Somewhere, somebody is having more fun than you are. Or so everyone believes. Peter Sagal, a mild-mannered, Harvard-educated NPR host--the man who put the second "L" in "vanilla"--decided to find out if it's true.

From strip clubs to gambling halls to swingers clubs to porn sets--and then back to the strip clubs, but only because he left his glasses there--Sagal explores exactly what the sinful folk do, how much they pay for the privilege, and exactly how they got those funny red marks. He hosts a dinner for three of the smartest porn stars in the world, asks the floor manager at the oldest casino in Vegas how to beat the house, and indulges in molecular cuisine at the finest restaurant in the country. Meet liars and rich people who don't think consumption is a disease, encounter the most spectacular view ever seen from a urinal, and say hello to Nina Hartley, the only porn star who can discuss Nietzsche while strangers smack her butt.

With a sharp wit, a remarkable eye for detail, and the carefree insouciance that can only come from not having any idea what he's getting into, Sagal proves to be the perfect guide to sinful behavior. What happens in Vegas--and in less glamorous places--is all laid out in these pages, a modern version of Dante's Inferno, except with more jokes.

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Recommended:

Peter Sagal is an author with a witty and thoughtful voice. The Book of Vice goggles at the "mysterious" fringe lifestyles yet allows each subject matter to be relatable to those of us with more conventional inclinations. At times, Sagal is somewhat overly sardonic, and all of the information is presented from an outsider's veiwpoint. Nevertheless, the book is, overall, a lighthearted and entertaining read.

Relieved to know I'm not the only one who found some vices kinda boring:

Over the years I've dipped my toe in some of the vices Peter explores in his book and came away with the same vague emptiness that he describes. I thought it was just that I didn't "get it". Experiences that I thought would be fun and naughty were, well, pretty dull. Peter does a great job of describing what he sees and how he feels about it without getting preachy. He's funny and clever throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed this read and his conclusion that no matter what you're into, he perceives that most... more info

Pretentious:

Peter Sagal amuses himself more than he does the reader. The subjects are interesting, however his content and snarky comments are not. This is not the humor of Wait Wait... as some may think. The humor of his weekly NPR show is far above the humor of this book. If you want NPR-type of of humor, stick with David Sedaris.

The wit of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!:

Peter Sagal's first book is a humorous examination of the most common of American vices. The incongruity of this self-proclaimed square and the strip clubs, swinger parties, etc. he visits--with his wife in tow--makes it all the more entertaining. If you are a fan of Sagal's witty repartee on "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!," you'll love this book.

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