the escorts that I see and I presume it's mutual.(I just can't believe it can work the way it should any other way.)So Joe's book gave me insights and awareness but none of the negative stuff that an experienced escort would immediately pick up on.

 

It's a pleasure to "meet" you here in the lounge,

Leandream.I can honestly say that given the chance,I could "respect" you like crazy!

[HooBoy]

For those of us who don't have time to read, there is a documentary coming out about the subject called "101 Rentboys."

 

I wrote briefly about it in the email section. I've chatted with one of the producers and from what he tells me, it sounds fascinating.

 

They found 101 guys in the LA area who escort, sat them down and let 'em chat. It's still being edited, but I'll keep you posted on when and where it'll be playing. (Are you one of 'em Rod?)

 

You can check out their website at http://www.worldofwonder.net.

 

HooBoy

[Guest Midnight Cowboy]

Hagen,

 

John Preston was a wonderful friend and a terrific writer and editor. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the anthologies he edited for Dutton in his later years - "Hometowns" is probably my favorite. And his "Flesh and the Word" series of erotica anthologies are first-rate. (He would chafe at the term "erotica," of course; he maintained it was pornography and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that label.) I really miss him, and it's so nice to see his name turn up in all sorts of places every once in a while.

 

While we all like to think "small is beautiful" (well, except in some cases :-) ), the fact is that many small presses are strapped and don't have the resources to spend the time and money it takes to get a first-rate editing job done on their books. Believe me, all writers, however polished, need editing, even if it's only a good copyedit. But even that is beyond the means of many small presses, which are often little more than one-man shows.

 

Michael

[Guest Midnight Cowboy]

>For those of us who don't

>have time to read,

 

There is never, ever not time to read. If you don't read, it's because you don't want to. I watch almost no television because I don't want to. But I read all the time. Except during sex. I found that my partners got insulted if I picked up a book while we were making out.

 

Michael

[Guest leandream1]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-16-00 AT 04:08PM (CST)[p]Midnight, I was not aware that John died. I am very sorry to hear that, he seemed to be a good person. I hate to ask the question that everybody asks, but how did he die?

 

It is my experience in getting published (real name, not rod hagen) that constructing a top notch query letter and proposal is your best guarantee of a larger advance on non-fiction and acquiring a top notch publishing house and therefore editor. A good publisher is never far behind a good literary agent; use a tight proposal and query letter as bait.

 

My advice to anyone who wants a career change is get paid to write. It really is easier than it would seem.

[Guest leandream1]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-16-00 AT 04:11PM (CST)[p]Sorry, double post

[Guest leandream1]

<laughing> No I am not one of them.

 

But I have been asked to appear in the Jerry Spring show...3 times! I said no thank you.

 

-Hagen

[Guest Midnight Cowboy]

John died of AIDS. He had been positive for many years, certainly for as long as I knew him, and we met in the late '80s. His health was usually pretty good up until the last few months. When it finally began, he deteriorated rather quickly, at least compared to some, which was a blessing in its own way. He died about five years ago or so (I'm terrible with remembering things like that - after awhile it all just seems like sometime in the past). When it happened, Anne Rice took out a few full-page ads in major newspapers across the country in memoriam. She was one of his closest friends.

 

Michael